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Thoughts on Gauges
- wspohn
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:11 pm
Thoughts on Gauges
I like the fact that the M has an oil temperature gauge - I've spent lot of time on the track in various race cars watching those and would feel deprived of input if I didn't have one on a race car.
What I don't quite get is why they needed the read out at the bottom AND the lights around the top of the tachometer. Surely the lights would have been sufficient, leaving them the territory at the bottom to stick an oil pressure and/or coolant temp gauge(s). I know that most manufacturers have eliminated oil pressure gauges because their customers panic when they see low pressure when hot at low rpm and this results in untold warranty reports and wasted time, but driving without a coolant temp read out bothers me.
BTW, I have never seen my light show indicate that I can rev the engine above 7500 even though the oil temp reads 210 or so. Is it reading incorrectly or do I need a blistering day in August to have it tell me I can use the actual red line?
On an engine where deteriorating oil pressure from worn bearings is a known issue, seeing the pressure slowly decrease despite never going low enough to trigger a light would be an added information source to let you know ahead of time that you were headed toward bearing replacement.
Too bad I hate the look of add on gauges, or I'd be tempted to go that way.
Any thoughts?
What I don't quite get is why they needed the read out at the bottom AND the lights around the top of the tachometer. Surely the lights would have been sufficient, leaving them the territory at the bottom to stick an oil pressure and/or coolant temp gauge(s). I know that most manufacturers have eliminated oil pressure gauges because their customers panic when they see low pressure when hot at low rpm and this results in untold warranty reports and wasted time, but driving without a coolant temp read out bothers me.
BTW, I have never seen my light show indicate that I can rev the engine above 7500 even though the oil temp reads 210 or so. Is it reading incorrectly or do I need a blistering day in August to have it tell me I can use the actual red line?
On an engine where deteriorating oil pressure from worn bearings is a known issue, seeing the pressure slowly decrease despite never going low enough to trigger a light would be an added information source to let you know ahead of time that you were headed toward bearing replacement.
Too bad I hate the look of add on gauges, or I'd be tempted to go that way.
Any thoughts?
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
- TomK
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- Location: West London
Thoughts on Gauges
The lights on the tach reference water temp not oil, that's why there's a separate gauge for oil (and also why they should be ignored). The last light on the tach never exstinguishes from recollection.
MC[IB], CSL airbox, Schrick 288/280 cams, 4.44FD, UUC SSK, SS race cat back, AP CP9660[F]/5144[R] brakes, Apex ARC-8 with AR-1 or PS5, KW ClubSport 2-way, Turner spherical arms, PMC uniball rtab, VB engine mounts, Rogue pulleys & RSMs, Tillett B6, half cage
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Thoughts on Gauges
You learn something every day! I thought the rev counter lights were rated to oil temp as well.
Z4MC, Silver/Grey, Imola Red Leather, Sat Nav, Heated Seats, DSP, Intravee, Stubby, ZHP, Gruppe M, CDV, Bilstein B12's, Vibra-Technics engine mounts.
- TomK
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- Location: West London
Thoughts on Gauges
It's a pointless gauge really, when those lights extinguish it is NOT ok to give her the beans, only use oil gauge as a guide.
The CSL had these lights set to oil temp rather than water I believe, why the regular M3 and Z4M didn't is a mystery to me.
Re: oil pressure, if your oil warning comes up as red, this is a warning of low oil pressure. Orange/yellow is low oil level.
The CSL had these lights set to oil temp rather than water I believe, why the regular M3 and Z4M didn't is a mystery to me.
Re: oil pressure, if your oil warning comes up as red, this is a warning of low oil pressure. Orange/yellow is low oil level.
Last edited by TomK on Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
MC[IB], CSL airbox, Schrick 288/280 cams, 4.44FD, UUC SSK, SS race cat back, AP CP9660[F]/5144[R] brakes, Apex ARC-8 with AR-1 or PS5, KW ClubSport 2-way, Turner spherical arms, PMC uniball rtab, VB engine mounts, Rogue pulleys & RSMs, Tillett B6, half cage
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Thoughts on Gauges
They were much more useful in my old CSL than they are in the MC....I'd imagine these are able to be recoded using Carly... ?
- TomK
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- Location: West London
Thoughts on Gauges
......
Last edited by TomK on Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
MC[IB], CSL airbox, Schrick 288/280 cams, 4.44FD, UUC SSK, SS race cat back, AP CP9660[F]/5144[R] brakes, Apex ARC-8 with AR-1 or PS5, KW ClubSport 2-way, Turner spherical arms, PMC uniball rtab, VB engine mounts, Rogue pulleys & RSMs, Tillett B6, half cage
- TomK
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Thoughts on Gauges
I don't think it's that simple unfortunately.
E46 ecu can be coded but it's more involved than using ncs etc, though maybe it's possible on our ecus?
E46 ecu can be coded but it's more involved than using ncs etc, though maybe it's possible on our ecus?
MC[IB], CSL airbox, Schrick 288/280 cams, 4.44FD, UUC SSK, SS race cat back, AP CP9660[F]/5144[R] brakes, Apex ARC-8 with AR-1 or PS5, KW ClubSport 2-way, Turner spherical arms, PMC uniball rtab, VB engine mounts, Rogue pulleys & RSMs, Tillett B6, half cage
- wspohn
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- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:11 pm
Thoughts on Gauges
Interesting info, thanks.
I would still like a coolant temp gauge and oil pressure read out, but now I understand what they were doing, if not why.
I would still like a coolant temp gauge and oil pressure read out, but now I understand what they were doing, if not why.
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
- bmwaddict
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- Location: West Herts/East Bucks
Thoughts on Gauges
I agree a coolant temp gauge would be good, especially with such a costly and sensitive engine. I wonder how complex it is to fit one?
Currently zedless
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'07 Mugello Blue Audi B7 RS4 Saloon with added goodies
'94 Black/Silver/Green Honda CBR400RR
Previous:
'07 Ruby Black Z4MC
'07 Sapphire Black Z4C 3.0si Sport
- wspohn
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- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:11 pm
Thoughts on Gauges
I don't think it is either expensive or difficult, but I don't like the look of accessory after market gauges.
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
- RedUn
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:33 pm
- Location: Hertfordshire
Thoughts on Gauges
Bluetooth obd reader and an app on your phone might do the job if you just want to keep an eye on it every now and then?
I also believe you can data log etc so could be useful on track?
I also believe you can data log etc so could be useful on track?
IMOLA Z4///MR
- Beedub
- Lifer
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- Location: Sutton Coldfield
Thoughts on Gauges
I've got a really nice setup but sadly photo bucket has given up allowing me to post pics.....
I've got oil pressure, boost pressure and wideband AFR
I've got oil pressure, boost pressure and wideband AFR
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- wspohn
- Member
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2016 9:11 pm
Thoughts on Gauges
What does it consist of and can you post URLs? Sounds interesting.
Some of my other cars have the info I want but I have to cycle through to get it. The Solstice has boost pressure, although I just don't grok metric pressure, so I keep it set on decimal for everything (can't pick and choose), but I also have the read out permanently set on coolant temp since I experienced over temp due to a design flaw (since remedied).
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26532
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Thoughts on Gauges
Use the attachment feature for Photos, works really well. No need for third party hosting site.
Thoughts on Gauges
What's the thingy that you can have from the states that gives you all these reads outs by replacing the air vent with
It?
Seen it loads of times
Sadly can't remember name
It?
Seen it loads of times
Sadly can't remember name