BRAKE CALIPER PAINTING
Model : Mercedes-Benz, 190 - Series Category : Brakes
... ''geese i've got three more calipers to do, and only 2 beers left.'' Have your buddy go to the nearest liquor store to handle that problem. Meanwhile, take the scrub brush again and clean it off well. Scrub again to clean it extra. Wipe it off w/ the rag really well and make sure it's all dry. Mask that baby w/ tape and newspaper. Don't forget to mask the brake rotor for crying out loud ;=). ... (more)
Posted : 18 June 2005  
 
Brake Bias Spring Installation
Model : Chevrolet, Corvette Category : Brakes
... part. The new spring is considerably stiffer than the stock spring. You need to put the fiber retainer on the end of the nut and then the nut assembly over the end of the spring. You will have to compress the spring to get the nut to the threads. I used a small, flat bar to push down on the nut while turning it with the wrench. I didn't find a torque specification for the nut but it should ... (more)
Posted : 9 June 2005  
 
Bearing Removal
Model : Nissan, Maxima Category : Driveterrain - Transmission - Manual
... squeeze the bearing from both sides, and then I could pull it off, but the largest size they had was too small. I picked it up anyways thinking it should work. Well it did not. I ground out the opening of the puller, and tried it again. It did not work, and it broke the roller cage. Now all I had to grab was the inner race. After a total of 7 hours the bearing was still on. I only have one ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
Bose Stereo System Testing
Model : Audi, S4 Category : Electrical - Radio
... ya... road noise masks a lot of it. The sub reproduces the dynamics and transient response that the stock system is missing. Don't be deceived by what appears to be a small gain in the graph... it makes a BIG difference. Remember that it takes double the power to realize a 3dB increase in sound pressure level and 6dB is a doubling of the sound pressure level. Most people perceive something as ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
B6 Avant Stereo Upgrade
Model : Audi, A4 Category : Electrical - Radio
... split loom tubing.Here the pollen filter is reattached, and the AGU fuse holder is bolted onto its rim. I have made an aluminum plate so the screw does not sit against the plastic, the alu plate works as a big washer in essence distributing the force so the rim of the pollen filter would not get torn.I connected the cable to the 150A main fuse's hot side so it is not fused through the 150A ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
Bypass Valve Testing
Model : Audi, S4 Category : Engine
... the results. Forge vs Stock Bosch Bypass Valve Stock Forge Street Forge Race Pull open (inhg) less than 1" 2" 6" Push open (PSI) 3 5 9.5 In the graphs below the red "Requested Boost" line is the boost pressure the engine computer was calling for. The red line abruptly dropping is the result of lifting off the throttle to shift gears. The steeper the positive slope of ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
B5 A4 Engine Mount Replacement
Model : Audi, A4 Category : Engine
... I used a hydraulic jack, a piece of 2x4, and a piece of 3/4'' plywood to push on both the oil pan and the snub mount bracket. Don't raise the engine, or raise it just a hair so you know you have it. Make sure this is stable. I put a jackstand next to it for safety (engine's...not mine). 9) Remove the three 18mm (who the f' uses 18mm bolts...f'n Audi...had to run to the store for that) bolts ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
Bra (Nose Mask)
Model : Audi Category : Exterior
... and whole thing extends about one foot up the hood. The bottom piece covers the entire bumper and about one foot of the fenders. It's gone from Denver to Chicago to Vegas and back without any problems. Be warned that car bras have to be kept clean and dry to prevent paint damage. Also, it does cover that great looking nose on the A4! I bought my Colgan bra from a local Denver auto parts ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
B-Pillar Rattles
Model : Audi Category : Exterior
... are all Torx-20, sometimes called ''star hex'' if you're not familiar with them. First, open both doors on the side you are working on. You will see a plastic panel at the bottom of the B-pillar cover. Simply pull up and out, it will pop off. Two bolts are located there. The other two bolts are about four inches from the roofline, one on each side of the B-pillar cover. Pull back the rubber ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
BOSCH Euro Headlight Installation (for pre '99.5)
Model : Audi, A4 Category : Lights
... Insert the clear 5W bulb into the remaining lamp opening. Lock the bulbs in the new units with the retaining wire clips. Wire the City Lights (city light only) (NOTE: This implementation will run the parking lights and city lights together) Cut the casing around the wires leading to the corner lamp. Make the cut far enough up the casing (away from the connector) so that the new wire will have ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
Boost Gauge Installation Audi TT 2001 180CQ
Model : Audi, TT Category : Interior
... some insulation wrap your supply wire, solder, tape. For a ground you can use the factory supplied ground post that conveniently has room for other wires, (it's a 10mm nut, on a stud that faces to the rear of the car under the dash) Brown is the ground color for all VAG cars, so you can confirm you have the right stud since only brown wires will be there, and it's visibly connected to unpainted ... (more)
Posted : 7 June 2005  
 
Brake pad removal and installation for Brembo
Model : Audi, S4 Category : Brakes
... pins.Step 4: Protecting paint from brake fluidOpen Hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir. On A4's and S4's it is located next to the battery cover, between the inside and outside firewall. Unscrew cap. The cap has a circular symbol on it, and the cap should be yellow. Using several rags or shop towels, surround the cap to prevent any brake fluid spill to drip below. See picture ... (more)
Posted : 6 June 2005  
 
Brake Vents: The Cure For Brake Fade!
Model : Audi, A4 Category : Brakes
... ready to spend a full afternoon to do it. If you don't feel comfortable cutting your car then you need find a shop that sets up racecars. As a side note I don't think the brake vents will work for anyone who wants to retain fog lights because that's really the only location for the air scoop. This project worked great for me but don't guarantee any information here because they've only been on ... (more)
Posted : 6 June 2005  
 
Brake Disk Shield Installation
Model : Audi, A4 Category : Brakes
... grommet out of the bracket and disconnect the brake pad wear sensor connector. Remove caliper and suspend using any available wire tied to the upper suspension/steering components. Make sure that the brake hose ends are not bent dramatically causing them to crack. Sorry no pictures of this step. Using the 17mm socket, remove the two bolts securing the brake carrier to the wheel bearing ... (more)
Posted : 6 June 2005  
 
Boxster Door Sill Installation
Model : Porsche, Boxster Category : Interior
... complement to the Boxster appearance. We also have them in carbon fiber, for a unique high-tech look. On either stainless or carbon fiber, the Boxster logo is subtly understated. The pictures don’t really do the stainless steel sills justice—they are hard to photograph. When you buy your door sills from Pelican Parts, you can rest assured that these are the genuine article, made in ... (more)
Posted : 6 June 2005  
 
Boxster Oil Change
Model : Porsche, Boxster Category : Misc
... a plastic housing with a replaceable paper cartridge. This plastic housing is meant to be reused indefinitely, so don’t use pliers or any other tools for removal that might pierce or crack the housing. To begin, jack up the car, and use safety stands. Make sure it is secure, because you will be working underneath. For the correct way to jack up your Boxster, see ... (more)
Posted : 6 June 2005  
 
Bleeding 914 Brakes
Model : Porsche, 914 - Series Category : Brakes
... right rear caliper, the one that's located furthest away from the master cylinder. You will have to remove the rear wheels of the car to easily get to the rear caliper. The front wheels can be turned for access to the calipers. Bleed the right rear caliper by attaching a hose to the bleed nipple, placing it in a jar, and then opening the valve with a 7mm wrench. A bleeder nipple is shown in ... (more)
Posted : 5 June 2005  
 
