Greetings all! I purchased a used '89 525i a few months ago, the previous owner told me it shook while running and driving (which it did and still does to some extent) and that the instrument cluster didn't work (the LCD is almost impossible to read but the speedometer, tachometer, thermostat, and fuel gauge still work) I have since discovered that there a number of other issues with this car that I'm at a loss to explain-
rough idle
jerking/jumping while in gear
IC flickers in sync with engine idling (alternator maybe?)
Air conditioning blows hot air unless car has been running for at least an hour & rear vents blow cold air when heat is on
heated seats don't work
difficult to steer at low speeds, the steering wheel jerks almost like it doesn't want to turn
Car seems to lose power when climbing hills, then it revs (jumps from 2-3.5 rpm then back) this is only fixed when I shift from D to 3 or 2 depending on the hill and my speed
And then there's the issues that I think I can fix-
Window switches stick (looks like something spilled on them)
OBC display is almost impossible to read (bulb is burnt out)
4/6 spark plug connectors are cracked
fuel door won't stay shut (I'm currently keeping it closed with duck tape that matches the color of the car, kinda)
So far the only work I've done to it has been to replace the copper core spark plugs with double platinum plugs, replace the tail lights, replace the front blinker housing and bulbs, add fluid to the central hydraulic system, added some seafoam cleaner to the fuel tank and crankcase. It still needs to have the rear brakes replaced (I'm going to slap some vented rotors and ceramic pads on it, I live in a hilly area so better performance in the brakes is a must)
That's all I can recall off the top of my head, it's a wonderful car and still has plenty of life left in it (143k miles on it) so I would like to get as much use out of it as possible while I restore it. I'm assuming this car sat in the garage for at least a year before being sold, possibly more so that likely contributes to my problems.
rough idle
jerking/jumping while in gear
IC flickers in sync with engine idling (alternator maybe?)
Air conditioning blows hot air unless car has been running for at least an hour & rear vents blow cold air when heat is on
heated seats don't work
difficult to steer at low speeds, the steering wheel jerks almost like it doesn't want to turn
Car seems to lose power when climbing hills, then it revs (jumps from 2-3.5 rpm then back) this is only fixed when I shift from D to 3 or 2 depending on the hill and my speed
And then there's the issues that I think I can fix-
Window switches stick (looks like something spilled on them)
OBC display is almost impossible to read (bulb is burnt out)
4/6 spark plug connectors are cracked
fuel door won't stay shut (I'm currently keeping it closed with duck tape that matches the color of the car, kinda)
So far the only work I've done to it has been to replace the copper core spark plugs with double platinum plugs, replace the tail lights, replace the front blinker housing and bulbs, add fluid to the central hydraulic system, added some seafoam cleaner to the fuel tank and crankcase. It still needs to have the rear brakes replaced (I'm going to slap some vented rotors and ceramic pads on it, I live in a hilly area so better performance in the brakes is a must)
That's all I can recall off the top of my head, it's a wonderful car and still has plenty of life left in it (143k miles on it) so I would like to get as much use out of it as possible while I restore it. I'm assuming this car sat in the garage for at least a year before being sold, possibly more so that likely contributes to my problems.