Get a multimeter. Set your multimeter to DCV (DC Volts) above 15. Make sure your alternator’s positive and negative terminals are clean. Put the multimeter’s black…
Do coil springs need to be changed when replacing the struts? The answer is no: if the spring is in a good shape, it can be…
How much does it cost to replace BMW fog lights? A mechanic can perform a fog or driving light bulb replacement if either of these lights…
But at the tip, a resonator exhaust tip will produce more noise versus a regular exhaust tip. That loud, high frequency, reverberation sound you hear on import tuner cars is resonator exhaust. If that is the sound you are looking for, then a resonator tip is the way to go. Do exhaust tips change sound?…
F80s are wider, allot of the components might be a tad too big for the f30 chassis. I know the exterior body is doable and I’ve seen engine swaps. If you’re up to tackle that BIG job of swapping everything at the risk of finding out it wont work, go for it. When did the…
An OEM BMW FRM repair can cost up to $1300 at a BMW dealer. Typically the part is around $800, and the labor and programming are around $400. The ECU Pro offers a $250.00 repair, with a refurbished replacement costing $499 – All plug and play that doesn’t require any additional programming. What does BMW…
This battery charger is kind of mix of good and bad, The good things are that it has quite a bit of power and will “jump start” a car with a dead battery with about 5 minutes on boost and then put it on engine start. It will also charge a Completely Dead battery which…
The VLF is 2% of a vehicle’s current estimated value and is calculated based on the current owner’s purchase price. What is the CA DMV license fee? Vehicle License Fee (VLF) – 0.65% of purchase price/value of vehicle. For most vehicles, you will need to pay a vehicle license fee instead of the fee being…
Have a look underneath your mirror, close to where the mirror’s flip tab is to look for a screw. If you find this screw, tighten it up to tighten the ball joint and make your mirror stay in place. Some cars have a ball joint connection inside the roof that you’ll need to access to…
The O2 sensor is normally located on the exhaust manifold near the catalytic converter. In newer cars, there are usually two oxygen sensors for each catalytic converter (one before and one after). Older cars typically have a single oxygen sensor. Some modern vehicles have even more sensors! Where is the oxygen sensor in BMW x3?…
Xenon headlights provide a beautiful white light which may have a cold bluish tinge. But what if is suddenly takes on a violet glow or even pink? The answer is simple – it has come to the end of its life. Unlike incandescent lamps, xenon lamps do not suddenly burn out. Why is my headlight…
A broken PCV breather hose can cause several problems, such as a poor fuel economy, engine misfire, or a check engine light (see YourMechanic.com). What does a crankcase vent hose do? A crankcase ventilation system removes unwanted gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine. The system usually consists of a tube, a one-way…
“Resetting the ECU” is the process of clearing all the long term memory from the ECU’s memory. These variables trim idle speed, fuel, spark, and more. The ECU will also store trouble codes for diagnostic capability. How do I reset my BMW navigation system? How do I reset my BMW e60? How do I reset…
Find Reservoir – Locate the coolant reservoir and clean it. Check Level – Determine the coolant level. Add Coolant – Determine coolant type and add fluid properly. Replace Cap – Secure the coolant reservoir cap. How do you fill the coolant in a BMW 5 Series? What coolant does BMW 535i take? Pentosin – Pentofrost…
The average cost for an air suspension system can range from $500 to $2,000+, depending on your vehicle and location. For those simply having air suspension helper springs added to their truck, you can expect to be on the lower end of the cost spectrum. How much does it cost to replace air suspension on…
or by FSU (Final Stage Unit), is known to fry itself in almost every single. E46 (3-series), E39 (5-series), and E38 (7-series) BMW. What causes blower motor resistor failure? In most cases, the blower fan resistor is failing either due to overheating or corrosion. If the blower fan fails, your car will not blow any…
Luckily, you can open the hood on your 2019 BMW X5 quite simply by pulling the lever on the left side of the driver’s footwell twice. You should hear a deep click and a chime letting you know that your hood has opened. You can now go around to the front of your car and…
Common Causes of Instrument Cluster Malfunctions Because your MINI’s instrument cluster is so central to its functioning, there are several factors that may cause it to fail. The two most common culprits behind instrument cluster failure are electrical issues and debris accumulation. What are the common problems of the instrument cluster? Computer Faults. For some…
Though not necessary, you can get caps for some model vehicles with a capless gas tank. GM manufactures one such cap that can be outfitted on most of their models. Now that we know that you can get a cap for some capless gas tanks, we’ll look at the pros and cons of doing so.…
The calibration process is normally done by putting the wheels in the straight forward position, and then zeroing out the sensor with a scan tool. Being informed on these systems is important to a complete, safe, and quality repair. How do I reset my BMW Active steering? turn the car on and turn the steering…
ECUs, especially on older vehicles, are designed to reset after they have lost their power source. Removing the ECU fuse from your vehicle’s fusebox will achieve the same result as disconnecting your car battery: it will interrupt the ECU’s power supply. Where is the fuse box located on a 2008 BMW x3? Where is the…
BMW has eliminated the oil level dipstick from under the hood, replacing it with a sensor in the oil pan (the shaded part in the figure). The sensor should warn you if the oil level inside the oil-pan drops below the safe level. Where is the oil dipstick located on a 2008 BMW? How do…
The E92 M3 has a unique cold start up and a moving redline which will “unlock” the engines full ability to rev to 8,250 rpm once the engine is up to operating temperature. The moving redline behaves much like the BMW E60 M5, which was covered by Doug. Did the BMW M3 ever have a…