Bleeding Porsche Brakes
Model : Porsche, 914 - Series Category : Brakes
... fluid stops coming out of the bleeder valve, close the valve, and then tell your family member to let their foot off of the pedal. Do not let them take their foot off until you have completely closed the valve. Repeat this motion for each valve at least three times. Repeat this entire procedure for all the valves in the same order as described previously. Then, let the car sit for about 10 ... (more)
Posted : 5 June 2005  
 
Brake Cooling Kit Installation
Model : Porsche Category : Brakes
... kit that bolts up to the brakes. Be sure to order the hub blocking plate also. To start, safely jack the car up and use jack stands. Remove the front tires so that you can see the brakes (see figure one). Next remove the two bolts that secure the calipers to the strut. Also, remove the spring clip to add flex in the lines. Separate the caliper from the strut and hold it up with tie straps. ... (more)
Posted : 5 June 2005  
 
Brighter Instrument Lights for your Porsche
Model : Porsche, 911 - Series Category : Interior
... is to replace these old bulbs with new ones, a procedure that can be done in just a few minutes’ time. For a 911SC, you will need a total of eight 12 volt, 2 watt bulbs—“indicator lamps”, as they are termed by Osram, one of the manufacturers. To begin, pull the instrument from the dash. In the early cars, before the early 70s, this takes a bit more work, because the ... (more)
Posted : 3 June 2005  
 
Borla Pics
Model : Ford, Probe Category : Exhaust
... Borla exhaust. The photos from under the car were taken with a Kodak DC-50 digital camera while the car was on the lift at the muffler shop. Click the thumbnails to get bigger (about 35K) pictures. Pre-installation photo of the complete Borla cat-back system. Close up of muffler section, also pre-installation. Muffler section, as it looks when installed. Shows connection between stock cat. and ... (more)
Posted : 3 June 2005  
 
Brighter Instrument Lights for your Porsche
Model : Porsche Category : Interior
... be done in just a few minutes’ time. For a 911SC, you will need a total of eight 12 volt, 2 watt bulbs—“indicator lamps”, as they are termed by Osram, one of the manufacturers. To begin, pull the instrument from the dash. In the early cars, before the early 70s, this takes a bit more work, because the instruments are held in the dash with a U-shaped bracket, which must be ... (more)
Posted : 1 June 2005  
 
Bleeding Brakes
Model : Porsche, 911 - Series Category : Brakes
... can become dislodged and cleared out by the quick rush of brake fluid when you press on the brake pedal. The procedure for bleeding the brakes using the brake pedal is pretty straightforward. Attach a small rubber hose to the brake caliper nipple and let the other end hang inside an empty container. Ask your assistant to firmly and quickly press on the pedal 3 times, and hold it down the ... (more)
Posted : 1 June 2005  
 
Buying Advice for a G50 Q45 (90-96)
Model : Infiniti, Q45 Category : Misc
... fail, especially in areas with iffy gas. California and Arizona are the worst. In my opinion, these are overall the best Q45s to get because of the better reliability and lower cost to own, and more luxury. Note here that I own a 1994 Q45. However, it has not by any stretch of the imagination undergone drastic changes; its still very much a drivers car.The 96 model year got OBDII and lost ... (more)
Posted : 26 May 2005  
 
Build Your Own Low Cost FCD
Model : Mazda, RX, RX - 7 Base Category : Electrical
... any perf board or box may be used. Construction This circuit is not very sensitive to construction techniques. You can wire wrap it, use point to point wiring on a perf board, dead bug, PCB, or whatever works for you. If you use the perf board specified above, you will probably find that wire-wrap or point-to-point wiring makes the most sense. Connection between adjacent pads can easily be made ... (more)
Posted : 25 May 2005  
 
Build Your Own Low Cost FCD
Model : Mazda, RX, RX - 7 Base Category : Fuel System
... board specified above, you will probably find that wire-wrap or point-to-point wiring makes the most sense. Connection between adjacent pads can easily be made using small pieces of wire (or even solder bridges), resulting in a pretty dense layout. For those who aren't familiar with the dead bug approach, it involves epoxying the IC on its back on a piece of metal or plastic (metal is better ... (more)
Posted : 25 May 2005  
 
Becker Radio
Model : Mercedes-Benz, S - Class, S500 coupe Category : Electrical - Radio
... 'FMAMR' displays. - Press the 'TUNE' button until '200:10' appears. This means American standards: 200Khz FM and 10Khz AM spacing. Alternately, 100:9 means 100Khz FM and 9Khz AM spacing. - Press and hold the 'SC' button until 'FMAMR' reappears - Turn the radio off. It has now been programmed to American radio standards. Thanks to information from Horst Becker via Willy Mena Description and ... (more)
Posted : 25 May 2005  
 
Base Module N16/1
Model : Mercedes-Benz, S - Class, S500 coupe Category : Electrical
... indicator lamp (MIL), A1e26 - LH-SFI control module (N3/1) - Diagnostic module (N59) on California engines - Fuel pump relay module (K27) - Ignition control module (N1/3) knock sensor - Fuel injectors (Y62) F3 Fused voltage supply for: - SPS (N49/1) control module - ADS (N51) control module - TCM (5-speed automatic (N15/1) control module F4 Fused voltage supply for: - Secondary air ... (more)
Posted : 25 May 2005  
 
