» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 0 Replies, 962 Views | | | | | 02-25-2006, 05:19 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The rainy state, Wa Posts: 7 | General repairs going on Well a week or so ago I talked a bit about the heater cable being bad in my car. Well now to yesterday and today. My shop manual showed up earlier this week and I was able to read a bit about what I needed to repair. On the list was the heat control cable and the tiny light behind the odometer as that area has been dark. Yesterday I started on removing the needed items to get to the heater cable, what a job. Got all the center console out and glove box out of the way. The after market radio in the car was a bit if a pain since I did not have the tools that should have come with it to remove it. But it was not terribly difficult. I finally got that mid section that is around the stereo and control nobs off. The manual I have does not show that real well to remove and I did not know of the two upper screws hiding behing the radio and clock display. After getting that off, the cable was a pain to remove as the expanding tabs are hard to get to with needle nose pliers and sqeeze it to remove it. The heat controls don't just sit tight for you, so holding that and the pliers and trying to move the cable around to reach the expanders to sqeeze them sucked. But after a few minutes of cussing, cutting my fingers up a bit I managed to talk the cable into leaving the control unit and move on to the trash can. So on with the new cable and got it all back together. Next off with the steering wheel so I can get the dash cluster out and change a $4.80 light bulb. This was rather easy to do. Take the lower screw off the bottom of the steering column then remove the two torx screws from behind the wheel and off comes the air bag, toss that aside (jk, be careful with these as they can explode if handled inproperly) and remove the center bolt of the steering wheel and off it comes. then just popped out the cluster after removing its two screws. Now when I was in the BMW dealership the other day and told the parts guy I needed the light bulb that luminates the odometer he brought me out 3 little lights and off I went. Well once I removed the cluster I realized that the 3 bulbs he sold me were a bit large for my needs, however they did replace the 3 main bulbs and I decided to do that since I had the cluster removed. I had to run down late tonight to get the needed bulb. Now you notice the cost of the bulb is $4.80 and there is a total of 16 of those little buggers behind there (at least in mine). Now also note that there are 2 types as well. I had 2 of one type and 14 of the other. One has light brown connector and the others have a black connector. The two light brown ones go behind the area for the odometer. They can't be interchanged either. So tomorrow I will finish getting all the pieces back into place and be done with this project. I was going to replace the sensor in the passenger seat for the air bag but after talking with them and finding out what is needed to do the job I have decided that for the $150 in labor I will have them do it. Basically the covers need to be removed and such and it just does not interest me in a project I want to do. I want to replace the carpet and mats this summer so I priced that and that will be $750 just for the parts. I am hoping to find it cheaper else where. I can change it out myself as I have done that before. Well heres to an easy day of putting it all back together tomorrow. | | | 02-25-2006, 05:35 AM | #2 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | get any pics while you were doing this stuff? sounds like a good potential write up for the knowledgebase ... hint hint good work. sounds like you've well deserved a nice beer! __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 02-25-2006, 05:38 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti get any pics while you were doing this stuff? sounds like a good potential write up for the knowledgebase ... hint hint good work. sounds like you've well deserved a nice beer! | Don't we now have an inside connection to the Guiness Brewery? __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 02-25-2006, 05:58 AM | #4 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | yeah ... and REAL guinness ... mmmmmm ... beer. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |