Brake lining and Temp Guage

[nvirginiabadboy]

I have a 1986 325e and have recently noticed my brake lining light will come on intermittently, no biggie, I probably do need brakes, but what baffles me is that it only seems to come on when my temp guage is "pegging" from cold to medium. Sometimes after I go somewhere like into a store after its been doing this when I start the car again it will act normal. Could these 2 problems be related in any way? Any advice or input would be appreciated.

 

[Febi Guibo]

I don't think they are related... but also check the pad sensors (front and rear)

 

[echothreezero]

The sensors often fail. Mine used to come on when it rained. I replaced my pads 80km ago and did the sensors at the same time (NZ$15 ea) and problem solved.

 

[nvirginiabadboy]

Thanks guys.

 

[nvirginiabadboy]

what next?

I found the rear brake sensor and pulled it out, it was worn and one of the wires was broken, I snipped the others. The light is on permanently now. Im going to snip the others and see it that kills it. I had the instrument cluster out and took the temp guage out and cleaned the contacts and scraped some crud off the batteries, it seems to work ok now, I should have just pulled the brake lining bulb out while I had it apart. Inside the cluster some of the circuit board looked a little suspect how much should I expect to pay for another cluster?

 

[Febi Guibo]

they are on ebay, figure used for $50 - $85, or $125 at the euro depot... try posting a WTB ad on the various E30 boards.

 

[nvirginiabadboy]

I just bought one from a guy on another forum for $25