Repair And Fix it

The battery in a 1990 5-series BMW is designed to be a reliable as the car. There are occasions, however, when the battery goes flat. It usually comes as a surprise when the engine doesnt fire at the turn of the key. For this reason, its a good idea to know how to safely and correctly jump start your BMW. The battery on this model is located under the back seat, but the jump-start position is under the hood. Its marked with a one-inch plastic "plus" symbol. You will need another car with a live battery to do the job.

Instructions

1




Determine that the battery is the reason the engine wont start. Turn the ignition. If the engine cranks, the battery is good. If theres silence or a ticking sound, the battery is faulty.

2




Turn the ignition off. Lift the hood of both vehicles. Locate the positive post under the hood of the BMW 535i. It connects to the clamp of the positive (red) cable. Attach the clamp on the other end of the red wire to the positive terminal on the booster vehicle.

3




Attach the negative (black) clamp to the negative terminal of the booster battery. Attach the other negative clamp to the engine frame of the BMW to complete the circuit. Any unpainted metal surface will suffice. Just make sure its away from any moving parts.

4




Start the engine of the booster vehicle. Wait at least 5 minutes for a charge to build up. Start the BMW. If it starts, move on to the next step.

If it fails to start, wait another few minutes and try again. If the car still fails to start after 30 seconds of trying, call a professional mechanic. The battery might not be at fault, and further tries could damage your engine.

5




Remove the cables in the reverse order they were attached: the BMW engine frame first, and the booster batterys red terminal last.

6




Drive the BMW to a location where you can safely remove the battery and attach it to a battery charger for at least 12 hours. The vehicles alternator will provide some charge to the battery as you drive, but this is not its primary function.

The 1996 BMW 318 TI engine comes equipped with two different accessory belts that operate all of the engine accessories. The front belt is a single V-belt that operates the air conditioner compressor, and the back belt is a single serpentine belt that operates the power steering pump, cooling fan and the alternator. Both belts are tensioned inside of each accessory pulley by two separate belt tensioners. Excessive heat and wear can cause the belts to fray. Once the fraying becomes visible, replace the belt soon before it breaks.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and locate the belt tensioner for the air conditioner belt. The tensioner is mounted to the front of the engine block between the crankshaft and the a/c compressor. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.

2

Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt out from around the tensioner pulley, the a/c pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Remove the belt from the engine well.

3

Locate the serpentine belt tensioner mounted to the front of the engine block on the lower left hand side of the alternator. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.

4

Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt off the tensioner pulley and the remaining accessory pulleys. Remove the belt from the engine compartment.

5

Route the new serpentine belt around the accessories exactly as described by the belt routing diagram that is stamped to the top of the fan shroud. Once the belt is inside the accessory pulleys, turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again and slide the belt around the tensioner pulley. Release the breaker bar and remove it from the tensioner.

6

Route the new air conditioner belt around the a/c compressor pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again. Slide the belt around the tensioner pulley and release the breaker bar. Remove the breaker bar from the engine compartment. Look over both belts to ensure they are seated inside of each accessory pulley.

7

Crank the engine for 10 to 15 seconds to completely seat the new belts inside the accessory pulleys. Turn the engine off.

Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) is a German automobile company that manufactures and markets performance and luxury vehicles. BMW automobiles feature a keyless entry system that is built into the key and allows you to unlock and lock the doors and trunk with the press of a button. At times, the unlock and lock functionality on the key will stop working. When this happens, you need to reset your BMW key.

Instructions

1

Unlock your BMW using the metal key.

2

Place the key in the ignition.

3

Turn the key to the "On" position.

4

Turn the key to the "Off" position.

5

Remove the key from the ignition.

6

Press and hold the "Unlock" button on your key.

7

Press the "Lock" button on the key three times. Your key is now reset and should function properly.

Fuel pump problems in certain BMWs may cause motor trouble, according to the results of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation. Fuel pump failure could cause longer engine starting times or rough engine running.

Consumer Complaints

In 2008, 27 consumers complained to the NHTSA and to BMW that a fuel pump problem had caused engine trouble in their 2007 BMW 335i models. Some of these drivers experienced the motor suddenly shutting off on the freeway. Others crashed when the fuel pumps malfunctioning led to engine trouble.

NHTSA Investigation

NHTSA opened an investigation in April 2008 to determine the cause and safety risks of BMW high-pressure fuel pumps causing engines to stall. NHTSA closed the investigation in August 2008 noting that the stalled engine problem occurred in only four percent of complaints, but disclaiming that the closing of the investigation doesnt necessarily mean a safety risk does not exist.

No Recall

As of 2010, the manufacturer has not issued a recall to repair this problem. This means BMW owners will bear the financial burden of any repairs that arent covered under warranty.

The 2002 BMW X5 battery is located in the trunk, beneath the spare tire. When you need to replace the battery in your X5, you need to remove the spare tire from the trunk to access it. Buy a replacement battery from an auto parts retailer or BMW dealer. Change the battery yourself at home for a fraction of what it would cost to have a mechanic do the job.

Instructions

1

Remove the key from the ignition. Open the trunk of the X5.

2

Lift up the carpet lining above the spare tire. Remove the four retaining nuts around the center of the spare tire with a 10-mm socket attached to a ratchet.