BMW 5-Series Front Wheel Bearing Replacement
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E39) 1996-03 Category : Misc
... Rather than using those marks, it's easier and to draw your own, with a permanent laundry marker, on the strut and steering knuckle. Clean the dirt off and mark one or two vertical lines on the strut and the aluminum knuckle. A closer view of the alignment marks. A horizontal line is not required since the strut has a shoulder that sits firmly in the knuckle. Also, the strut will have a sharp ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW Navigation System Service Mode
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E39) 1996-03 Category : Electrical - Other
... Sensor check return, then select Telematics settings You can actually input some of your own data such as Lic. plate and Color. email - khu@altavista.com --> TV upgrade option for NAV system(archive link: http://www.bimmer.org/5series/messages/archive/msgsy2000w51/9182.html) Posted by SVTWEB on December 19, 2000 at 08:59:29: (posted from: cc368628-a.owml1.md.home.com (24.3.39.145)) If there ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW DSP Woofer System
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E39) 1996-03 Category : Electrical - Radio
... After removing the enclosure I measured that I can place a 32 5/8" wide x 16.5" tall custom sealed enclosure to fire through the armrest into the cabin. (I plan to place a 12" Square Kicker Solobaric into the enclosure I build) (See Comments Between Pictures) Enclosure in stock location hanging from deck Removable with 5/16" socket and flathead screwdriver from trunk 3 ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Differential Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Driveterrain
... seen Porsches in the past where jacks have punctured the floorboards. A handy reference is Waynes article on jacking up your BMW.http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Jacking_Up/E36-Jacking_Up.htmNow jack up the front wheels of the car as well. We will want to get the car as level as possible in order to drain all the old fluid out of the differential. Now crawl under the car and ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW VIN decoding
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Misc
... More VIN decoding information Gustavo Melo Back SECTIONS :: Audio :: Body :: Brakes :: Cooling System :: Driving :: Electrical :: Engine :: Fuel System :: Interior :: Misc. & Useful Info :: Performance :: Specifications :: Suspension & Steering :: Transmission :: Troubleshooting :: Ventilation & A/C SHOW ALL SUBMIT ARTICLE Note: Be careful when using any of the procedures described on this ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW engine and body codes
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Misc
... series from 1972 (4 Cyl.)E12/55 series with small 6 cyl.E12/65 series with big 6 Cyl.E213 series from 1975E21/53 series with small 6 Cyl.E237 series from 1977E246 series coupes (628-635 CSi/M6)E26Motorsports M1 with M88 engineE282nd version 5 series from 1981E302nd version 3 series from 1982E318 series coupe from 1990E322nd version 7 series from 1986E343rd version 5 series from 1988E363rd ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW On Board Diagnostics
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Misc
... times and lastly four times. If you read it correctly this means that the SI light is reading out the code 1244 (faulty camshaft sensor) The codes appear as a series of flashes for each digit. The flashes indicating one digit are about one second apart, the next digit will appear after a couple seconds interval. If there are no faults in the car, the computer will flash out the number 1444. ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3-Series Parking Brake Adjustment
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... causing them to not grip the inside of the rotor. The solution is to re-adjust the shoes so that they again come into contact with the rotor. Heres how it is done. Start off by chocking the front wheels. This will keep the car from rolling when you jack up the rear wheels, which is the next step. For those of you not familiar with jacking up the rear end, I highly recommend you check out ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Air Conditioning Recharging and Repair
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Interior - Heating and Air Conditioning
... over your system. The first step is to verify that the compressor kicks on when you hit the switch. Start the engine, then turn the A/C fan on to maximum and press the A/C button on. Now open the hood and look down at the compressor on the passenger side down near the radiator. Look at the front of the compressor.. Is the clutch engaged? What you are looking for is the plate on the very front ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Rear Wheel Bearing
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Wheels and Tires - Wheel Bearings
... the lines. Now, remove the two 19mm bolts that hold the caliper mounting bracket to the hub, and remove the caliper mounting brackets. We now must remove the brake rotors. This is done by first removing the small Allen head set screw in the front of the rotor. You may find it helpful to spray these bolts with a good penetrant spray like WD-40 and let them sit overnight. This will prevent the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Front Wheel Bearing Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Wheels and Tires - Wheel Bearings
... you may rip the lines. Now, remove the two 19mm bolts that hold the caliper mounting bracket to the hub, and remove the caliper mounting brackets. We now must remove the brake rotors. This is done by first removing the small Allen head set screw in the front of the rotor. You may find it helpful to spray these bolts with a good penetrant spray like WD-40 and let them sit overnight. This will ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Idle Speed Troubleshooting
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Misc
... valve. On the right side is the vacuum attachment for the power brakes. Start out on the right side and loosen the hose clamp holding the brake fitting into the intake air boot. Now, on the right side, disconnect the electrical connector from the idle control valve, and remove the rubber strap holding the valve to the bracket. Now look at the other vacuum hose off the valve. We will ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 Rear Disc Brake Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... over the edge. (Ask me how I know this.) The next step to remove the rotors is to remove the brake caliper bracket that sits on the back of the hub. You will notice two large bolts holding it to the hub. Remove these two bolts, and remove the caliper bracket. The brake rotor should now come free. Once you have the brake rotors removed, take them to the auto parts store, machine shop, etc.. ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 Front Disc Brake Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... and a potential nightmare that will send you screaming over the edge. (Ask me how I know this.) The next step to remove the rotors is to remove the brake caliper bracket that sits on the back of the hub. You will notice two large bolts holding it to the hub. Remove these two bolts, and remove the caliper bracket. The brake rotor should now come free. Once you have the brake rotors removed, take ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Building a brake bleeder
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... -- 2 feet of 3/8" OD x 1/4 ID vinyl hoseto go from Tank #1 to the cap #3.HOSE -- 2 feet of 5/16" OD hoseto drain the fluid into Tank #2.HOSE -- 9" of stiff 1/4" OD tubing to fit inside Tank #1 from the drilled valve down to a corner in the tank (take a look at the pesticide tank in your garage if you can't visualize this).VALVE STEMS -- 4 metal type screw valve ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Cross-Drilled Front Brake Rotor Upgrade
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... a tendency to rust to the rotor face. It may even be helpful to carefully heat up the bolt with a torch. CAUTION: be sure to take extreme safety precautions anytime you are working with a torch. This means wearing the correct clothing, safety goggles, and making sure there is no flammable material in the immediate area. Next, have a helper apply the brakes. This will secure the brake rotor ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Brakes troubleshooting
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... brakesMaster cylinder pistons not fully returningClogged brake linesHandbrake incorrectly adjustedGrabbing or uneven brakingFaulty brake servo unitBinding brake pedal mechanismSpongy pedal when depressedAir in systemMaster cylinder mounting bolts loosefaulty master cylinderPedal travels to floor with little resistanceLittle or no fluid in the reservoir. Suspect leaking caliper ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Bedding in new pads and rotors
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... slowdown, immediately accelerate back to 60mph. DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! (Note: With less aggressive street pads and/or stock brake calipers, you may need to do this fewer times. If your pedal gets soft or you feel the brakes going away, then you've done enough. Proceed to the next step.) During this process, you must not come to a complete stop because you will transfer (imprint) pad ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Bleeding the brakes system
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Brakes
... the fluids moving.With the brake line closest to the fluid reservoir, open your calliper nipple. With the first line, you want to completely replace the fluid in the reservoir with fresh fluid (unless you did this prior to beginning). Close the nipple when the fluid is very clean and when you see no more air bubbles.Work your way towards the longest brake line's calliper and repeat this ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 Coolant Temp Sensor Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... to clean all this off prior to removing the sensor. Ive heard a lot of different ways to remove rust, but believe it or not, the best way Ive found is to go to your local vending machine and buy a can of Coke. A toothbrush and some Coke will clean up just about any rust you can imagine. (this is another convincing argument why soda pop is bad for you.) just get it clean and pull the old ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Front Suspension Bushing Overhaul
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Suspension
... I have found that it is possible to have only the joints replaced. You will find it nearly impossible to get these joints out without use of a hydraulic press. IN certain circumstances, the ball joints are spot-welded in and can be simply drilled out. Have the machine shop press the new ball joints in for you as well. To remove the rear control arm rubber bushing, we will need to use a ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Rear Sway Bar Drop Link Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Suspension
... the car is up in the air and secured on the jack stands, remove the rear wheels. Behind the rotor/hub assembly, you will see the complete sway bar assembly attached to the rear trailing arms. The first step in restoring the bushings is to locate the suspension drop links. These are used to attach the sway bar to the trailing arms. If you look on the top the arms, you will see the mounting ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3-Series Sway Bar Bushing/ Drop Link Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Suspension - Bushings
... Repeat this for both sides. Next, locate the drop links. They will behind the brake rotor assembly. One end attaches to the sway bar itself, the other connects to the control arm. Start out by disconnecting the upper mounting bolt on the drop link. This will allow you to remove the drop link from the sway bar. Now we will need to remove the sway bar itself from the chassis. This is done by ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Rear Sway Bar Bushing Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Suspension - Bushings
... mind that you must jack the rear up from a good structural point on the car, such as a frame rail or a suspension carrier. Otherwise, you risk putting the jack right through the floor of the car. (I have seen this happen on a Porsche 914, and its not pretty). For those of you who are not familiar with jacking the car up, I highly recommend you read Waynes article on jacking up the E36. It does ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Performance Chip Installation
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Electrical
... will separate. Now, go to the tabs at the front of the connector. Push them inwards, and at the same time, angle the board up. What this will do is lock the tabs inward, and help you remove the board. You may have to use a certain amount of force to get it out, but be very careful. If you feel anything hanging up, STOP, look around and see what the problem is. The board should now slide out of ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Blinking Sidemarker Modification For BMW E30 3 Series
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93, 318i Category : Electrical
... be able to just reach in through the sidemarker holes and pull it off and through the hole. In the later cars with plastic bumpers (like mine) you will have to remove the front bumper in order to access the connector. This is easy. Just remove the two mounting bolts for the bumper in the front and pull it forward. Once free, disconnect the harness. On the turn signal harness, you will see ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Broken Backup Light (and sloppy shift!)
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Lights
... and red for Green-White, made sure it wont short and will hold, and drilled a hole away from the rubber boot (the first was too close). Then I pulled the wires through, pulled up the wire from the tranny switch with an aluminum snare, and soldered the blue and red wires correctly colour coded and sleeved with heatshrink tubing on. Then I fed enough blue-red wire to give a little slack to the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 Rear Speaker Installation
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Electrical - Radio - Speakers
... some really nice universal fit speaker spacers. These sit over the factory holes and have enough height to allow the 6x9s to fit in with no clearance problems. I had originally considered painting the spacers tan, to match the interior of the car, however the black finish looks very nice and seems to fit in with the esthetics of the car. Before we start to install the new spacers, we will need ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3-Series Gauge Face Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Interior
... the back of the cluster. Its a good idea to mark each connection to where it plugs in, or make a diagram. In most cases, the large multi-wire connectors are color-coded to the plugs on the back of the cluster. Now unplug everything and remove the cluster from the car. Take the cluster to a good work area and look at the back of the unit. You will see a series of Phillips head screws along the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3-Series Instrument Light Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Interior
... the dash. We now have to remove the lower dash panel. This is done by removing the three plastic screws at the top edge and the three screws at the bottom. Pull the door chime buzzer out of its holder on the panel and set the panel aside. Now reach up under the dash and on both the left and right, locate the two knurled nuts. Remove the knurled nuts and pull the front fascia panel off the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Blacking Out Chrome Trim On BMW E30 3 Series
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Exterior
... available from Pelican Parts (shameless company plug, sorry.) I decided to use Wurths Satin Black Trim paint for this. It is designed to be used on chrome surfaces. Before you begin to paint, make sure that it is at least 70 degrees F. outside and not over 90 Degrees. This will make sure that the paint flows correctly. It if is too cold or hot the paint could run. Now, shake the can until the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW 3-Series E30 Valve Adjustment
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Engine
... Once they are removed, move the bracket out of the way. Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Once the valve cover nuts have been removed, pull the valve cover off. You may find that the valve cover seems stuck or is not moving. In this case, carefully place a flat-head screwdriver along the seam where the valve cover mounts to the head and very lightly tap it with a hammer until you have broken the ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Building a cold air-box for a cone-type airfilter
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Engine
... they REALLY going to keep the hot air in the engine bay away from the cone?The best way to go is to make your own enclosure out of sheet aluminum. There are no absolute rules on how to do this, and there are probably better ideas than mine out there, but this is how I recommend:WHAT YOU NEEDSome sheet aluminum. Not too thick (heavy, can't bend on a sheetmetal brake), nor too thin (noisy ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Motor Mount Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Engine
... to jack up the front of your car, I highly recommend you check out Waynes article on jacking up your BMW. It applies to the E36 3 Series, however it will provide you with a clear understanding of how to jack up your BMW correctly. Here is a link for the article.http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Jacking_Up/E36-Jacking_Up.htm Once the front end is up on jack stands and is firmly ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Ignition System Tune-Up
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Electrical - Ignition
... Keep in mind that spark plugs are usually a great indicator of how well your engine is running. Many times, I have made mixture and timing adjustments on older cars just by looking at the plugs. Before we install the new plugs, check the ignition gap. Most plugs nowadays come pre-gapped however; I always check the ignition gap. Theres always that one time you get the spark plug that ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Differential Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E30) 1983-93 Category : Driveterrain - Differential
... seen Porsches in the past where jacks have punctured the floorboards. A handy reference is Waynes article on jacking up your BMW.http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Jacking_Up/E36-Jacking_Up.htmNow jack up the front wheels of the car as well. We will want to get the car as level as possible in order to drain all the old fluid out of the differential. Now crawl under the car and ... (more)
Posted : 24 May 2005  
 
