Break Light Circuit Light is On:
Burnt out or poorly seated
stop light bulb(s), faulty break light switch or wiring. Sometime
changing to BMW bulbs work.
Water Fluid Leaks:
Small hairline cracks,
leaking water pumps, loose hose clamps, faulty O-rings in the hoses
going to the transmission.
What are the cause of engine overheating?
Thermostat, water pump,
faulty radiator or radiator cap, low radiator fluid, blown head
gasket, air in the coolant circuit (bleed it).
Engine Won't Start:
Check: battery,
starter, fuse(s), relays, fuel pump, faulty spark plug resistor
pack(s)... If you have no fuel and no spark, check the crankshaft
position sensor or the fusible links.
Steering Shaking:
Tire balancing, alignment,
faulty tires, wheel bearings, warped brake rotors, worn out steering
parts...
My Heater fan doesn't work in speeds 1
through 3?
Check your sword
or resistor pack.
My battery is dead, I am lock out, how
do I unlock the doors?
To unlock the passenger
door, turn the key past the normal unlock position while raising
the door handle. Release handle and lift again to open the door.
Why my radio, windows, stereo, wiper don't
work?
Replace Fusable link
under hood or under backseat.
Why my low beams go out sometimes?
Re-solder joints
in LKM.
Why my speedometer doesn't work or is
erratic?
Clean or change the speed
sensor in differential.
Why my fuel level is erratic?
Capacitors or fuel level
sensor, change or clean with WD40
How to improve clutch action on your 540i
six speed for 5 dollars?
There is a clutch delay
valve inline between the clutch slave cylinder and the hydraulic
fuel line that feeds it. Its purpose is to delay clutch function
to guard against drivetrain damage that may occur during "hole shot"
starts. It also makes the clutch feel weird and un-BMW-like. Remove
the valve, take it outside, and throw it as far as you can. Thread
the hydraulic line fitting directly into the slave cylinder to improve
clutch action. You'll have to bleed the system; the five dollars
is for brake fluid. Avoid John Force style hole shots from then
on.
Unable to open the glove box Solution
(procedure from Dhanraj R.)
Slide under the glove box and you will find two snap latches
connecting the back of the glove box to a metal rod (horizontal).
Unsnap these two latches and the entire glove box will now
be able to move forward by about 1/2".
This will allow you some space to access and manipulate the
latch from the top right edge of the box. Use a long, thin
flat blade and depress the latch. (I had to look at a new
replacement piece to understand what part of the latch to
depress).
With the glove box open, you will need to replace the latch.
You will not need to replace the lock.
Coolant smell and steam on window
(thanks to Jeff)
There are really three (related) items that might have failed.
- a heat core element
- an inlet pipe
- an o-ring seal
All require the same basic path to fix. If you can tolerate
it (depends how bad it is), many of us live with a slight
leak. My E34 has the same problem and I occasionally have
a slight antifreeze smell and/or get window fog. The fix at
the shop is not cheap. The unit's buried in the dash and labor
is big part of the bill. I've heard numbers of $600 and up...maybe
someone share what they have paid. You can DIY if you are
handy and don't mind taking the dash apart.
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