BMW328is: Oil Service
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Following months of crummy weather I finally get around to an overdue oil service and general undercarriage inspection. Check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Twelve Years
Friday, February 05, 2010
If you had suggested to me twelve years ago I'd still have the same car I would have told you to put down the recreational pharmaceuticals and join me back here in the real world, but here I am with key in hand. There's not much to say in addition to what I said already, except to point out that, in what has become something of a tradition, I have updated my E36 Long Term Review article with the latest data and a prognostication for next year's maintenance budget. Enjoy the (re)read.
BMW328is: Aux Fan Relays Replaced
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The parts required to complete the repair of the aux fan came in this week and I got around to installing them today. The post mortem of the affected parts includes a picture for your viewing pleasure. Check out what I hope is the last maintenance update on this issue.
BMW328is: High Speed Aux Fan Relay Failure
Saturday, January 16, 2010
One evening this week I arrived at home and turned off the ignition only to find that the auxillary cooling fan continued to run. A temporary fix prevented the battery from fully discharging and a review of the Bentley manual schematics as well as the official BMW schematics (courtesy of my technician) revealed the likely cause -- a failure of the high speed aux fan relay. Read all about the ghost in the machine.
BMW328is: Windshield Washer System Repair and Overhaul
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The parts required to repair and overhaul the windshield washer system arrived this week and I managed to complete the work today with only a couple surprises. Check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Windshield Washer System Leak
Thursday, December 31, 2009
A recent snowstorm and cold snap have caused a leak in the passenger side windshield washer jet so parts to overhaul the entire system are on order. Read about the low-tech troubleshooting procedure I used to determine the root cause of the problem as well as some notes about this year and next in the last maintenance update of 2009. Safe driving to all in 2010.
BMW328is: Back to Winter Tires
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Crisp fall air has returned and that means winter is not far behind. This time I'm ahead of the curve and have mounted the set of winter tires I bought a couple months ago. I also did what any self-respecting DIYer with limited time would do: a brake fluid flush while the wheels were conveniently off the car. Check out the results and my first-ever visual comparison between a pumpkin and 18 month old brake fluid in my latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Flat Fix: The Sequel
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Remember that flat I had fixed back in June? It wasn't fixed properly, so I had to do yet another impromptu swap with the spare. The good news is that the swap went off without a hitch (I'm getting pretty good at it, actually), and the bad news is that the tire shop to which I hoped to give an increasing share of my business and referrals just lost it.
BMW328is: Oil Service and Filters
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Right on schedule, I performed another oil service / analysis and replaced both the engine air filter and HVAC microfilter. I spent less than an hour doing all three tasks and I managed to save roughly $200 in labor charges.
BMW328is: State Inspection and Winter Tires
Saturday, September 19, 2009
This week I took the car for inspection and it passed with flying colors. I also ordered a new set of winter tires a bit ahead of time to avoid the usual in-season markups. Check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: ICV / CCV DIY
Monday, August 31, 2009
I wish I could say that I've enjoyed a "lazy" summer but nothing could be farther from the truth. This may partially explain why it took me the better part of two months to write up my latest DIY article to detail the procedure required to replace either the ICV or CCV (or both). Again, enjoy the read, and please consider a donation to the site if you find it helpful.
BMW328is: CCV, ICV, etc.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Today I installed a new crankcase vent (oil separator), idle control valve, and intake manifold air temperature sensor as part of my scheduled and preventative maintenance program. Three hours later I'd saved myself another $500 in labor charges simply by doing it myself. One or more DIYs will be written but you'll have to wait for them since I plan to spend the next couple days relaxing for a change (yea, I know -- there's obviously something wrong with me -- I'll get that checked out eventually). Happy 4th!
BMW328is: HVAC Blower Motor DIY
Thursday, July 02, 2009
As if the four hours of solid work on the car wasn't enough, I managed to invest another 12 hours writing the text and selecting the best 50 pictures in over 150 pictures taken during the work to create what is without a doubt the most detailed BMW HVAC Blower Motor DIY article on the net. Enjoy the read, and please consider donating to the site if you find it helpful.
BMW328is: Oil Service and Upcoming Work
Sunday June 28, 2009
No rest for the weary. Not long after I finished the blower motor installation I realized that the car was due for a simple oil service so I took care of that today.
BMW328is: Blower Motor Installed
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Some people take what little vacation they get and go somewhere. I, however, spend it working on my BMWs. This time I managed to install the HVAC blower motor I purchased over six months ago in prep for this challenging job. Check out the latest maintenance update for a sneak peak of the upcoming picture-laden DIY.
Aviation: APRS Tracker, Revision 2
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I decided to add discrete status LEDs and a voltmeter to the project enclosure in prep for the summer flying season. Read about the second revision to the tracker in the updated APRS Tracking article.
