Tech Forum : Weird sensor question

g323	Posted Monday, Dec 25th 7:12am [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]
Member Post nr. 59 California 323i 1982	Anybody know what part number 12 63 1 279 720 does? it plugs into the thermostat housing, says 0c. I changed it and the car seems to run better, but im just really curious as to what its there for. Its part 16 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=3072&mospid=47174&btnr=11_0648&hg=11&fg=35&hl=18

myersport	Posted Monday, Dec 25th 6:41pm [Edit] [Quote] [IMS] [View car]
Member Post nr. 184 east tennessee '82 320iS. '91 327iC	Late model 320i's have a similar switch, pn 12.63.1.279.721 that is rated at 17 cel. It is mounted on the engine lift bracket, however. It is a temp switch to allow the engine to run full rich while it is warming up, for improved driveability. It is a simple on/off switch, being open above the marked temp, and closed below. With the 320i, the jetronic ecu controls the mixture (it goes full rich when the ecu sees ground thru the switch), I am not sure on your 323i, unless it has been retrofitted with an O2 sensor and frquency valve, along with an ecu. My old 323i was an earlier model without any electronic mixture devices. --Dennis