[Jinxy]

can anybody point me at the location of the external temperature sensor on the X3M as mine seems to be suffering heat soak when the car is parked after a drive.

[YasM3]

Originally Posted by Jinxy

can anybody point me at the location of the external temperature sensor on the X3M as mine seems to be suffering heat soak when the car is parked after a drive.

Why do you think its suffering heatsoak?

[Jinxy]

I drove it , parked up, walked my in laws dog and got back in and it was registering 36c external temperature at 7.30pm in the uk...Same happened when i had to go to the shops, where it was reading much higher than actual outside when i returned.

Both times it drops when moving but as the external temp is showing so high it seems to be upsetting the climate control.

[Anders R]

Not accidentally put in Fahrenheit?

[Jinxy]

No most definitely in degree c was up at 36c and then went down to 9c when I started to drive

[Wills2]

To be honest even if you locate it what are you going to to do? Just go to the dealer if you think there is an issue (clearly there is if it's showing 36c) although I'm not sure it would affect the climate control as that should work with the internal cabin temp not an erroneous external reading.

[freshxdough]

I have actually noticed something like this several times on my M40i and was going to ask it at some point. I notice sometimes while driving that the ambient temp sensor indicates 10-20degrees hotter than what the weather shows, multiple sources as well. Not sure if it's specific to being in sport plus but tends to be much hotter when in Sport plus.

Actively driving should be the most accurate reading because you have active airflow over the sensor.

[YasM3]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

I have actually noticed something like this several times on my M40i and was going to ask it at some point. I notice sometimes while driving that the ambient temp sensor indicates 10-20degrees hotter than what the weather shows, multiple sources as well. Not sure if it's specific to being in sport plus but tends to be much hotter when in Sport plus.

Actively driving should be the most accurate reading because you have active airflow over the sensor.

Exactly, if the car was parked the initial reading is not accurate. Once you drive, it will level off.

For example if its 80* F outside and you parked in a parking lot that the sun is beating on it all day. The asphalt temperature is much greater, probably 100+*F You have heat from your engine and heat from the asphalt heat soaking the sensor. The initial start may show a very high temp at this point. When you start driving and it gets airflow, that temp will settle.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by YasM3

Exactly, if the car was parked the initial reading is not accurate. Once you drive, it will level off.

For example if its 80* F outside and you parked in a parking lot that the sun is beating on it all day. The asphalt temperature is much greater, probably 100+*F You have heat from your engine and heat from the asphalt heat soaking the sensor. The initial start may show a very high temp at this point. When you start driving and it gets airflow, that temp will settle.

Mine seems to be the opposite. While driving it can start to vary greatly. I don't monitor it every day but when it gets really hot outside and I know it's maybe 90-100 degrees and it's showing 110-117 degrees I know it's not accurate

[Anders R]

Originally Posted by YasM3

Exactly, if the car was parked the initial reading is not accurate. Once you drive, it will level off.

For example if its 80* F outside and you parked in a parking lot that the sun is beating on it all day. The asphalt temperature is much greater, probably 100+*F You have heat from your engine and heat from the asphalt heat soaking the sensor. The initial start may show a very high temp at this point. When you start driving and it gets airflow, that temp will settle.

The OP experience a problem of starting the car in the morning, with 36 degrees Celsius showing, when it is probably 10 degrees C, so clearly a problem. Yes, your example is valid but not applicable to the OP’s problem where the ambient temperature is much lower, and not in sunlight.

OP: get it looked at, might just be a faulty sensor, and you are under factory warranty

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Anders R

The OP experience a problem of starting the car in the morning,

A problem starting the car? The post is about erroneous outside temp readings.

[Jinxy]

Its booked in for Wednesday to be looked at, that pic was at 7.30pm at night with the ambient temp being single figures. It'd not be driven hard or anything just parked and when I get back in its at the temp, but the air con blows very very cold and it takes about 5 minutes for the external temperature to come back down to near normal.

Just wondered if somebody knew where it was as previous cars it's been located on the bottom of passenger side wing mirror cover so easy to spot and understand where its getting the wrong reading from when been in the sun etc. Will report back when I get a diagnosis on Wednesday.

[Anders R]

Originally Posted by Wills2

A problem starting the car? The post is about erroneous outside temp readings.

I read the OP as 7.30am, and it is quite clear from my post that I am not talking about a problem starting, but that the problem of erroneous temperature is apparent upon starting the car, meaning it is not heat soak.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Anders R

I read the OP as 7.30am, and it is quite clear from my post that I am not talking about a problem starting, but that the problem of erroneous temperature is apparent upon starting the car, meaning it is not heat soak.

I guess English isn't your first language but that's actually what you said even though the grammar was poor it's what you said.

I even quoted it to make it simple for you.

[smithf80]

Yeah. Sometimes it reads pretty hot after sitting. Then you drive it for like 30 seconds and it fixes itself. If it's stuck and never readjusting, you have a different issue.

[YasM3]

Originally Posted by Anders R

The OP experience a problem of starting the car in the morning, with 36 degrees Celsius showing, when it is probably 10 degrees C, so clearly a problem. Yes, your example is valid but not applicable to the OP’s problem where the ambient temperature is much lower, and not in sunlight.

OP: get it looked at, might just be a faulty sensor, and you are under factory warranty

He never stated ACTUAL ambient temp so its all a guess on what the outside temperature is. He just stated a time of day, I have no idea what the temp is in his location at that time of day.

If the temp is that much higher than ambient and its a cold day etc, clearly something is not right and he needs a trip to the dealer.

[Anders R]

Originally Posted by YasM3

He never stated ACTUAL ambient temp so its all a guess on what the outside temperature is. He just stated a time of day, I have no idea what the temp is in his location at that time of day.

If the temp is that much higher than ambient and its a cold day etc, clearly something is not right and he needs a trip to the dealer.

Agree, I am also just guessing what the actual ambient temperature is in the UK but at 7.30 pm (now I finally got it was in the evening) it would be below 15 degrees C in any case these days, so a delta of at least 20 degrees C. Not right, so clearly a warranty issue

[Anders R]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I guess English isn't your first language but that's actually what you said even though the grammar was poor it's what you said.

I even quoted it to make it simple for you.

Apologies for my poor grammar, and very helpful with the quote, which made me see the errors of my ways

[Klazu]

I had this same problem happen yesterday. A breezy +14C here in Vancouver, BC and I had the car sit outside for an hour. Coming back, the outside temperature was reading as +31C as I started the car. Once I started driving it came down quickly, but it was interesting to note and it made me think of this thread.

I get that the reading can be slightly off, but more than double is a bit odd. Doesn't really bother me but interesting nonetheless.

[Klazu]

Okay, I have now had this happen several times on a MY2021. I haven't identified any pattern to it but it is quite annoying as it will turn on the seat cooling at above +25C.

Not sure if a sensor or software bug as clearly a problem with iDrive 6 and 7.

[Jinxy]

I've had it into the garage twice already and goes back in again tomorrow to look at the sensor and the other electrical/ID7 stuff which doesn't seem to be working right.

First time them replaced a canbus controller and dropped new programming into the car, which made no difference, second time they replaced the sensor, which helped as it doesn't seem to be as often it has the problem, but its still not reading right and seems to be out every now and again.