Brake System
Model : Ford, Focus Category : Brakes
... variants.The hydraulic system provides separate circuits for each pair of diagonally opposed wheels (left front, right rear and right front, left rear). The front calipers, mounted on the wheel knuckle, are of single sliding piston design which make sure that equal effort is applied through both brake pads. The pads in all cases are asbestos free.The rear drum brakes are of conventional ... (more)
Posted : 20 May 2005  
 
Battery Charging
Model : Ford, Focus Category : Electrical - Battery
... maximum level mark is approximately 40mm below the top of the battery. Place the battery on a level surface and check the electrolyte level through the casing, reaches the indicated maximum mark. WARNING: It is important not to overfill a battery, as this can cause acid leakage and corrosion damage to the vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury. 2. If the level ... (more)
Posted : 20 May 2005  
 
Brake System Bleeding
Model : Ford, Focus Category : Brakes
... must be immediately washed down with cold water. Note: Make sure that the vehicle is standing on a level surface. Note: The system consists of separate circuits for each front and diagonally opposite rear wheel. Each circuit can be bled independently. All Vehicles 2. CAUTION: The brake fluid reservoir must remain full with new, clean brake fluid at all times during bleeding. Note: Start ... (more)
Posted : 20 May 2005  
 
B-Pillar Trim Panel
Model : Ford, Focus Category : Interior - Doors
... Merchandise >>> Project Car 1 >>> Project Car 2 >>> Ride Of The Month >>> ROTM Entry Form >>> Screensavers >>> SVT Focus >>> TF Decals >>> TF Staff Directory B-Pillar Trim Panel Removal 1. Detach the safety belt lower anchor. Remove the safety belt bolt from the anchor. 2. Remove the B-pillar trim panel retaining ... (more)
Posted : 20 May 2005  
 
