Hi.I have just joined the forum and bought a 1988 k 100,trying to get the temp guage working it appears that the sender\sensor has been removed and replaced with a plug anyone have any theories why this may have been done apart from the part not being available at short notice,I have also shorted the wire and the guage goes to the red as it should so everything appears to be right there i hope.Is the sender a genuine part only or will a VDO sensor fit (VDO part number anyone) hope i am posting in the correct area.Thanks in advance

yes in the right place lewy ...

welcome to the forum mate

the sensor may have been reading incorrectly if it was not original equipment + not all sensors are the same thread

i have installed a different brand of guage ...but had to do some resistance modifications at the meter end . but have it sorted now ..

you might have to look on the vdo site for the correct model and to find the right sensor to fit ...sorry ive forgotten the thread into the water pump dimensions .

good luck

Thanks mate,Just had another thought when i shorted the sensor wire out and the gauge went into the red should the fan have come on.

no mate ...there are 2 sensors .....the one at the water pump is just an indicator and not tied to the ignition system at all

its the one in the water stub behind the radiator that is the engine management sensor ..

thanks,learning.learning

Most gauges are working on the same principle with the sensors. You could buy one from the usual suspects. The ones sold for cooling water (the ones we can buy for the bike - size/thread) normally will indicate correct with the original bmw gauge. I use a VDO gauge (40-120) with the Moto-Bins temp sensor and it indicates spot-on. IIRC its 50 Ohm for midlevel indication. Put a 50 Ohm resistor between ground and the indicator connection and see what it does?