Temp displayed constantly?

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-30-2004, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

I don't even know what VB is, let alone being ready to do it! haha

VB=Visual Basic=Programming Language

**Iamthehor** · 12-30-2004, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

It depends on where exactly that sensor is too. Our both our cars the intake is right behind the drivers side headlight next to the grill. If thta sensor is in the airbox then the read it gets should be close to ambiant. If the sensor is closer to the manifold, it'll be much much hotter.

It's usually about halfway between the air filter and the throttle body, after the MAF sensor. The biggest problems using that sensor is that it will fluctuate with RPM, uses moving (possibility pre-heated) air, and you have no way of telling how accurate it is vs the *C or *f scale. The car doesnt care if the air is 20* or 50* it just reactes the the voltage and compares it downstream with the O2 data to determine the a/f ratio

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-30-2004, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Iamthehor

It's usually about halfway between the air filter and the throttle body, after the MAF sensor. The biggest problems using that sensor is that it will fluctuate with RPM, uses moving (possibility pre-heated) air, and you have no way of telling how accurate it is vs the *C or *f scale. The car doesnt care if the air is 20* or 50* it just reactes the the voltage and compares it downstream with the O2 data to determine the a/f ratio

Our temp sensors have no connection to anything that affects our a/f ratio.

**Iamthehor** · 12-30-2004, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Paradigm_Guy

Our temp sensors have no connection to anything that affects our a/f ratio.

I'm talking about the IAT sensor that he would be reading through his OBD2 interface

The sensor that you are referring to would be much better as it is calibrated for reading ambiant temp and already has the support electronics built in. If the display was a only for outside temp and the electronics are with the display, I'd bet that the data being sent is a standard protocol and might just act nicely with a serial port but i have no way to test that theory and my experience with german engineering is that they like to reinvent the wheel in many cases.

Skipjacks, if you are interested in learning a little programming, VB is pretty easy to pick up the little stuff on.

**Skipjacks** · 12-30-2004, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Iamthehor

my experience with german engineering is that they like to reinvent the wheel in many cases.

I see you're familiar with BMW's then...hahaha

Honestly I just bought clips to hold trim peices on the car today and they are the 4th different design I've seen for little plastic clips for the same car! Wouldn't suprise me if the whole car is programed with BMW's own custom OS.

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-30-2004, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Iamthehor

I'm talking about the IAT sensor that he would be reading through his OBD2 interface

The sensor that you are referring to would be much better as it is calibrated for reading ambiant temp and already has the support electronics built in. If the display was a only for outside temp and the electronics are with the display, I'd bet that the data being sent is a standard protocol and might just act nicely with a serial port but i have no way to test that theory and my experience with german engineering is that they like to reinvent the wheel in many cases.

Skipjacks, if you are interested in learning a little programming, VB is pretty easy to pick up the little stuff on.

Ahh, our IAT sensor is mounted on the bottom of the intake manifold. The temps are a BIT higher than ambient temps.

**Skipjacks** · 12-30-2004, 03:50 PM

The point is that someone with a BMW and more of a clue than I have about programming and computers needs to test the output of the ambiant air temp sensor and see if it can interface with a computer.

Any takers? Anyone?

Any rich software engineers out there just dying to screw with your BMW? Come on, you know you want to!

**Paradigm_Guy** · 12-30-2004, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

The point is that someone with a BMW and more of a clue than I have about programming and computers needs to test the output of the ambiant air temp sensor and see if it can interface with a computer.

Any takers? Anyone?

Any rich software engineers out there just dying to screw with your BMW? Come on, you know you want to!

I don't know what I'm doing, but I should be able to figure it out.

Any idea on a good grill mounted camera? Do you have AIM?

**Skipjacks** · 12-30-2004, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Paradigm_Guy

I don't know what I'm doing, but I should be able to figure it out.

Any idea on a good grill mounted camera? Do you have AIM?

I had thought about mouting a camera. DIdn't know where or why. But I've got two logitech web cams sitting around doing nothing. Comcast keeps giving them to me when I sign up / change my service. I thought about having them somewhere to be able to watching something. Don't know what yet. Maybe have one aimed at the break rotors like on NASCAR. That's always a fun shot for TV.

I can't think of a useful need for a camera though. Just fun uses. I don't need a backup cam. I can see out the back just fine. I'm already looking out the front. Maybe a camera to see how well my car clears speed bumps....(I'm not being sarcastic about that either....that might be cool)