Recharging your own Air conditioning system is one of those things that seems difficult, but really is rather simple as long as you have all the correct tools and follow the correct steps. I will as in depth as I can describe how to properly pull a vacuum on your car, how to check...
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The auxiliary fan resistor is in need of replacement when the auxiliary fan does not operate at low speed. The aux fan should activate: When the AC is on (by way of selecting the AC button in the interior) When the radiator coolant temperature sensor reaches sufficient temperature to trigger the aux fan To...
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The used car market in north america is a very saturated market and therefore heavily standardized. Below is some information that will make you a better informed buyer:   Where do original and used car dealerships get their cars from? Used car dealerships leverage either of two systems: Buying cars from dealership auctions  The...
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There is a lot of misinformation and misconceptions with rust proofing / under coating/ rust prevention; for which I hope to provide some clarity and direction. First, remember that rust is like an iceberg, you only see 10% of it. Moisture normally gets trapped for the longest duration of time in the places that...
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Hearing the Getrag rattle for the first time can be unsettling. This rattle is a common sound produced by Getrag transmissions, especially the 5-speed models found in E30s, BMWs, and GMs, when the car is in neutral and the clutch is not engaged. The rattle disappears when the clutch pedal is pressed or the...
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Although there are a multitude of reasons why your central locking may not be working (Microswitches, actuators, fuses, previous owners attempts) there are two major flaws in the design of the E30 central locking system that often fail and contribute to 80%+ of the central locking problems people experience. The first is the internal...
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The on board computer (OBC) in an E30 uses two regular light bulbs wired in series on a removable circuit board to light up the display on the OBC. Because they are wired in series, if one light-bulb goes out both go out. The bulbs are not supposed to be replaceable as they are...
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There are many online based ETK systems like realoem and bmwfans.info for BMW parts and most work great, however none are as accurate and up to date as the ETK directly from BMW. Luckily BMW has their ETK available online with a general login. To access it just press the link below and enter the...
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Supplementary Article for control arm bushing options: https://www.rtsauto.com/e30-control-arm-bushing-upgrades-also-applicable-to-e36-comprehensive-guide-on-control-arm-bushings/   Recently picked up a E30/E36/E46 control arm bushing specialty tool which made the job extremely easy as far as getting the finished bushing carrier with bushing onto the control arm shaft. This article only really applies to OEM rubber bushings as poly and solid bushings...
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It is not always justifiable to spend the money on a specialty tool, however in the case of rear axles a little investment goes a long way.   The problem with many german cars and particularly E30’s is that the tolerance between the hub splines and the axles splines is VERY small causing a...
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