Boston BMW Chapter Forum / Boston BMW CCA Forums / Ask a Professional BMW Mechanic

Aftermarket Sunroof Installation

JSwersey — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:20:03 GMT

Hi Mike,

I have a 2004 325xi (certified pre-owned) that I absolutely love. The one thing I wish it had was a sunroof. Do you, or could you recommend someone who does, install sunroofs? Is there a particular brand that you would recommend? Thanks much for your reply.

Regards,
Jonathon

overheating 97 E36 M3

eyelise — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:53:21 GMT

I was at an autocroos Sunday with my new used M3. The engine ran very hot. The temp guage passed the third white line indicator although not into the red and it did not boilover. I checked the coolant lvl and it was fine. Are there any areas that commonly cause overheating in the E36 M3? The engine has 70K and has seen light duty. I was thinking of changing the thermostat incase it was sticking. Obviously the fluid change as well at that time. I hope the radiator is not shot. BTW, I had to put the heater on full blast while cruising on the highway. It definitely kept it from overheating.

Oil Pressure / Oil Temp

bmellott — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:07:06 GMT

I have on a few occassion been considering at least an Oil Pressure gauge and Possibly and oil temp (my car does not have them)

Q's

1.) I am from the old school of 270degree sweep and mechanical oil pressure.

Thought I see many running the electrics, comments on either??

2.) Oil temp..again I would lean towards a mechanical but then how on a BMW?

again guy's seem to be running electrics but the sensor I hear is at the same place as the pressure, do you really get a good oil temp rading there? on such a small stagnant sample?

comments and thoughts, expereince?

thx

bill

E36 M3 engine noise

eyelise — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:56:25 GMT

My engine sounded like a sewing machine at the autocross this Sunday. People kept asking me to check the oil. I guess it was valve noise. I think it may have been related to the very high engine temps. It seemed to go away almost completely when the engine cooled down. What exactly is the noise?

trunk closed and can't open with release button

tmks baby — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:41:36 GMT

rod conncting release button to latch is disconnected and trunk is closed. Is there any way to get the trunk open?

E30 M20 motor has Major Hesitation at 5,500 RPM's

Healy325 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:03:08 GMT

I have been trying to figure this out for about a year now. I have an '89 325is with about 180k on the motor. On occasion the car will cough somewhere around 5,000 rpm's almost as if it had hit the rev limiter. It seems to happen only under hard acceleration and not every time either (at least 90 percent though).

The fact that this happens at the same point on the tach and nowhere else makes me wonder if it's a problem with the ECU. I have swapped out the plugs and the wires are in very good shape. The K&N filter is freshly cleaned.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Rim repair in Rhode Island

bdick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:18:13 GMT

I hit a pothole and now have a flat spot in one of my rims. Does anyone know of a rim repair shop in Rhode Island?

95' 325i Convertible - roof re-engagement

jpilk99 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:51:01 GMT

Hi,

I've been in this position once before where I somehow screwed up the electrical operation of the convertible roof. Now, the motors are not engaged / not operating. (Note - I did not pull that release arm under the driver's rear seat).

Can you tell me the process to resetting or re-engaging the electrical motors? I won't loose the directions this time.

Thanks,

Jay Pilkington

Maintenance Schedule - 2003 325Ci with 95k

mbritojr — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:14:27 GMT

What's the maintenance schedule look like for a 2003 BMW 325Ci? I just hit 95k and want to be sure I'm performing the upkeep I need to be, but I can't find the information anywhere.

Engine Ticking Noise in 2007 328 and 528 engines

zoning — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:18:24 GMT

I have a fairly loud engine ticking noise most of the time in my 2007 328cic. I have listened to a friend's 2007 528 and heard it as well. Dealership says it is normal, due to the vanos. Is it?

Thanks.

Andy

530i Passenger Air Bag Warning Alarm

Shock — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:03:46 GMT

My 2004 530i has had the Passenger Air Bag Warning Alarm go off for the third time. We had stopped breifly, and my wife got out to buy something in the store and when she sat back down the alarm went off. Each time I had not shut off the car and had left the engine running.

The first time I was visiting the Dealer here on the Cape for the first time. They said the seat needed to be replaced for $1200! I had them reset the alarm and it was fine for three months. Then the same thing happened and I took the car to the delivering dealer in Natick. They said it was a sensor in the stearing column and it would cost $1500! Again, I had them reset the alarm. It has gone off for the third time three months later. What's going on?

M52 oil consumption?