Beginners guide to performance modifications
Model : Ford, Mustang Category : Misc
... pressure). The rest of the exhaust system is still OK for the amount of HP you have right now, probably a bit above 260 HP at the crank if your car is a 5 speed and about 250 if its an automatic. 6. Now we have to take care of the most restrictive part of the intake, the UPPER and LOWER manifolds. Here you will find lots of choices such as Long and Short runner manifolds of different brands ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
Brake pad change
Model : Ford, Mustang Category : Brakes
... in the piston and spin. To compress the piston, use an old brake pad, and put the C-clamp over the pad and the back of the caliper. Very slowly tighten the clamp until the piston is flush... If you go two fast, it will back flood the master cylinder and fluid will spill out. Not really a problem but brake fluid eats paint and rubber parts so be cautious.. if it comes out, before you take off, ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
Build a EEC IV Code Scanner
Model : Ford, Mustang Category : Misc
... Meter into plastic enclosure Step 2 Install main power switch and test start switch into plastic enclosure Step 3 Install terminal block inside of the plastic enclosure Step 4 Wire from side 1 of main power switch to positive side of meter Step 5 Wire from side 2 of main power switch to outside of enclosure and attach fuse holder. Wire from fuse holder (with sufficient length to reach battery) ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
Borla Stainless Steel Header Install
Model : Jeep, TJ Category : Exhaust - Headers
... Fig 2.0 Fig 2.1 Fig 2.2 Once everything was cleaned up it was time to fit the new gasket for the Borla exhaust Header (Fig 2.1). There is two positioning pins that locate the gasket in place to ensure it is installed correctly see Fig 2.0. Once you have the gasket in place you can attach the Borla header (FIG 2.2) and hold it in with a bolt preferably in Bolt location #1 as this is one of the ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
Brake System FAQ's & Tech Tips
Model : Ford, Thunderbird Category : Brakes
... can be visually checked for cracks and damage, or missing teeth. Sensors can be disconnected and checked with an ohm meter. If you encounter this condition, and need specs, you can email me at bswanson@netcom.ca with the model year, engine and trany type and ABS fault code (if any) and I will send you, via e-mail, code definitions and measurement specs, which will hopefully diagnose the ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
Bobble Strut Installation
Model : Dodge, Neon Category : Suspension - Shocks/struts
... bolt through. Put the nut on and tighten to 40 ft/lbs. That's it! Now for the AFX installation. This is a little different for a few reasons. First, the mounting system at the top is slightly different. Second, all the bolts on the strut are standard (DOH!). Third, this strut is adjustable! Step one. Unlike the above install, your best bet here is to bolt the lower part in ... (more)
Posted : 19 May 2005  
 
