Messages

1

General Topics / Radio removal in 91 318i

« on: October 09, 2011, 03:52:49 PM »

Found out - remove the tabs at the side of the radio and remove the torx screws and radio comes out.

BOB

2

General Topics / Radio removal in 91 318i

« on: October 09, 2011, 01:40:27 PM »

I am about to replace my OEM radio but not sure how the OEM radio is removed.  Do you remove it like modern radios (using a removal tool) or do you have to remove the dash plate around the AC contraol, OBC, radio, etc first? If so, how does tha dash plate come out?

Thanks

BOB

3

Electrical / Weird electrical problem

« on: September 24, 2011, 03:32:08 PM »

That is an odd problem.  I'd check fuses 10 and 20, I think they're the ones that run the cluster & the blower fan respectively.  Does the problem happen when the blower is not on?  Maybe a short in the fan motor brushes?

I'd also check the unloader relay K7 as it drives both those circuits and is designed to lock them out when the starter is running.  I'd also listen for the under-voltage relay.  It'll make an annoying buzzing from somewhere inside the dash.  It's mounted above the steering column.

Checked K7 - replaced it with a good one and problem still exists (power morrors don't work either).  Fuses are good - everything works for 2 seconds then stops.  Doesn't matter if fan switch is on or not, guages still stop after 2 seconds.  Noticed Anti-Lock light and Battery light are on, but go off as soon as you rev enegine and stay off.  

Not sure where the under voltage relay is but you can hear something under the dash "hum" prior to starting each time.

I am totally confused.  Repalced igntiion electrical and this did nothing.

4

General Topics / Ignition swtich replacement - electical portion

« on: September 22, 2011, 10:57:59 PM »

I need some help

I need to replace the electrical portion of my ignition switch on my 91 318i. I have done some searches and gotten different directions so can someone give me some insight? It is of course an airbag car. What all needs to come out for the replacement ?

I already have the switch pigtail so just need to know if I need to remove the steering wheel (and airbag) or if I can reach it by removing the steering wheel column surround plastic

Thanks

Bob

5

Electrical / Weird electrical problem

« on: September 17, 2011, 09:00:11 PM »

My 91 318i has developed a weird electrical problem. When you first start the car everything works as it should and after about 5 seconds, all the gauges quit (every single one including tach, speedo, gas, etc) and the AC/heat fan will stop working as well.You can turn the car off a few seconds, restart it and it does the exact same thing.

Any clues?

Thanks

BOB

6

For Sale / Feeler: 1991 318is Brilliantrot lots of work done

« on: September 08, 2011, 09:17:50 AM »

Well it has only been advertised for 2 days so don't expect someone to buy it immediately plus you want them to buy it but wait a couple of weeks before they actually get the car?  Also, IMHO, I think $3500 is too much for a car that has body damage, non working AC, leaking PS and non operative odometer.   I gave less than $3000 for my last iS that needed nothing and had 134K miles.

7

For Sale / 1991 318i - What's it worth?

« on: August 17, 2011, 02:53:15 PM »

I gave $3200 for this one with 125K miles and flawless paint and interior, everything working including AC - it is a slicktop though - so that might give you an idea

8

Exterior / Adding fog lights to non fog light car

« on: July 30, 2011, 12:58:04 PM »

Well after 4 hours I got mine done.  Would have only taken around an hour but the supposed OEM style fogs that i bought off ebay were a piece of crap.  The mounting holes were about 2 times too larger so I had to modify everything, the plug were not compatible with the factory plug so I have to create my own, the alighment screws and the hole int he lens did not match and one of them had to be glued because they would not steady up.  They were crap.

On a brighter note, all the harnesses were in the car and that part was easy (one I found the one behind the dash)

BOB

9

Exterior / Adding fog lights to non fog light car

« on: July 28, 2011, 01:23:22 PM »

My 91 did not come with factory fogs so I want to add them.  I have the OEM lights and an OEM switch with a short harness.  What else do I need? Is there a harness already in the car that I plug into or do I need to run one?  

Thanks

BOB

10

General Topics / A/C and MPG...

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:57:41 AM »

I am getting around 26 MPG running my AC in these 95+ temp days.  That is about 3 MPG loss vs. the winter months.  My car has 126K miles by the way.  Also, 145K miles on a M42 engine shoudl not be a "tired" engine unless you have run it extremely hard and not maintainted it well but the old compressors suck a bunch of HP as compared with some of the more modern compressors

Bob

11

Engine + Driveline / Engine rattle upon deceleration

« on: July 10, 2008, 06:44:10 AM »

Well if it's that easy I will do it myself.  I will order the tension kit from bavarian today.

Another question - assuming worse case scenario it needs the timing chain replaced - how difficult is that and how many hours labor?

Thanks

12

Engine + Driveline / Engine rattle upon deceleration

« on: July 09, 2008, 10:33:23 PM »

Could be a weak timing chain tensioner.

While I can do brakes and general mechnical I am nto so sure I feel comfortable tackling the chain tensioner replacement.  I know the kit isn't very much but how many hours of labor do you think a mechanic will charge me to do this?

BOB

13

Engine + Driveline / Engine rattle upon deceleration

« on: July 09, 2008, 04:45:39 PM »

I had forgotten that the PO had put a header on the car so it doesn't have the exhaust shield

14

Engine + Driveline / Engine rattle upon deceleration

« on: July 09, 2008, 02:53:03 PM »

I have a noise in my M42 (91 318iS) engine that I "think" is timing chain noise but not certain. It sounds like a loose chain rattling as the engine is reving down in RPMs. I don't hear the noise at higher RPM or at normal highway speed but I do hear it when I shift gears, etc as the motor is getting lower in RPMs. Again it sounds alot like chain rattling but as I said, it goes awya when you rev the motor.

Could it be something as simple as the tensioner or something more severe or maybe something really simple like an exhaust shield or?

Thanks

15

General Topics / 4 door - undesirable?

« on: July 06, 2008, 11:10:35 PM »

Oh well, moot point on this one - owner certainly didn't describe the true condition of the car so when I saw it, I left in about 5 minutes - needed everything and he still wanted $1800 as his bottom dollar