BMW328is: Maintenance Update
Saturday, May 23, 2009
My technician's spare parts box was officially out of E36 wiper retaining clips so I had to cough up money for new wiper blade assemblies. I also managed to convert a spare transmission mode switch to LEDs, but some further experimentation is in order. Read the latest maintenance update.
Aviation: APRS Tracker, Revision 1
Saturday, May 16, 2009
After some intermittent power issues that caused data loss on a few flights I recently modified the design of my airborne APRS tracker and updated the APRS Tracking article to reflect the changes.
BMW328is: New Summer Tires and Differential Oil Change
Saturday, April 18, 2009
This week I managed to get a new set of summer tires mounted on the CSL wheels so I installed those yesterday and changed the differential oil while the car was up on four jack stands. Check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW330ci: Oil Service and First SES Light
Saturday, April 4, 2009
When I took the car out of its lair last weekend I was greeted with a Service Engine Soon (SES) light shortly after engine start. The car needed an oil service anyway so I scheduled a trip to the dealer to figure out what caused it. Check out this long-overdue addition to the E46 maintenance blog.
BMW328is: Oil Service and Suspension Research
Saturday, March 21, 2009
I took advantage of some nice early Spring weather and did an oil service today, which went off without a hitch. Research into some planned suspension work reveals several challenges ahead. Read all about it in the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Another Day, Another CEL
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Yesterday I encountered another CEL but this time it turned out to be a relatively easy fix that was corrected today with the help of my technician. There are things to be learned from even the simplest of faults so be sure to check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Thermostat DIY
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Better late than never. I finally collected my thoughts following the recent thermostat replacement and decided it warranted a DIY article. If you need to replace your E36's thermostat this article will walk you through the relatively simple procedure. Enjoy!
BMW328is: Thermostat Housing
Saturday, February 8, 2009
A puddle under the front of the car signals the need for a new thermostat housing after a mere 30K miles in service. I also replaced the thermostat and performed another coolant flush. Check out the latest update.
BMW328is: Tire Repair
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A bit of excitement on an off ramp leads me to discover a nail in the left rear tire. Read the maintenance update for the lesson learned.
BMW328is: That time of year again...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Annual updates to my long term review of the E36 have become something of a tradition so I won't disappoint you. Check out the latest update to one of the most popular articles on this site.
BMW328is: Catalytic Converter Replacement
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Some people buy expensive gifts for their spouse or family members around the holidays. I was forced to buy one for my car. Check out the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Yet another CEL
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
After a CEL occurred Sunday night I managed to get the car into my technician and connected to the GT1 only to discover that the dreaded catalyst efficiency warning is back. Looks like I'll be replacing the mid-section sometime soon. Read about it in the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Oil Service & Blower Motor Prep
Sunday, December 14, 2008
There is nothing quite like blueberry waffles and pomegranate juice in the morning to warm oneself in preparation for an E36 oil change on a cold winter day. Sorry, no drool-inducing pictures of the waffles, but be sure to check out the latest maintenance update anyway.
BMW328is: Back to Winter Rubber
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Snow flakes and rainy roads combined with nearly 25K miles on the Pilot Sport A/S results in an early swap of the Winter Tires. Read about it in the latest maintenance update. Also note that I've updated the E36 Maintenance Blog Summary to include links to individual dates for your convenience.
BMW328is: Added Power Window DIY
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The fruits of my recent labor have just gone live. Check out my Power Window Motor and Regulator DIY article. Enjoy.
BMW328is: Power Window Motor and Regulator
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Today I managed to replace my driver's door power window motor and regulator (scissor arms) to fix a problem with intermittent window operation. While this motor was replaced before, this is the first time I've done the work myself. Look for a DIY and tons of pictures soon, but for now feel free to read the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Uncommanded Oversteer
Saturday, October 11, 2008
New math: Worn rear tires + Wet, off camber corner = Uncommanded Oversteer. I recently experienced my first real world test of the driving skills I picked up at the Performance Center a couple years back. Oh, and yea...I replaced the Microfilter today. Enjoy the read.
BMW328is: Updated Brakes DIY Article
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
As promised, here is my update to the DIY Brake Job article. I redesigned the page to support more pictures, so I added some pictures from the first DIY brake job that didn't make it into the article originally as well as some new pictures from the recent front brake job. Enjoy the read!
BMW328is: Updated Swaybar Service DIY Article
Saturday, September 13, 2008
This update adds the procedure and several pictures taken during the recent swaybar service. Enjoy.