3

Lift the spare tire out of the trunk. Remove the bolts on each end of the crossbar over the battery with a 13-mm socket and ratchet. Lift the crossbar out of the trunk. Loosen the negative battery cable with a 10-mm socket and ratchet. Remove the cable from the battery. Repeat the process on the positive cable.

4

Lift the battery out of the trunk. Insert the new battery in the same alignment as the old one. Attach the positive battery cable and tighten it with the 10-mm socket and ratchet. Repeat the process with the negative cable. Replace the crossbar and secure the bolts with a 13-mm socket and ratchet.

5

Replace the spare tire. Secure the retaining nuts with a 10-mm socket and ratchet set. Replace the carpet over the spare tire area and close the trunk.

The rear window on the 1999 BMW 323i convertible is a plastic compound that may scratch or discolor over time. A damaged rear window on your convertible may make it difficult for you to see through the rear view mirror, putting your safety at risk. Buy a replacement window from a BMW dealer or parts store and replace it in minutes at home. Installing the window properly is important to protecting your BMW from water damage.

Instructions

1

Lower the windows in your BMW and open the convertible top. Raise the top an inch or two from the windshield frame to stretch it out, making it easier to work on the rear window.

2

Separate the black rubber weather seal from the rear window using the flat plastic tool provided with the replacement window. A new seal is also included with the replacement window so dont worry if you damage the existing one during removal.

3

Pry the metal clip off the bottom of the window with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the clip off the base of the window. Unzip the old window and remove it from the top. Clean any residual glue or dirt from the top with rubbing alcohol on a cloth.

4

Align the new window and attach the zipper. Zip the window into place. Replace the metal clip where the zipper stops to prevent it from accidentally unzipping. Press the clip into place. Apply a small piece of the double-sided tape included with the window to the top of the clip. Remove the protective sheet from the double-sided tape attached to the new window.

5

Press the new, rubber weather seal included with the replacement window into place on the double-sided tape. Press firmly all the way around the window to attach the seal and protect your rear window from leaks. Raise the convertible top to the "Up" position and let it sit for 24 hours before you put the top down.

You can reset the dashboard lights on your 02 BMW 325 right from your home garage, saving yourself both money and time. There are various warning lights that can illuminate on the BWMs dashboard such as "Check Engine," "Service Engine," or "SRS" (Supplemental Restraint System for airbag malfunctions.) Once you have your vehicle looked at and repaired by a qualified mechanic, you can reset the lights yourself using an OBD scan tool. This tool can be purchased from your local auto parts retailer.

Instructions

1

Find the fuse panel cover on the lower part of the drivers side dashboard. Pull down on it from the top using your fingers to remove it.

2

Find a port that is the same size and shape as the OBD scan tools connector end. Plug the scan tool into this port.

3

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "II" position, taking care not to start the engine. Observe the OBD scan tool and wait for the light on the face plate to stop flashing. Notice the instrument panel of your BMW to make sure the warning lights have shut off.

4

Remove the OBD scan tool and put the fuse panel cover back in place.

If a BMW radio is disabled, it is important to take the correct steps to fix it or the radio will not function properly. If a vehicle is stolen or if the battery dies and/or is replaced, the radio on the vehicle will reset and become disabled. This safety function is in place to deter potential criminals from stealing the vehicle and is meant as a safety mechanism for the owner.

Instructions

1

Locate the vehicles personalized radio code in the cars manual. The radio code is usually located on a small white sticker on either the front or back cover of the owners manual.

2

Place the key into the ignition and turn the vehicle on. Turn on the power button for the radio.

3

Use the station preset buttons to enter the radio code into the system and press and hold the "Volume" button to complete the code. If entered correctly, the radio will become enabled and ready to use normally.

When it comes to troubleshooting the dying battery on your 1984 BMW 318I it can be a bit tricky as there may be several reasons its happening. The most common issues involve manual error or electrical faults.

Alternator Belt

When you own an older vehicle you need to make sure youre keeping up with all maintenance, including tightening or replacing your alternator belt. If your belt is loose it will not crank the alternator properly which, in turn, will not generate electricity for you.

Key-off Drain

This model BMW has a computer on board, so having the ignition in off position and having the key removed should produce very little battery drain. If you hook up a voltmeter to the battery it should read between 20 to 50 milliamps. If its higher, then you may have an electrical device draining your battery when the cars off.

Bad Battery

Battery life is limited, so after several years of owning one if its giving you trouble, the issue just may be a bad battery. Take your car to a local mechanic, or even a parts store, and he will typically test for free and let you know if your battery is bad.

You can reset the oil and engine lights on your 2003 BMW X5 using the ignition key. Most people think you need to take your BMW to the dealership to have your car serviced and the lights reset, but you dont. Its a simple fix you can do right in your home garage. The Check Oil and Service Engine Soon lights illuminate on the vehicles instrument panel when the OBD, or on-board diagnostics, computer reads a trouble code sent from sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. Although you need to use an OBD scanner read the codes, you dont need one to reset the lights and turn them off.

Instructions

1

Sit in the drivers seat, close the door and fasten your seat belt.

2

Press the odometer button with your left thumb while simultaneously putting the key into the ignition and turning it to the "Accessory" position.

3

Keep pressing down on the odometer button until the light on the dashboard starts to flash and the word "Reset" appears.

4

Let go of the odometer button, then push it in again and hold it.

5

Let go of the button for the last time and look for five green lights to appear on the dash to let you know the system has been reset.