<E30> Coolant level sensor... LONG.

[gregg frank <greggf@xxxxxxxxx>]

To whomever it was (I lost the e-mail address) asking how to
clean/fix/replace the coolant level sensor on a E30 (325es '86):

It's located in the cap of the plastic overflow tank towards the front
of the engine.

Unplug the wires, and twist off the cap.  The two "prongs" toward the
bottom do nothing besides hold the white styrofoam sleeve from falling
off the bottom.  The sleeve should move up and down about 1/4".

The sleeve has a magnet in it that actuates a reed switch inside the
sensor.  If you have an ohmmeter, test to see if sliding the sleeve UP
closes the circuit.  If not:

Take the white sleeve off and clean it.  The magnetic part gets pretty
corroded.

If that doesn't help:  Take the sensor apart by putting a screwdriver
in the square hole near the top.  Take the guts out and check to see
if they're all there.  Should be a wire going down to the bottom, a
glass encased switch, and a wire coming back.  If the wire is broken,
you can re-splice.

Use some sort of gasket goo to put the top back on to seal out liquids.

If you can't fix it, Bav Motors has it for under $20.  You could also
just twist the wires together.  The normal disclaimers--if you don't
know what you're doing (I don't), or unwilling to accept consequences
(I wasn't) don't try this at home.

While I'm at it--where IS the oil level sensor?
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