wmhjr

I've got a '00 W208. My digital temp in my instrument cluster consistently reads significantly higher temps than actual. for example, when the outside temp is at around 65f it may read 75f. I've looked around but haven't seen anything posted about this. With the exception of a COMAND and CD-Changer install, nothing non-factory on the vehicle. Thanks!

raymond g-

appropos

wmhjr

In my case it's not really erratic. It is ALWAYS high - even before the engine warms up in the morning. That's the really strange thing. Never had this problem on any of my other vehicles. I mean, they're never completely accurate, but nothing has been this far off. My BMW was actually quite accurate - no matter how much or little I drove it. Even my Chevy Silverado truck is relatively accurate.

slvrstar

Yeah, I had the same problem happen to me before also. I actually discussed this on another thread but anyways, other than the reading, the clock display would go on and off. Still under warranty and brought it to the dealer where they switched out the cluster and sensors which corrected the problem.

wmhjr

There is nothing random or intermittent about this. The instrument console works perfectly - with the exception that the digital otuside temperature is always higher than reality. The car is obviously out of warranty so it's not worth dealing with. Oh well.

Hal H

those outside temp sensors go bad. Mine one day in the high 90's read out at 134* while stopped in slow highway traffic. Mine was alway reading 5-8* higher in cooler temps.

Had the dealer replace it and it works fine now. One of things to be careful of, it the plastic pointed tip that's part of the sensor. While washing/drying the bumper insert where it's located (driver's side) be careful not to snag that tip and break it off.

wmhjr

that yours was always reading high "before" it went bad?

splib

Just get a new sensor. It's part A0005428418 and it should cost around $15. It should be easy to install.

Hal H

it probably worked fine for the first 1 1/2 years - it gradually began to read a couple of degrees higher and by the time the car was 2 1/2 yrs old, I had it replaced on a warranty trip to the dealer.

It began reading 80-85* on days when I knew it was only in the low 70s.

The replacement is about 2 years old at this time and works fine.

Like someone else said, just replace it - it's a thermal resistor and there might have been bad batches in some years.

wmhjr

OK, I'll just order a replacement sensor and stick in it. So it's somewhere on the drivers side bumper, right? Any suggestions as to where?

Hal H

I have a CLK320 and the location in that bumper is the small black grill insert that's between the driver side foglight and between the large center grill that is below the bumper.

It looks like the sensor installs from behind. I you have the CLK430, that whole lower section is open up to the foglight, so it might be visible on the driver's side looking into there.

The sensor has this small black plastic conical tip (that's all that shows on my model) that protrudes through a round hole in the small grill insert.

unsung

How long did they take to do this? Mine has been at the dealership for almost two weeks.