kingofire

Friends, this is my first MB ever and I come from the Japanese car where the temp gauge is a dummy gauge where the needle rests exactly on the half way mark of C and H. I was expecting that the E350's temp gauge needle to rest half way point too which I believe is 80 degrees. Obviously I was wrong because the temp gauge actually rests between the 1/2 way point and the fully hot mark(120 degrees?). Is this normal? I think mine is close to or at 90 degrees. Where does your temp gauge needle rest? FYI, it is the same when on the highway as city and I did have the defroster(AC) on and the temps were in the high 60's low 70's. Thanks in advance.

hyperion667

I'll be interested to see some feedback on this one.......I'm a temp gauge watcher too, and this being my first MB too, I feel your paranoia man..........
I hope it's just normal........

Dema

It is my forth Benz and all of them had pretty much floating guage pointer. You go slow, temperature is going up, you going fast, temperature is going down. Indeed it is different from Japanes cars where pointer stick in the middle all time.

El Cid

Have had several Japanese cars with temperature gauges and have one now. Why do you think it is a dummy gauge? It will show High if overheating.

Dema

A friend of mine mostly fried engine (required big repair) in his Honda. Problem was that temperature sensor was placed in radiator instead of an engine, so his radiator had leak and when water gone, no temperature hike happened and he continued driving without clue until he could notice smoke from engine. It was too later. European cars have the sensor in engine.

fromthebeginnin

Does it really matter, it's under warranty, ask the dealer.

FTB

kingofire

Ok, wrong choice in words. Mechanics called it an "idiot" gauge because it doesn't give you any sort of a reading i.e. 90 degrees F or what not like a BMW or MB's do. Since there is no value readout in the Japanese cars, they term it an idiot gauge. FWIW or from what I have heard.

P.S. I was doing some research on motor oil and I did get a few hits about Royal Purple Ice, which is known to lower engine temps by being a surfactant and a lot of people has the same concern as me, so right now atleast I am off my paranoia phase

More input from real life experience is still very welcome

jumper4000

I used to have W211 for 3 years and the temperature was always right in the middle. but with 212, as you noticed too, it's always above the middle line. I guess it's normal, but I think they should have re calibrated the gauge, so it would fall right in the middle.