BMW Fuel Pump Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Fuel System
... when working near fuel or fuel tanks.Gasoline vapors are strong, harmful, and can cause you to become drowsy and not think straight. Always perform work in a well-ventilated area with plenty of fresh air blowing through.Always disconnect the batter when working on the fuel system. Leave it disconnected for at least 30 minutes to allow any residual electrical charge in components to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Injector Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Fuel System
... careful not to drop these, as they can fall into the recesses of your engine, and be very difficult to fish out. In most cases, you only need to undo one side of the metal clips, and the side will pop out when you lift up on the wire harness box. Start with the injector that is closest to the front of the car, and word towards #6, which is located at the rear. With the clips disconnected, you ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Differential Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Differential
... seen Porsches in the past where jacks have punctured the floorboards. A handy reference is Waynes article on jacking up your BMW.http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Jacking_Up/E36-Jacking_Up.htmNow jack up the front wheels of the car as well. We will want to get the car as level as possible in order to drain all the old fluid out of the differential. Now crawl under the car and ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Transmission Coolant Lines Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Transmission
... slowly leaking fluid for quite some time. If I hadn't caught the problem, the transmission would have run dry and probably would have been damaged beyond repair. As a result, I recommend that all BMW automatic transmission owners check their fluid often - the alternative could be very expensive. From underneath the car, you can clearly see the two transmission lines. They have a unique bend to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW e36 Differential Swap
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Differential
... close-up of the axle shaft pulled away from the diff. flange. You can't see the zip ties in the picture, but they're in there! Step 6: Remove the Diff! There are three bolts holding it in. Two up top in the ''ears'' of the housing and one in the passenger side front of the the housing. I removed the front one first. The bolt is long and may not want to come out easily. Push up on the housing to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW engine and body codes
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... series from 1972 (4 Cyl.)E12/55 series with small 6 cyl.E12/65 series with big 6 Cyl.E213 series from 1975E21/53 series with small 6 Cyl.E237 series from 1977E246 series coupes (628-635 CSi/M6)E26Motorsports M1 with M88 engineE282nd version 5 series from 1981E302nd version 3 series from 1982E318 series coupe from 1990E322nd version 7 series from 1986E343rd version 5 series from 1988E363rd ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW On Board Diagnostics
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... times and lastly four times. If you read it correctly this means that the SI light is reading out the code 1244 (faulty camshaft sensor) The codes appear as a series of flashes for each digit. The flashes indicating one digit are about one second apart, the next digit will appear after a couple seconds interval. If there are no faults in the car, the computer will flash out the number 1444. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Designation FAQ
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... rod. L Luxury. Basically a normal car fitted with full leather and all options, i.e. L6, L7What is the difference between a 525i and a 535i? A 325i and a 328is? With the exception of the early cars, 1600, 1800, 2002 etc., BMW has usually used a three digit numbering system to identify models. The first number refers to the Series, for instance 328is would be a 3 Series, while a 740iL would be a ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Bleeding BMW Brakes
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... final step - to make sure you have bleed the system completely. If your rear caliper has two bleed nipples (some have one, others have two), bleed the lower one first. When no more air bubbles come out, then move to the next caliper. Bleed them in this order:Right Rear CaliperLeft Rear CaliperRight Front CaliperLeft Front Caliper Bleeding in this order will minimize the amount of air that gets ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW ABS Repair Description
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... until I found the failed valve. A close visual w/ a powerful magnifying glass revealed no obvious flaws in the solder joints or thin film circuit. I got intermittent results by touching the thin film circuit. I tried re-soldering with no improvement. After reviewing Matt325's photos, I was unsure of the wiring arrangement and did not want to take the time to re-wire the entire solenoid set. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BRAKE PAD BEDDING IN PROCEDURE
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... should be done as follows: Drive at approx. 35 mph (60 kmh) for about 500 yards (solid front discs) to 800 yards (vented front discs) while slightly dragging the brakes (i.e. light brake pedal pressure). This process allows the brake temperature to slowly and evenly build up to 300C (572F). Now, if possible, drive about 2200 yards maintaining the same speed without braking. This will allow the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Brake Circuit Failure
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... place. The best way to get the old switch out is to grab your pair of pliers and break off the red tab or the entire white button. Then it is easy to pull out once you have the wiring harness disconnected.To make things easier, I would park the car on a lever surface so you can have the car in the on position. In order to get the old switch out, you need to have the brake pedal depressed as far ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Bedding in new pads and rotors
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... slowdown, immediately accelerate back to 60mph. DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! (Note: With less aggressive street pads and/or stock brake calipers, you may need to do this fewer times. If your pedal gets soft or you feel the brakes going away, then you've done enough. Proceed to the next step.) During this process, you must not come to a complete stop because you will transfer (imprint) pad ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Brembo Big Brake Kit Upgrade
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... the caliper by the brake hose. Remove the bracket (Figure 11) that normally holds the caliper to the strut (see the Pelican Technical Article: Brake Disc Replacement for more details). Now, remove the small screw that holds the brake disc to the hub (Figure 12). The brake disc should simply lift off. If not, then you may need to tap it with a rubber mallet. With the disc removed, your strut ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Switch Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... the reflection off of the wall when you step on the brakes - if you don't, then your switch is probably shot. It's important to note that the BMW warning system that tells you when a lamp is out will not tell you if the switch is broken - you will have to figure it out for yourself. The first step is to gain access to the switch. Remove the panel directly above the driver's side foot well. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Cooling System Flush
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... the seal on the radiator cap. Check that the radiator cap is fastened securely - the way the BMW radiator cap is designed makes it easy to make the simple, yet deadly mistake of leaving the cap cocked - allowing coolant to leak out when the engine is running. If you suspect a leak that you cannot see, a pressure test from a professional mechanic can verify the integrity of your system. If you ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Thermostat Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... from the system Removal of the accessory drive belts Removal of the radiator fan Disconnect upper radiator hose With all of your equipment removed, the front of your engine should resemble Figure 1, and you should see the black plastic thermostat housing. Remove screws that attach the housing to the cylinder head. Pull off the thermostat housing (Figure 2). It may require just a little bit ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Water Pump Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... the system Removal of the accessory drive belts Removal of the radiator fan With all of your equipment removed, the front of your engine should resemble Figure 1. Remove the fan pulley from the water pump - it is held on with four small nuts. Your water pump should now resemble Figure 2. Loosen the four nuts that hold the water pump to the engine block. Then, using a rubber mallet, softly tap ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Thermostat Removal And Coolant Flush
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... is in your car). Step 21: Remove the two bolts which secure the engine lift bracket then remove the bracket. Step 22: Remove the remaining 3 bolts to the thermostat housing then lift out the housing. Step 23: Once the thermostat housing is removed, the thermostat will be visible. There will be a small arrow stamped on the thermostat. Observe the orientation of the arrow on the thermostat ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Muffler Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Exhaust - Muffler
... first step is to raise the car off of the ground and elevate the rear on jack stands. See the Pelican Parts Technical Article on Jacking Up for more details. Then, using two wrenches, simply disconnect the bolts on either side of the muffler flanges. With a few taps of a hammer, the flanges should separate from the muffler (Figure 4). The donut gaskets that seal the muffler to the rest of the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 3-Series Control Arm Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Suspension
... the car. Look inside the engine compartment, on both sides, you will see the nut that secures this joint to the car. Remove both nuts from inside the engine compartment and use the rubber mallet to free the control arm from the car. Now that both control arms are now free, it is necessary to remove the bracket containing the rubber bushing from the ends of each control arm. We will need to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Power Seat Switch Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Seats
... (says to do this in my TIS). Step 2: Tilt seat back and rest against backseat. Disconnect the three large connectors and one or two small connectors under the seat. Indicate which connector goes in what plug by marking it with tape. All the other connectors are unique. The seat is now free, remove it from the car. Step 3: Deactivate the seat belt tensioner. Turn the screw clockwise to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW OEM Alarm Installation (E36/S50)
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Alarm
... Connect Alarm Control Unit: First plug green connector to back of unit. Then plug black 12-pin female connector on wiring harness to open 12-pin male connector behind glove box. Not sure where yours will be, but the location of mine is shown. Find it... it's in there baby! Step 6: Install/Connect LED/Glass Break Microphone: Fish the LED/Glass Break Microphone that is part of the wiring harness ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Sunroof Repair
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Sunroof
... back in there once you are all done, you just have to work at it for a bit. You will now be able to take the roof panel off of the car. Set it in a safe place. You should be able to see where the sunroof lifter block is broken (if it is the lifter, or the lever if it is the lever bracket). It is all one piece, with the base sliding in the track on each edge of the roof opening and the top ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Valentine One (V1) Stealth Install
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical
... will be installed in the housing after the brake light housing has been installed back in the car. Rear View of Brake Light Housing with V1: Another view of the V1 installed inside the brake light housing when looking from the rear, again for illustration purposes. Final Installation: This is a view of the final installation of the V1 from inside the car. If you were able to get everything out, ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Center Vent Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Heating and Air Conditioning
... be able to remove it at this point. There is a cable attached to the back of the left most dial that controls the bias in temperature between feet and face vents. In order to release this cable you will need to remove the lower driver's side knee panel and the heat shield beneath it. Once you do this if you look towards the center of the car on the side of the central plastic core to the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Radio Head Unit Installation
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Radio
... break it. In order to install your new radio, you will need a BMW cable adapter (Figure 9). This adapter plugs into the factory connector and has leads on it that you can then connect to the leads or connector on your new radio (Figure 10). You can cut the OEM connector off and tap directly into the factory harness, but I strongly caution against this - it's best to use the adapter cable (cost ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Arm Rest Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Arm Rest
... can see that this hole Goes over this pin And the front tabs rest on the top of the console This piece is easily removed but does not need to be. It has metal spring clips on the backside that attach to these ridge on the armrest And here is a picture farther away Remove the front cover piece by popping it off the two posts on the side of the armrest support and slide it out. now rotate the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Bleeding Brakes And Clutch
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E46) 1998+ Category : Brakes
