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Doug's BMW 328is
Maintenance Summary

BMW E36 M52 Engine

This section contains a continually-updated account of the scheduled and unscheduled
maintenance performed on my 1998 328is, including costs.

2008 Maintenance Reports

December 14: Oil Service; Parts for Blower Motor fix
23: Yet another CEL for Catalytic Converter Efficiency. What else?
November 02: Back to Winter Rubber; HVAC blower motor noise
October 11: Consequences of worn rear tires; Microfilter
19: First DIY driver's door window motor and regulator
September 01: Oil analysis; Trip to Hazmat; Rear swaybar service (bushings and endlinks)
07: Swaybar Update; Surprise Brake Job
August 23: Fuel System Treatment; Oil Service; DIY Inspection; Record keeping note
30: first DIY coolant flush
June 07: Aux fan connectors replaced
May 04: Aux cooling fan replacement
17: Oil Service, Fuel Filter
24: Fuel system cleaner; Fuel filter inspection; Oil analysis; coolant flush research
31: Aux fan revisited
April 05: Return to summer rubber; First DIY Brake Fluid Flush
20: Valve train noise; OBC clock bulb replacement
26: Trim restoration experiment; Aux cooling fan failure
February 02: Oil service and analysis; Dunlop Winter Sport M3 Review; Ten Years

2007 Maintenance Reports

December 08: New winter tires for 16" wheels
November 18: Fog light replacement
22: Microfilter
October 27: Oil Service and Analysis; Engine Air Filter; Cold start update; Tools
September 07: Hood hydraulic lift cylinders; Battery
13: Windshield, take three; Delayed cold start
20: State inspection results; Cold start issue persists
August 16: BMW special wheel bearing tool; M steering wheel conversion; New door/ignition key
July 14: Oil Service; Carpet cleaning
20: Oil analysis results; Faint front wheel noises; Steering wheel noise
May 27: Center vent replacement
April 07: Spring cleaning; Oil service
12: Oil analysis results
26: Fuel Leak
29: Passenger door pull trim replacement
March 11: New valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, and coil boots
February 03: Power steering phantom part; Replaced Pre-cat O2 Sensors
17: Oxygen sensor update; Power steering update
25: Rear speaker upgrade
January 05: Body shop work to fix sideswipe damage; Check engine light
13: Car returns from body shop; GT1 Analyzer; First DIY microfilter replacement
21: Failed main belt tensioner pulley; More tools
22: Replaced tensioner
31: Emissions woes; Oxygen sensor research

2006 Maintenance Reports

December 05: Tire research and analysis
10: CSL wheels and tires mounted
18: CSL valve stem issue; Parts order
20: CSL valve stem followup
28: Oil Service; Front sway bar links; Back to the body shop; CSL wheels reinstalled
30: Front sway bar bushings; Power steering hoses; Year in Review
November 11: Check engine light for Low Catalytic Converter efficiency
12: First DIY brake replacement
23: DIY inspection; Glovebox flashlight; Microfilter; Tire status
October 03: Wiper blades, Frozen differential drain plugs; Wheel chocks & update to tools article
08: Differential fluid replaced
September 09: First DIY oil service; More tools and equipment
10: Differential Fluid flush prep
21: Left rear wheel bearing failure; Brake parts arrived
27: Wheel bearing fixed
August 08: Aux fan relay replacement
14: Flat tire
26: CSL rims arrive; Flat fixed; Tire decisions
July 09: Power steering flush; Stone guards and other parts; Prep for A/C fix
25: Aux cooling fan troubleshooting; Toys for the birthday boy
28: More auxilliary fan fun
June 12: New front woofers (kick panel drivers); A/C Compressor Sanity Check
16: Coolant expansion bottle explodes
20: Cooling system wrap-up; Local dealer is sold
May 19: Restoration research & options; Bentley manual purchase
20: New detailing techniques
24: Oil Service, Brake fluid flush, Fuel filter, Cooling system overhaul, belts
25: New midrange and tweeter drivers
April 13: My baby returns from the body shop
29: DIY Fuel Pump and Sender
March 14: Another deer hit, another trip to the body shop
February 18: Transmission replacement under warranty; E46 Purchase
January 06: Oil Service; E90 Mini Review
30: Transmission diagnostics; Interior overhaul parts research

2005 Maintenance Reports

December 04: September state inspection results, summary of the last six months
July 19: Oil Service, Microfilter, Engine air filter change
June 21: Air conditioning troubleshooting; condenser replacement; Techician Q&A
May 05: New Tires, Defective clear coat on rim; Transmission status
10: Front control arm bushings
April 12: More transmission troubleshooting; Oil Service; Brakes/Tires status
February 10: New transmission installed
January 27: Winshield washer fluid update; Oil Service; Transmission Troubles

2004 Maintenance Reports

December 24: Body shop work update; Windshield washer fluid and wipers
November 19: Body shop work to fix damage from deer hit; Comments about shop
October 16: Deer hit!
September 08: Steering rack installed; alignment results.
August 04: Oil Service, Transmission and diff flush research; Big Brother at BMW
26: Diagnosis: new steering rack required; New floor mats and wheel centers
June 05: Oil service; Rattling catalytic converter heat shield fix.
April 12: Brake light switch replacement.
March 02: Ordered shocks and other stuff; Notes on O2 Sensors and catalytic converters
11: Work in lieu of Inspection I, rear shocks, exhaust mounts
February 14: Replaced leather armrest, six years of ownership.
January 22: Replaced gauge cluster and headlamp switch backlighting.

2003 Maintenance Reports

December 02: Four new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires installed.
17: New front brakes, flushed brake fluid, mid-cycle oil service; replaced thermostat.
November 07: Posted an article covering my second windshield replacement
20: Tire time again - settled on four Michelin Pilot Sport A/S
25: Replaced the second windshield with a third
October Will need brakes soon; The bummer of the month - another rock in the windshield!
September 01: Oil Service, and a warning that I'll need to replace front pads much earlier than expected;
29: A motor vehicle inspection gotcha that might affect some E36's
August 01: Left side fog lamp light assembly; left and right side mouldings
11: Insurance claim comes through
July Off-cycle oil service, belt replacement
April Replacement of climate control head, A/M Switch
March Loose ignition harness results in another flatbed, Inspection II
January Routine service: Brake lamp replacement and synthetic oil service.

2002 Maintenance Reports

November Second unexpected maintenance; failure to start and misfires - new idle control valve and six new platinum plugs.
October First unexpected maintenance - air injection pump and check valve
September Tire replacement, oil change, wiper blades (finally!)
July Struts and alignment, including a pic of the actual alignment results
June Lots of maintenance in support of my decision to keep the machine
May Decision to trade put off; A few routine maintenance items

2001 Maintenance Reports

December Thanksgiving day brought at least one thing I wasn't thankful for...a leak in my coolant system.
October Windshield replacement, off cycle oil service.
May So it's now a garage queen...you wanna make something out of it?

2000 Maintenance Reports

October Second Inspection I, GTI purchase to offload BMW usage, realization about maintenance on a BMW.
July No more warranty, belt replacement, fixing a pesky creak, off-cycle oil change.
June First Inspection II, tire and brake status.

1999 Maintenance Reports

December Off-cycle oil changes, tire replacement, A/M light change, air vent change.
March First Inspection I, driver's seat leather replacement (warranty), tire and brake status.

1998 Maintenance Reports

October First oil service, steering wheel shimmy.
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