Hi Guys I am just going to get next week BMW 325i, manual, black, sedan 370 km on it.
It has some issues like small spots of rust, wiper is not working, driver leather seat is ripped off, handle (on top of stick) is broken, bumper bottom gril is broken, battery is weak etc.
I will put issues one by one here with pictures and will try to DIY to fix it with the help and guidance of you guys.
Been reading through this post. I thought my E36 with 190km (118 miles) I bought last year for $1100 was trouble, but man you really took a gamble with that purchase.
Huh? Don't ever tear an engine down unless you have good reason to do so. If you're really concerned about it, just perform a compression test and have the oil analyzed. If it checks out, leave it alone.
He might as well. The kms are enormous and original engine? Better these things be done now before the gasket blows when its his daily driver and it becomes a serious inconvenience. Just a suggestion anyway.
Thanks for suggestion. I will consider it. Currently its paint is stuck on my mind. I want to restore it as original as possible but it has tree sap and very small scratches all over. Good polish and compound hopefully will restore 80%. Rest scratches I will do touch up and sanding later. I have no rotary buffer but only Orbital Polisher. I did not clay last time.. now I will do clay and then will use compound.
I fixed the knob (as it was original and M3/M-package) knob so I fixed this.
Now I got filter from dealer and will change the oil this week.
I have few questions please:
1. When my car runs, it sounds like truck or big bus? Is that can be due to fan-clutch and/or water pump? Anyway to test it?
2. Shout the fan clutch supposed to run all the time? My runs all the time?
3. Should I buy water pump and fan-clutch from dealer or can get online or some store?
4. In case to replace fan-clutch, should I replace it with or without blade?
5. What else should I change in engine which is not costly and easy to change beside spark-plugs, water pump, fan-clutch etc.?
Which pipes should I change?
Please let me know if I added in the list some thing which I should not and/or missed some thing?
Does OEM parts mean that parts from dealers only? or I can buy from ebay or some auto shops too?
In Canada, is there any reliable physical store to get oem parts for e36?
I fixed the knob (as it was original and M3/M-package) knob so I fixed this.
Now I got filter from dealer and will change the oil this week.
I have few questions please:
1. When my car runs, it sounds like truck or big bus? Is that can be due to fan-clutch and/or water pump? Anyway to test it?
2. Shout the fan clutch supposed to run all the time? My runs all the time?
3. Should I buy water pump and fan-clutch from dealer or can get online or some store?
4. In case to replace fan-clutch, should I replace it with or without blade?
5. What else should I change in engine which is not costly and easy to change beside spark-plugs, water pump, fan-clutch etc.?
Which pipes should I change?
Please let me know if I added in the list some thing which I should not and/or missed some thing?
Does OEM parts mean that parts from dealers only? or I can buy from ebay or some auto shops too?
In Canada, is there any reliable physical store to get oem parts for e36?
When it comes to buying parts, OEM is king. OEM-like or the like from Ebay is 50/50. It may or may not be from the OEM manufacturer, especially if the parts you ordered for your BMW come in a box with Korean and Chinese writing with instructions from Hu Jin Tao Corporation. Always play it safe and spend the extra penny to get a better quality product. For minor things like carpet lint, go with Ebay.
As far as your cooling system, get the following:
New radiator - if it hasn't been changed recently already
New hoses - never can be too safe or if they haven't been changed recently
New Fan blade - if the current one feels like it is going to chip by staring at it
New Fan Clutch - if you see some oil residue on top of the fan shroud or a loud screeching sound.
New Thermostat Housing and gasket - if yours is plastic
New Thermostat and gasket - if it hasn't been changed recently
New expansion tank - if the current one is "sweating" around the top
New coolant level sensor - I am going to give my wrong opinion and say mandatory when buying a new expansion tank
New Alternator belt - good to do when doing your cooling system
New pulleys - if yours are making a screeching sound, similar to a loose belt but the sound doesn't go away when you put water on the belt.
When I put gas (push accelerator) the engine sounds like a truck or bus engine.
What are the possible reasons of so loud sound? Is that can be fixed? That sound is making me hesitating to work on it.
1)And I think my fan clutch always run even on cold (I will check it today again) but whenever I saw it, it was running, is it supposed to run always?
2)If I remove the fan clutch, to check that truck engine sound (loud noise when push gas) is coming from fan clutch or not, can I start the car and run for a small round the street? Would it harm the engine? And is it the better way to test fan clutch noise or there is some other good way ?
3) I need torque wrench, I saw the basic with rod is $25 in Canada and $15 in US. Is that good for tool or I should buy good one, which comes around $100 I think.
If it is an OEM filter in there, yes, it will be tight. It is normal. Just carefully pull one side at a time until it comes off. Don't put your left nut into it or else you will break it.
As far as OEM products, I might suggest the use of the internet search engine. There are many. Type in your location and see what dealerships are next to you. Then piss your money away once you find one.
Yes, you can run your car with the fan and fan clutch off. Just don't go crazy and then whine why your car overheated. But in all honesty, if you are in a very low traffic area or mainly do highway driving, remove the fan and fan clutch won't cause too much overheating, unless you are waiting in line at the Taco Bell.
My car radio has dead pixel. Some body is selling used computer saying it is from E36 but dont know or remember which year and modal.
Does all radios of E36 are same?
It will need to be the same model of computer as what you currently have. In other words, if you just have the plane jane base computer, you cannot use the 18-button optional OBC.
Hi,
I parked the car for couple of weeks and battery was low when I tried to start. I connect jumper cable from the back trunk (directly to the battery) instead of connecting from its front and car started but it started white smoke and water from exhaust.
I thought that it is some mostirizing from exhaust so it will go away but after 15 min start it did not go then I drove it around the street for about 100 meters but smoke still did not go away.
Then next day (at night time) I just checked the engine coolent and radiator and noticed that some gas release sound (not sure it is related or not) then when I started there was no smoke.
Then next day morning I started again then the smoke is still there now.
Can you guys help me to quick check things or tips which I first do before going in deep repairs?
I did not loss the power but may be soon it will start.. dont know.
I researched on forum to read about DIY of HG replacement looks it is ver big job.. and mechanic can charge between 1000 to 1500 may be more.. .
i also asked a guy for swap engine.. engine he is giving in $500 and labor is around 1200 ....
looks like i had to let it go now...
Before give up would like to try some cheap fix...
Sorry man, I feel bad for ya***8230; I don't know of any cheap fixes for this, maybe some of the others do***8230; If you have tools, maybe you can do it yourself!
Don't panic or give up yet. Buy a test kit for detecting exhaust gasses in the cooling system. Use it. If you have a mechanic with an exhaust sniffer, get him to check the exhaust gasses for coolant. If both tests come back negative, you can be sure it's NOT the head gasket, but panicking now is premature. If one or both come back saying it's a blown head gasket, THEN you can (not panic) PLAN what to do. Wringing your hands and worrying now won't help anything. Good luck. :thumbup:
seriously we jumped to the conclusion of a head gasket from white smoke alone??
check the oil cap and see what the oil looks like
how cold has it been??? Toronto eh?
have you let the car warm up to operating temp?
if its not getting up to temp.... why not? thermostat?
i don't think coolant is going to cool the engine down enough to not make it heat up without huge failures.... he says he doesn't even notice a power difference
Ya you guys are totally right, make sure you have a blown HG before anything else. It wasn't based on white smoke alone though, its mileage too. I just don't know what else white smoke could mean.
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