KenM10759 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:33:19 GMT

What is acceptable, normal oil consumption for a 3.0L six in my E39? It's just over 120K on the clock, and seems to use a quart of oil in about 3500 miles. Is this normal, high, or in the danger zone? Perhaps I'm just looking for an excuse to get a new ride, but I do love this car. ;)

M6 2007 Oil change and rim protection

montekid00 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:07:30 GMT

Mike,

I recently purchased a used 2007 m6 there is no info in manual or in computer about what type of oil to use or when the changes should take place after first 1200 Miles. I have 3750 miles currently when do you suggest miles changes. In addition, no sure how to treat my rim there seems to be so dulling of my rims after cleaning them with a brush.

E36-fuel pump issues-help!

mrlaw2 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:11:10 GMT

Please help me my car has burn't out 4 fuel pumps in 2months and no one seems to know whats going on...

Vibration at 50mph

85_635csi — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:48:00 GMT

Have replaced the front end almost completely but havent touched the steering. When driving I get an intermittent strong vibration in the steering wheel at 50 -55 mph. You can drive through it and doesn't happen all the time. The car has 17" tires on aftermarket wheels. Have tried the balancing and front end alignment but it still is present. I have been told that 1) the wheels are too much for the 1985 front end and 2) that the spline in the steering is worn (and was tightened) Any ideas?

E92 335i 6MT

Arustik — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:04:11 GMT

Hello,

I have an awful shift into second gear when the car is cold. Sometimes I feel grinding other times the shift is better. I do know how to shift as well as advanced shifting techniques. I was wondering what was wrong. Every other gear is perfect. I have heard of the CDV but do not know if it actually is that because usually when the engine warms up the shift into second feels smoother.

PLEASE HELP IT REALLY DOES BUG ME...45K $ car and shift sucks...

Thank you,
David Arustamian

VANOS- cam position sensor failing

Slide — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:20:29 GMT

I have a 99 328ic with a check engine light. I coded it out and read a faulting cam position sensor. The engine seems to run fine and I'm waiting to get a new sensor later this week. The issue I'm having is that in the last week or so the engine has been missing slightly under normal street driving acceleration. If I accelerate more aggressivly it does'nt seem to happen. Now I have usually used mid grade gas or better, but then last week regular was put in. I had initially thought the lower grade gas may have caused it but I'm wondering now if maybe the cam position sensor failing is having an affect on the variable intake cam timing. Any thoughts on this problem would be appreciated.

Thanx , Slide

Finding suspension clunks?

KenM10759 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:17:18 GMT

I have a 2002 530i/A with Sport & Premium packages, now at 120,000 miles. It had developed pulsation with braking (at any speed), and replacing all 4 rotors and pad sets fixed that. Now with the radio off, I hear an ever-so-slight kind of rumbly-clunky sound coming from the right front as I go over bumps. It's just a little loooseness, it seems, in part of the suspension.

When the car was bought at 72,500 miles (still under CPO), the dealer had (said) they replaced the thrust bushings as part of the attempt at ridding the car of a vibration at 75mph. The true solution to that problem turned out to be out-of-round Pirelli P6 4 Season tires, which were exchanged for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. The car was smooth as glass after those tires were road-force balanced and installed, though putting the 4 snows on negated those measures for the winter.

Now with the snows still on the car, I do feel this looseness. When I did the brakes, I looked at all the bushings that I could see, and none were obviously spitting out their rubber innards. I should have given the tires a shake to check tie rods ends, but forgot.

What would be the best course of action to get the car back to nice? Clearly, I'll wait until I get the snows off and but the Michelins back on (I found a garage a mile from me with a Hunter GSP9700 RF balancer.) Once that's done, would the average mechanic be able to diagnose this without throwing every new part at it?

Unfix-able Transmission: 740IL

BostonBrian — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:41:30 GMT

The transmission on my 1998 740 IL was replaced by a local shop in Greenwich CT just before I bought it. Since the sale I have had to take it back to the shop twice for transmission problems after getting the warning message " Trans. Failsafe prog". The mechanic claims that the first two replacement transmissions were "bad" and he replaced them with another re-built transmission (non-BMW certified).

Now I am getting the message again. My question is: Is it possible that the transmissions are fine and that this shop does not know how to correctly install a BMW transmission? Could he be missing a step? IS there a BMW mechanic in the Boston area who you would recommend for this type of problem?

I know I could take the car to a dealership and have another transmission installed but I am trying to avoid spending a ton of money. Any help/guidance would be appreciated.

Brian

The Dreaded CDV

rcbbmw — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:48:15 GMT

I have a 2003 525i with a 5 speed. I hate the CDV. How difficult is it to replace the CDV with an aftermarket replacement (Bavarian Autosport Unlock Valve) that eliminates it?