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Thread: Safe to drive e46 105 km without Outside Temperature sensor?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    Vancouver, BC, Canada
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    2004 Bmw 325i

    Safe to drive e46 105 km without Outside Temperature sensor?

    Sensor is gone. Copper wire is partly shredded I suppose(or exposed). A 2-4km drive to the nearest store to buy tape would fix it up.

    I'm stuck 105km away from my home. Will I damage the engine if I drive without this sensor or should I just call a tow truck. AC seems to be working fine for now...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
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    Bellevue, WA
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    335d, 328xd (had 330xi)
    Quote Originally Posted by RDyn View Post
    Sensor is gone. Copper wire is partly shredded I suppose(or exposed). A 2-4km drive to the nearest store to buy tape would fix it up.

    I'm stuck 105km away from my home. Will I damage the engine if I drive without this sensor or should I just call a tow truck. AC seems to be working fine for now...
    I wouldn't worry about it; ECU will probably run the default fuel/air map, which is conservative. The ECU also has other sensors (knock sensors) to watch for badness.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    2018 BMW M240i
    The ambient air temperature sensor is not involved in the engine management scheme. It's purpose is to inform the automatic climate control of the external temperature. The missing sensor will impact the operation of the AC. Repair kits are available from the dealer and online vendors.

    The engine management computer (DME) receives intake air temperature data from either a sensor in the intake manifold (early E46s) or the temperature sensor in the MAF. The MAF, in the latter instance, has 5 pins while the earlier MAF has 3 pins.
    Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 06-25-2017 at 08:16 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    2001 525it
    Yes it is ok to drive, the very late e46 cars tied the outside temp sensor in to the dme so a check engine light could appear it you had that in your car.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Norwich, Connecticut.
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    E46 wag. E36 convertible
    Outside ambient temperature sensor and gauge failure, would not, and should not, ever effect essential drive systems, nor should other non essential drive mechanisms that may fail. In a third world maybe!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Osnabrock, ND
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    2004 325xi,2004 545i SMG
    yes we would have customers that drove with sensor torn off for years before fixing...
    Level 1 Certified BMW tech.

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