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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair
5349 messages, Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
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#552 of 5349 ddtigger1 by div2
Dec 10, 2002 (7:07 am)
Well, I started in 1983 by restoring a 1973 Bavaria 3.0...
I currently run a 1995 318ti Club Sport as well as a 1997 528iA. The 3er has been the most reliable car I've ever owned; at 76K miles it's required no unscheduled maintenance-though I did have a fuel sender replaced and a couple of TSBs performed while the car was in for other service. I've replaced the front pads and the serpentine belts just as a precaution(it sees track use every so often). The 5er has had a waterpump, thermostat/and t-stat housing replaced at 
60K miles. A couple of local BMW dealers have pretty good service departments, but I primarily use an independent shop that specializes in BMWs and Ferraris. Here's why. Dealers usually charge $700-$1000 for the Inspection II(major) service. My independent performed the Inspection II, replaced the fuel filter(not required on the E39 5er, but a good idea regardless), front pads, a tie rod, and performed an alignment-all for $440. And that was using Mobil 1 and BMW OEM parts. The car you are considering is pretty bulletproof IF it has been maintained properly. Have it inspected by a good BMW tech and ask to see the service history- was the coolant changed every three years using BMW coolant? Was the DOT4 brake fluid change every two years? If the PO cannot prove he took care of the car I'd take a pass. Back in 1995 I looked at a one owner 1988 M3. The (moron)owner kept bragging how he changed the oil every 3K miles. The brake fluid reservoir looked like it was filled with coffee, so I asked him when the brake fluid was last changed. "Changed?" he asked with a deer in the headlights look... Needless to say, I walked.
#554 of 5349 "good info" by div2
Jan 02, 2003 (10:37 am)
Yes, http://www.bmwlemon.com/ is a terrific site-if you are a psychology student looking for case studies on psychosis, paranoia, and multiple personalities. It's composed almost entirely of unsubstantiated stories- several of which are posted anonymously. Here are a few examples of the "horror stories":"1976 2002"- this genius is upset that an eight year old '02 is not as reliable as a new Acura. It had a squeaky heater fan and a bad u-joint. And he's dead wrong about M10 rocker shafts. They CAN be replaced. Notice he never cites the vehicle mileage.
"740i LEMON" Owner has been reduced to tears. Poor baby. She never describes the vehicle age, mileage, or the "problems".
http://www.bmwlemon.com/gasketb.txt - you have to read this moron's message yourself, I crack up when I try to type it.
"Gasket Problem"-The profile gasket failed and BMW UK fixed it under warranty. But it took them a week and they gave him a 316 sedan for a loaner. How sad.
"What another 318 Gasket problem?"-profile gasket died at 97000 miles. Mean old Munich wouldn't pay for the repair. How unfair!
"1994 525i"- Idiot buys a CPO and after purchase "discovers" problems that would have been obvious on even a brief test drive. BMW gives him another 525i but that's not good enough. The imbecile pledges to "fight on".
"BMW=DEATH" This guy blames BMW for the fact that his girfriend was tailgating the car she hit at "40 mph". And if the seat belt failed, why didnt she suffer any facial trauma from hitting the wheel, dash, or windshield? Can you say, "I can't drive, but it's STILL BMW's fault."?
The site is a true moronic convergence
#555 of 5349 Steering problem by edwardgreen
Jan 13, 2003 (8:48 pm)
Brought my 1999 328i to dealer today. Found out that my "pulling to the left" steering problem was due to wear of the left control arm. They wanted to replace both front parts for $750 which of course I didn't pay. My car has 78,000 miles still covered in the preowned extended warranty. After calling BMW USA and the warranty administrator and the service manager they ended up charging me $240.00 saying that parts will be covered by BMW but not the labor. Anybody else have this steering problem? I've read of one message here. (The service tech told me that it is dangerous to drive the car and it should be replaced promptly.) I've had several problems with this car since we bought it including brakes, callipers, computers, cold stalls, etc. and frankly I'm convinced not to buy another BMW!#556 of 5349 steering problem/edwardgreen by chashoang
Jan 16, 2003 (9:29 am)
An update on my steering problem as noted in file #547.the dealer agreed that my car hunts to the left but found that all their 330ci do the same. i even let the service foreman take my car home for the night so he could experience what i do everyday. he agreed the next morning and realligned the car, and put it up to BMW specs, but could not get the car to go straight, and in his opinion this hunt to the left normal.
it was ironic that there were no 330ci to compare it to on the lot that day. i am currently taking it to another bmw dealership where i know one of the techs who moved there from my current dealership. he said he will test drive it and let me know. i will give you an update when i find out.
Can you tell me what excuses or solutions your dealership said would solve the problem? i haven't gone to bmwna yet, but will if the other dealer detects a problem.
#557 of 5349 Strange phenomenon occured on onboard computer by idletask
Jan 16, 2003 (11:12 am)
I've taken the 16/9 nav system as an option and the onboard computer allows for two mileage displays. I got the car new. I've let #2 alone since the beginning as to calculate the mileage over the life of the vehicle. #1 I reset each time I fill the tank.Problem: after a moment (2 months/7000 miles), #2 displayed 0 when I set the unit to km/l. I usually leave the unit to l/100km. But in this unit, since Jan 13th, #2 also showed 0. It seems to have happened when the display wanted to go from 7.2 to 7.1 (haven't checked for km/l). "Funny" thing, when I chose mpg at the unit, #2 still displayed correctly!
I noticed my dealer about this problem and the tech guy reprogrammed the onboard computer (and I've lost my dear data - whaa, no mileage on the life of the vehicle now *weep* *weep*).
Has anyone else noticed this problem?
#558 of 5349 steering problem/edwardgreen by chashoang by nerd
Jan 16, 2003 (11:23 am)
I suggest that you rotate the tires. A radial tire can pull in on direction if there is a defect in the belt alignment in the tire. I have run into this problem twice with other cars, and the problem was solved by rotation. You might have to rotate them twice to get the offending tire in the "correct" position. A pull in either direction is not normal even for cheap, poorly-designed cars.#559 of 5349 by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Jan 16, 2003 (1:55 pm)
If the car aligns to specs it really has to be a tire problem seems to me. How's inflation pressure, and have you tried to vary it?#560 of 5349 by kdshapiro
Jan 18, 2003 (9:08 pm)
Nerd has a good point. Sometimes radial tires can be damaged but no damage is visible to the naked eye.One way to detect damage is to swap the tires one at a time with a full size spare and see which swap might make a difference.
#561 of 5349 nerd, kd, Mr. shift by chashoang
Jan 19, 2003 (12:59 pm)
hey guys, thanx for the advice. to my knowledge the foreman said he switch only the front two tires to see if it helped, but it didn't. i will try swapping all the tires and update you on the situation.As a side note, do you guys know how to stop the speaker rattle on my passenger side door? it only happens 80% of the time with or without the speaker on. they say it's coming from the speakers and replaced it twice but to no avail. I personally think it's coming from the door panel which connects to the speaker casing (one unit, the area that you put stuff in on the doors). Or could the speakers be blowing after each immed. replacement from a short? The speakers do work however.
thanx again guys.
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