BMW328is: Swaybar Results and Surprise Brake Job
Sunday, September 7, 2008
This update includes a brief analysis of the recent rear swaybar work based on a week's worth of driving and a good example of the fact that I have been very busy focusing on things OTHER than the BMW recently: the annunicator that illuminated in my instrument cluster at least 10K miles earlier than expected. Read the latest maintenance update for the details.
BMW328is: Rear Swaybar Service
Monday, September 1, 2008
A year after I bought the parts I finally mustered the courage to tackle the rear swaybar and its odd press-fit end links. While most of the work on this car has gone off without a hitch this task did not follow that mold. Read the gory details in my latest maintenance update.
BMW: Added Coolant Flush DIY
Saturday, August 30, 2008
I just posted a Coolant Flush DIY article to summarize what I learned doing the flush yesterday. Enjoy.
BMW328is: First DIY Coolant Flush
Saturday, August 30, 2008
I finally managed to flush the coolant on the E36 yesterday. The process was more or less as I expected. A DIY should be up later today.
BMW328is: Oil Service and Inspection
Saturday, August 23, 2008
I can't say how much I still enjoy driving the E36, particularly when it wants for nothing. After another 4500 miles of mostly routine operations I completed an oil service and undercarriage inspection today.
Gallery: Garmin 430 WAAS Initial Operations
Sunday, July 27, 2008
I just put up some selected pictures from our period of initial operating experience with the new Garmin 430 WAAS installation. Enjoy!
Site Maintenance Complete
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I just completed the transition of the site from my old shared hosting provider to a new server I administrate. Mail should be working now so if you tried to reach me over the last couple of days and did not receive a response feel free to resend your message.
Also note that I have some extra capacity on this server so if you need a shared hosting provider for your personal or small business website contact me. I'd be happy to discuss your needs.
Aviation: Garmin 430W Upgrade Complete
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday morning I picked up the 172 from Penn Avionics following a Garmin 430W WAAS upgrade installation. I wrestled with the decision to upgrade for some time but ultimately decided that Garmin's 50% discount on the upgrade (an offer since expired) was too good to pass up.
With the help of a client I took the airplane over to Northeast Philadelphia (PNE) airport and flew the RNAV 06 approach down to LPV minimums of 374 feet AGL. The entire approach felt very much like an ILS which, of course, is the whole point.
Look for pictures and maybe some video soon.
BMW328is: Aux Fan Electrical Connector Repair
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Not long after my last "repair" of the aux fan electrical connection I realized the fan wasn't running again. As Marvin the Martian would say "Well, back to the old electronic brain!"
BMW328is: Aux Fan Revisited
Saturday, May 31, 2008
I realized late on Friday that my aux fan wasn't turning on with the air conditioning. I managed to troubleshoot the problem in about an hour.
BMW328is: Miscellaneous Stuff
Saturday, May 24, 2008
As a followup to the fuel filter change I threw in a bottle of fuel system cleaner and cut open the fuel filter to inspect the element for contamination. I also received my oil analysis and tried to solve a few logistical issues concerning the upcoming coolant flush. Read all about it.
BMW328is: Added Fuel Filter DIY
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The process required to replace the fuel filter is so simple it's almost not worth a DIY but given the need to depressurize the fuel system I figured you might find my fuel filter DIY helpful. Have at it.
BMW328is: Oil Service, Fuel Filter
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The odometer crept over 160K this week so that meant a look at the maintenance schedule. Time for an oil service and fuel filter change. Read all about it in the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Added Aux Fan DIY
Thursday, May 8, 2008
As promised, here's my aux fan DIY. Enjoy.
BMW328is: Aux Cooling Fan Replacement
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The new aux fan arrived from the vendor this week. I managed to replace the fan today and save $550 in the process. I also did a postmortem on the old fan and found the cause of failure not what I originally predicted. A DIY is coming. In the meantime, feel free to read the latest maintenance update.
BMW328is: Aux Cooling Fan Failure
Sunday, April 27, 2008
While doing my weekly under-hood inspection I discovered the aux cooling fan making noise as it cycled on and off. A bit of simple troubleshooting revealed the problem. I managed to find a good deal on an aftermarket unit which should arrive this week. Read all about it.
BMW328is: OBC Lamp Bulb and Trim Restoration
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The backlight for the clock in the OBC failed last week so I decided to pull the OBC and replace the bulb. I also managed to conduct an experiment to determine if I could restore some of the exterior black trim rather than replace it. Read the latest maintenance update.
DIY: Added Brake Fluid Flush Article
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Just posted a DIY article based on my experience flushing the E36's brake system yesterday. DIYers enjoy!
BMW328is: Summer Rubber, DIY Brake Fluid Flush
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Time for a little spring maintenance involving swapping the winter rubber for the stickier summer rubber and my first DIY brake fluid flush. Check out the latest E36 maintenance update.