 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  05-30-2013, 10:58 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Clarkesville, GA Posts: 7 |  Aerodynamics Woes
When I got my M-Sport, the black plastic panel under the engine was missing (or so I thought), and I could see the ground through the front air dam. I want the aero lift/drag to be as BMW intended, so I got it straight away. The dealer confirmed my car as an M-Sport (with M3 bumper) but couldn't find the panel and they had to look up an M3 to get it.
I've had over-cooling all winter during easy driving but thought it was just from the M44 being so efficient. I expected it to stay warm as the weather improved. It is still near the blue when coasting in gear/easy driving. Also I noticed the "city" MPG is great but highway is only 2 MPG more.
My theory is this panel was never intended for the Ti. With about 50% the power (and therefore heat) of the M3 the front end came from, it could be taking in too much air now that I've fitted it. This would also explain my highway MPG (higher/unnecessary drag). Can someone with an original condition M-Sport see if they have this panel? Anyone else experienced this? Thanks. |  |  | | 05-30-2013, 11:10 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 |
Temperature needle should always be right in the middle of the gauge, during winter and during summer. Sounds like you need a new thermostat. __________________ ~Dave~
98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop
11 128i space gray slicktop
13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry
Search | RealOEM | | | | | 05-30-2013, 11:24 PM | #3 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Clarkesville, GA Posts: 7 |
I reckon the thermostat is doing it's job though, since it can hold a steady op-temp. If it were stuck open, it would almost always be cold and and almost never hold a steady temp. | | | | | 05-30-2013, 11:30 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Mazdarati  I've had over-cooling all winter during easy driving but thought it was just from the M44 being so efficient. I expected it to stay warm as the weather improved. It is still near the blue when coasting in gear/easy driving. Also I noticed the "city" MPG is great but highway is only 2 MPG more. | I've never seen my M44 "over-cool" except the time the thermostat was bad. You said "it is still near the blue" which I took to mean the temperature needle. The temperature needle in these cars is buffered so if it is in the correct operating temperature range the needle will not move from middle. If it is getting large temperature swings like when the t-stat is stuck open the needle will dip down towards the blue. Also, I have M tech bumper with under tray and my mpg is ~30-32 hwy. __________________ ~Dave~
98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop
11 128i space gray slicktop
13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry
Search | RealOEM | | | | | 05-30-2013, 11:45 PM | #5 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Clarkesville, GA Posts: 7 |
I plan on a coolant flush soon so I can do the t-stat as well. I've had the buffered (dummy) gauges on previous cars, but I noticed in my Ti the gauge is very communicative and "real". Could this be a difference in the years? I have a '96 so maybe your gauge is different? Thanks for the info. I also get 32MPG highway but I expect more since my Miata screams at 4200RPM (Yes in 6th gear  ) and has very similar power, yet does 34. BUT the Ti easily beats the economy of the Miata in "city" despite being heavier and having 100k more miles. | | | | | 05-31-2013, 03:08 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,464 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Mazdarati I've had the buffered (dummy) gauges on previous cars, but I noticed in my Ti the gauge is very communicative and "real". Could this be a difference in the years? I have a '96 so maybe your gauge is different?
| No, this is not a difference in years- the temp. gauge on all ti's, and every BMW that I've seen, for that matter, will stay at a constant 12 o'clock, regardless of climate or driving habits, if the cooling system is operating correctly. Any fluctuation from that generally means a bad thermostat, unless is it going towards the red and staying there... then you have other, more serious problems. It the gauge is holding in one position that is not 12 o'clock, or within a needle's width or two, but stays constant in that position, I'm wondering if maybe you might have a bad temp. sending unit. __________________ 
1995 318ti Base - Cosmosschwarz/Sandgrau R.I.P.
1997 318ti Active - Alpinweiß III/Sandgrau
2013 328i Coupe - Le Mans Blau
Last edited by zoner; 05-31-2013 at 03:22 AM. | | | | | 05-31-2013, 03:23 AM | #7 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Clarkesville, GA Posts: 7 |
Good to know, I will do that as a precaution when I have the coolant drained. On the way home I blocked the upper grilles and left the lower air dam open, gauge went to 12:00 and stayed there the whole way. Did some long hill descents in gear (for cooling) and some spirited driving, and it stayed right at 12:00... | | | | | 05-31-2013, 06:26 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
No matter how much air you push through the radiator the stat should still control the coolant temp. I'm betting on a thermostat that's not fully closing. (My 95 did the same thing,, just ran down near the blue til I swapped the stat.
Dave __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 05-31-2013, 07:42 AM | #9 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Clarkesville, GA Posts: 7 |
Thanks, definitely will swap it then if 3 of 3 have had this problem. | | | | |
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