Since there is not a true engine temp gauge, there are white striped segments on the right side of the tachometer. My question is: How many segments should be displayed when the engine is operating at normal temperature? What is the range? The owner's manual does not address my concern. How do I know if my "baby" is running too hot?

 

I wouldn't trust the tachometer as for temps. Check the actual temps from the "hidden menu". Here are the instructions to access it: http://www.scoopz.com/m5board/E60_Hi...structions.pdf

- Antti -

 

Thank you replying. I made thru part of the sequence but it seems my thumb is too slow. LOL. but I will keep at it. I get to the lock and system keeps returning to the home page.

 

The tach display is not an over-temp warning device. It is an engine over-speed device. You are supposed to stay out of the white hash mark zone with your RPM. As the car warms up, you are allowed to push higher RPMs.

Your over-temp warning is the dash warning light/iDrive system.

 

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.

 

Make sure you're only adding up the last five digits of your chassis number to get your access code, it doesn't make that clear in those instructions.

The moving hashed line is related to engine oil temperature so isn't really coolant related at all and the engine oil can be up to normal operating temperature when the coolant isn't. It's a common problem with faulty thermostats on diesel engined cars for the engine to be running 20+ degrees too cold, with the owner having no idea anything is wrong.