replaced temp housing on 88 535i

[Funky 535i]

I've got an 88 535i (E28?). I've been having problems starting, so my mechanic determined that the temperature sensors are bad. He replaced one, but the other one is not correct. That is to say, the factory-number part is slightly too big to screw into the housing. I assume that means the housing has been changed. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with these old 5 Series, and if so, which is the correct one? It's essentially the same sensor, but the threads of the original part are just a little too big and thus it doesn't screw in. My only other thought is to take it to a dealer and ask them to match the threads, but that's a sort of a needle-in-a-haystack situation.

I know that the sensor that's currently in is a VDO. But there are a million numbers on it, and none seem to match up to part numbers.

Any thoughts?

 

[E30m42cab]

couldn't he just rethread either the sensor or the housing? Also, there were two diffenent sensors on these cars 82-85 had one type, 86-88 had another... probably just got the wrong one.

 

[E30m42cab]

...and yes, it's an E28

 

[E30m42cab]

Oh, and if you take it to a dealer, they won't have one in stock to match the threads, you'll have to order one (or both) and to order a part, you need to pay for it first before they order it.