... Screw the cap back on the bleeder and connect the bleeder up to the car's brake fluid reservoir. Pressurize the bleeder to around 20 psi (no higher!) - you'll see fluid being pushing toward the reservoir through the hose as you do this. Testing the Pressure Bleeder Filling the Pressure Bleeder Step 4: Start at the Passenger Rear wheel Though the front and rear systems in an M3 are more or ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Glovebox Lock Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior
... engaging the glove box door. It will snap closed as though it is holding the door pin. Insert your key and turn to lock position. Insert straight pins on all four sides of the lock between the lock barrel and the plastic tabs holding it in place. The lock barrel will slide forward out of the glove box air vent assembly. Now it is out. Hold it gently with your hand, putting pressure on all ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Blacken Out Grills (BMW E36)
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Exterior
... plastic expandable inserts (yellow arrows) with a crosshead screwdriver. 2. Disconnect the air duct (green arrow) and remove the panel carefully. 3. Remove the grill by pressing the plastic tabs in on the grill in/away from the tabs on the car or vice versa. There are 3 tabs on both the top and the bottom and one on each side. This part is a bit tricky, take your time and try not to break ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW M3 Mirror Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Exterior - Mirrors
... plastic cover piece. Apply gentle pressure, pushing the plastic piece towards you. There are three plastic snaps that hold this in place and you want to gently release each one. There is a plastic clip that holds the plastic connectors for the wires. Pop the wires out out of this. With the cover removed the inside of the door will look like this: A 10mm socket will be required to remove the 3 ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 M3 Race Roll Bar Installation
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Suspension
... at this point that there are wires running right where the roll bar wants to sit. You will need to remove the plastic wire cover from both sides and then cut or grind off the metal stud toward the rear that holds the cover in place. OK, now you can trial fit the roll bar. I find it is usually easier to guide the bar into the car from the passenger side. This is where a friend comes in really ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW ABS Repair Description
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... until I found the failed valve. A close visual w/ a powerful magnifying glass revealed no obvious flaws in the solder joints or thin film circuit. I got intermittent results by touching the thin film circuit. I tried re-soldering with no improvement. After reviewing Matt325's photos, I was unsure of the wiring arrangement and did not want to take the time to re-wire the entire solenoid set. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Light Switch Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Lights - Interior
... BMW E36 Light Switch Removal The vent we are talking about is this one: You need to remove the screw underneath with a phillips head screw driver. You should be able to pull the bottom out towards you. Then pull down and away from the steering wheel to release the plastic catch at the upper right corner of the vent. Twist the connector going to the light switch to release it. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Integrated Garage Door Opener
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... switch assembly together. Use a small, pointy object to slowly and carefully pry the switch apart. When it comes apart, there will be two tiny springs that will come out. Don't lose these springs since they are required for the fog light switch to function properly. When putting the switch back together, re-insert the springs and carefully snap the assembly back together, verifying proper fog ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW On Board Computer Retrofit /Conversion
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical
... That is the connector that the old 11-Button OBC used. The white connector is called X1071. That is the new connector that you should have got with your new OBC. The Instrument Cluster has two connectors. The white connector is called X16 and the blue connector is called X17. These are the steps for retrofitting the OBC. It does not necessarily have to be in this order. Refer to the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW DME Motronic ECU Swap / Repair
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - ECU
... good shot at repairing these joints by simply reflowing the solder at large solder connections that seem like they may be attached to components that give off heat. The heat causes the crack to enlarge and then may separate, causing an intermittent failure. The same thing can happen if the DME is rattling or exposed to excess vibration. To repair a cracked solder joint, simply get out your ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Light Switch Removal
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Lights - Interior
... Us:HotBimmer.com BMW E36 Light Switch Removal The vent we are talking about is this one: You need to remove the screw underneath with a phillips head screw driver. You should be able to pull the bottom out towards you. Then pull down and away from the steering wheel to release the plastic catch at the upper right corner of the vent. Twist the connector going to the light switch to release it. ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Thermostat Removal And Coolant Flush
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... is in your car). Step 21: Remove the two bolts which secure the engine lift bracket then remove the bracket. Step 22: Remove the remaining 3 bolts to the thermostat housing then lift out the housing. Step 23: Once the thermostat housing is removed, the thermostat will be visible. There will be a small arrow stamped on the thermostat. Observe the orientation of the arrow on the thermostat ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Oil Change (E36)
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Lubrification
... of oil coming out of the hole. I have found that I let this take about 20-30 minutes for the oil to fully drain out. You will have to remove the jack stand while the oil is draining otherwise all of the oil may not drain out of the oil pan. Step 11. While the oil is draining, remove the oil filler cap. This will allow air into the oil reservoir and let it flow freer. Time Check: 0 hrs, 15 ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Cooling System Flush
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Cooling System
... the seal on the radiator cap. Check that the radiator cap is fastened securely - the way the BMW radiator cap is designed makes it easy to make the simple, yet deadly mistake of leaving the cap cocked - allowing coolant to leak out when the engine is running. If you suspect a leak that you cannot see, a pressure test from a professional mechanic can verify the integrity of your system. If you ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E30 3 Series Differential Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Differential
... seen Porsches in the past where jacks have punctured the floorboards. A handy reference is Waynes article on jacking up your BMW.http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Jacking_Up/E36-Jacking_Up.htmNow jack up the front wheels of the car as well. We will want to get the car as level as possible in order to drain all the old fluid out of the differential. Now crawl under the car and ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Air Filter Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... located in a similar spot, however, it's now mounted vertically (Figure 2). Simply pull up on the top cover (Figure 3), and the filter should come right out of its housing (Figure 4). Take a look inside the filter housing - there are usually some leaves or dirt that found their way in there. Clean the housing out before installing the new filter (Figure 5). For the BMW 3-Series there are ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine - Lubrification
... get trapped in the engine oil. When both plugs are clean, replace them in the car with new metal gaskets around the plugs. If you dont use the gasket, they will leak oil. Torque the two plugs to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) for the 17mm or 60 Nm (44 ft-lbs) for the 19mm drain plug. Now head back into the engine compartment, and install the new oil filter (E36 Filter - Figure 10). For the E30 cars, ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Spark Plug Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Ignition
... reality is that this is actually quite common, and doesn't seem to affect the performance of the car one bit. If you do find this oil in your spark plug holes, I would suggest that you go one step further and replace the valve cover gasket. This replacement procedure is very simple, once you have the coils removed, and should only take you about 20 minutes more, providing you have the actual ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Service Maintenance Checklist
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Misc
... Fill up and/or correct if necessary. Check air conditioner for operation. Reset Service Indicator. Body/Electrical Equipment Check battery electrolyte level and add distilled water if required. Perform battery load test. Body/Electrical Equipment (continued) Checking lighting system, I.e., headlights, foglights, parking, back-up, license plate, interior (including map reading lights0, glove box, ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW E36 Cosmos Racing Installation Modifications
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine
... to get rid of the sharp edges and make it look purdy. (You could also use a file or belt sander). I touched up the cut with some glossy Rust-o-Leum black spray paint. Step 2: Take the twist out of the bracket. I just put in a vice to flatten it out. Very easy to do and it worked great. Step 3: Drill a 1/4'' hole 2-1/8'' from the existing hole used to tighten the clamp. Step 4: Drill out the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Heater Core Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Heating and Air Conditioning
... by removing the six Phillips head screws, two of which may be covered by the interior colored trim (See Photo 3). Note: There are two styles of glove boxes. The later version has one additional 10mm hex head bolt located above the glove box light. 8. Remove the right-side dash lower trim. 9. Remove the passenger-side air bag (if equipped) and store it in the trunk with the drivers-side air bag ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Belt Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine
... depending upon your particular car. The description of this process is one of those things that is difficult to describe, but very easy to do. First, pry off the small plastic cap that covers the tensioner (green arrow Figure 1). Then, place your tool into the tensioner and try rotating clockwise or counter-clockwise - will become immediately apparent how the tensioner releases the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Oil Change
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine
... get trapped in the engine oil. When both plugs are clean, replace them in the car with new metal gaskets around the plugs. If you dont use the gasket, they will leak oil. Torque the two plugs to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs) for the 17mm or 60 Nm (44 ft-lbs) for the 19mm drain plug. Now head back into the engine compartment, and install the new oil filter (E36 Filter - Figure 10). For the E30 cars, ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Clutch Slave Cylinder Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Transmission
... on the left side of the transmission (Figure 1). Two nuts fasten it to the transmission. First, disconnect the hydraulic line from the cylinder. Make sure you use a flare-nut wrench to remove the hose. These hydraulic fittings have a tendency to strip if you don't use the proper tool. Also, inspect the clutch slave line - you might want to replace it if it's bulging, or shows signs of ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Valve Cover Gasket Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine
... finished, otherwise your car may encounter problems. These two ground straps are shown marked by the greens arrow in Figure 8 and Figure 9 (coil already removed in this photo). Remove each of the two nuts that hold each coil to the valve cover. At this point, the coil should be able to be easily pulled right off of the engine (Figure 10). The coil has a small coil pack on one end, and a ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Spark Plug Replacement
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Ignition
... reality is that this is actually quite common, and doesn't seem to affect the performance of the car one bit. If you do find this oil in your spark plug holes, I would suggest that you go one step further and replace the valve cover gasket. This replacement procedure is very simple, once you have the coils removed, and should only take you about 20 minutes more, providing you have the actual ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Camshaft Removal & Installation
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Engine
... until a particular valve is open. Then, wrapping the valve with rope, you rotate the crankshaft and let the rope compress between the valve and the seat. My attempt at this is shown in Figure 4. For all intensive purposes, this does work. It safely keeps the valve slightly open and the spring slightly compressed. However, this technique didn't appear to keep the valve open enough to ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
BMW Sunroof Repair
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Exterior
... get back in there once you are all done, you just have to work at it for a bit. You will now be able to take the roof panel off of the car. Set it in a safe place. You should be able to see where the sunroof lifter block is broken (if it is the lifter, or the lever if it is the lever bracket). It is all one piece, with the base sliding in the track on each edge of the roof opening and the top ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Blacking Out Chrome Trim On BMW E30 3 Series
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Exterior - Doors
... available from Pelican Parts (shameless company plug, sorry.) I decided to use Wurths Satin Black Trim paint for this. It is designed to be used on chrome surfaces. Before you begin to paint, make sure that it is at least 70 degrees F. outside and not over 90 Degrees. This will make sure that the paint flows correctly. It if is too cold or hot the paint could run. Now, shake the can until the ... (more)
Posted : 18 May 2005  
 
Brake Pad Bedding In Procedure
Model : All Makes Category : Brakes
... should be done as follows: Drive at approx. 35 mph (60 kmh) for about 500 yards (solid front discs) to 800 yards (vented front discs) while slightly dragging the brakes (i.e. light brake pedal pressure). This process allows the brake temperature to slowly and evenly build up to 300C (572F). Now, if possible, drive about 2200 yards maintaining the same speed without braking. This will allow the ... (more)
Posted : 14 May 2005  
 
Broken Power Seat Recliner Fix
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Interior - Seats
... off. 5. Now, it's time to remove the transmission plate. There are 5 screws holding the plate onto the transmission. You should be able to get to four of these with the screwdriver, one may need the allen wrench. Unscrew these, and remember where they go, since the back two are much longer than the others. 6. Once the screws are out, hit the plate from the side a few times, and use a flathead ... (more)
Posted : 23 December 2004 Author : Dan (dmurray14)
 
BMW Stereo
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Electrical - Radio
... the amp and then 10 crossed over signals come out of the amp for the speakers. Antenna system (from antennaworld.com) All newer BMWs have the in-glass electronic systems by Fuba. The following information applies to these cars as follows: E31 - E32 - E34 - E36 and up These cars have 2 or 3 antennas in the rear glass, including one which is the defroster wires, all embedded or printed on the ... (more)
Posted : 9 December 2004 Author : Tim T.& Peter W.
 
Body Upgrade
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Exterior
... each) You can also pick up a roll of heat shrink wrap from Home Depot ($8.75) to cover over the butt splices, assorted blue tap splices (for the city lights) & blue butt splices- #16-14 AWG ($3.00). Protecting the wiring I picked up some "Spiral Wrap" from Wal-Mart ($1.99), to go over the factory light harness- Clear front indicators: Left: 82 19 9 404 275 Right: 82 19 9 404 276 Clear front ... (more)
Posted : 4 December 2004 Author : Hans L., Steph and Matt M., Rob & Chris B
 
BMW Thrust Arms
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Suspension - Bushings
... the 22mm nut and bolt attaching the thrust arm to the frame. Remove the thrust arm. 5. If the ball joint turns while tightening the nut, use vice grips or pliers to hold the bottom of the ball joint to the steering plate. Installation is reverse of removal but don't tighten the 22mm nut holding the arm to the frame all the way. You will need to lower the car to the ground to tighten the thrust ... (more)
Posted : 3 December 2004 Author : bmwe34.net
 
BMW Control arms
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Suspension - Other
... E34, support with jacks and remove the wheel. 2. Remove the 3 bottom bolts holding the strut assembly. You can remove the control arm without removing the whole strut assembly. 3. Break the two 19mm nut on the ball joint and on the bushing side. 4. Use a pickle fork (actually works fine) to remove the ball joint or a tie-rod puller (much better). 5. Undo the 22mm nut and bolt attaching the ... (more)
Posted : 3 December 2004 Author : bmwe34.net
 
Backlight Bulbs
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96, 525 Touring Category : Lights - Tail lights
... too hard. Go slowly and gradually work the entire length of the strip out a bit at a time. 7.You should have some 12 volt DC power at your workstation so that you can test the fixture. Apply power to the fixture to verify which bulbs are bad. 8. Using the soldering iron, heat the old solder and remove the bad bulbs. 9. Solder in the new bulbs. Put power to the strip to test it, and repeat ... (more)
Posted : 2 December 2004 Author : Micah O'C
 
Brake & Clutch Switches
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Electrical - Other
... brake light switch is under the top of the brake pedal arm, under the dash. 2. Examine the switch that you got from the dealer so you know how it works. The red tab, when pressed down, locks it into place. So, the last step before buttoning everything down is to press the red tab down to lock the switch in place. The best way to get the old switch out is to grab your pair of pliers and break off ... (more)
Posted : 2 December 2004 Author : Karl Bergmann, Gary M & Ken
 
Brake Pads
Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Brakes
... clean the caliper first then compress the caliper piston with a channel-lock pliers. Using a C-Clamp and a flattened tin can spreads the pressure across the entire caliper piston, reducing the chance of pressing it back in funny. 9. It is a good time to check the caliper for leaks or piston that slide roughly. 10. You may want to apply some anti-squeak brake pad product at the back of the new ... (more)
Posted : 2 December 2004 Author : bmwe34.net
 
BMW Front Brakes (318ti vs 328 vs M3 vs e46)
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Brakes
... (carrier) 2 x Front US or Euro (Floating) rotor 2 x Front M3 spindle (aka Kingpin, aka Hub) 1 x Set of M3 brake pads Upgrading to e46 330 Front Brakes 2 x Front 330 Caliper Carrier (34-10-6-750-158) 1 x Left Caliper (34-11-6-750-149) 1 x Right Caliper (34-11-6-750-150) 2 x Spring Clips (34-11-6-750-159) 2 x Front e46 330 rotor 1 x Set of 330 brake pads (330 brake pads are identical to M3 ... (more)
Posted : 5 November 2004 Author : eMotors.ca
 
Bilstein PSS9 Coilovers suspension Install For the Golf and Jetta IV
Model : Volkswagen, Golf Category : Suspension - Shocks/struts
... and only apply the compound to the area in which to wish to have your set level at (The Drop). Use anti-seize on the rear height adjuster threaded shaft, I coated it completely. 4. Remove the dust covers front the front PSS9 struts and screw on the lock ring and the bottom spring plate (For 45mm lowered, go to the bottom last thread, all the way down). Make sure you have some anti-seize ... (more)
Posted : 30 October 2004 Author : Roger Moore
 
Bilstein PSS9 Coilover Suspension
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Suspension - Shocks/struts
... for high performance venues such as autox and drivers schools that I intended to do in the future. This led me to decide that I need to upgrade my suspension. But which suspension kit should I go with? As mentioned before, I wanted to learn how to drive my car better and improve my skills, and I identified that autox and drivers schools are where I want to do that. One of my other concerns ... (more)
Posted : 28 October 2004 Author : team.BAR
 
BMW M Roadster Shifter
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Driveterrain - Shifter Linkage
... I had them install the lever when I was having some maintenance work done on the car. The typical installation time at the dealer was just about an hour. Impressions When I got the car back, I immediately noticed a 40-50% reduction in the throw of the shifter. This was absolutely fantastic. I loved that I no longer have to move my arm to shift the car, but now can change gears by moving my ... (more)
Posted : 28 October 2004 Author : Pete
 
Browse by title :
# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Browse by make :
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | M | N | P | S | T | V