I'm pissed at my ti

[momorugger]

after having my car out of commission for months due to goofy brake problems, my car is at it again. My driver side window fell into the door today at lunch, the second time in 3000 miles. My electronics are awful; the brake lights come on when the headlights are on. I'm just ranting. while the ti is tons o' fun to drive, it doesn't justify these reliability problems. Oh, and my car leaks oil and steering fluid. I think I want a tacoma

[SDKmann]

Wow, that sucks, looks like you got one thats been beat on. I remember when my window clips first broke, I had been having a few problems before then, and I was about ready to push my car off a cliff. If you are having that many problems maybe it is time to dress it up, sell it, let the next guy deal with it and get another ti.

[cooljess76]

Sounds like it just needs a little TLC. Keep in mind that these cars are getting older and with age comes repairs. Everything that you mentioned are all easy fixes. Spend the weekend tackling the problems and she'll return all the love you put into her when you take her out next time.

On a helpful note, I wrote a pretty detailed DIY for the window fix that covers all bases and is likely to permanently end your window related issues. As for the brake lights coming on with the headlights, it sounds like you have either a bad headlight switch or a short somewhere. I have also successfully repaired a few headlight switches for other members and I have a spare if you need one. LMK if there's anything I can do to help, there's plenty of info in the knowledge base and just about everyone here will be happy to answer questions and assist you in any way possible.

[3DGE]

Dude most your problems are easy fix's. Go take apart your brakes, check if anything needs to be replaced, check fluid and blead the lines.

The oil leak could be your oil pan, its around 100-200 for a shop to fix that.
Power steering fluid requires around 100$ in parts and two hours of labor. you just need to replace the lines.

IDK about the electronics, I have never had that problem

The window stuff is annoying, I would fiddle around with it on the weekends, could just be off its track.

[SDKmann]

Yeah, just hope its the clips on that window instead of the regulator, that was a bitch.....

[1996 328ti]

I'm betting you have an incorrect or faulty bulb as far as the brake lights are concerned.
The trombone looking PS hose tend to leak on all BMWs. Get it fixed and it will be good for a long, long time.

I was hating my car too. But now that I have my brake issues and suspension fixed I hope. The last piece of my puzzle will be an alignment. And I'll be loving my car again.

[momorugger]

well, my brake master cylinder is going, so that needs replaced. I've done the window repair routine three times on this car, so I'm pretty familiar with the stuff inside the door panel. If anybody knows how I can address the electrical problems, that would be the biggest help, as that is where I am most in the dark. Also, I'm assuming you mean power steering with PS, but I can't identify which hose you're talking about. It's good to have the positive reinforcement.

[thesk8nmidget]

just give your baby some nice attention! spend some time working on her and you will be very happy in the end!

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by momorugger

I've done the window repair routine three times on this car, so I'm pretty familiar with the stuff inside the door panel.

Believe me, I took my door panel off about 15 times and it wasn't until I truly fixed the window the RIGHT way that my problems went away. Bending the regulator arms back and snapping the clips back on simply won't work. You need to make sure that the vertical guide tracks are positioned correctly. I did a writeup that I'm pretty confident will help you. It's in the KB titled "Permanent window fix DIY" or something along those lines. Best of luck to you, as for the electrical stuff, Steven might be right on a faulty or incorrect bulb. Some of the bulbs have 2 electrodes and they need to be in the correct location. Otherwise as I mentioned earlier, the headlight switch might be the culprit.

[momorugger]

how do i check the lightbulb electrodes? or headlight switch?... I will definitely look into your diy write up. thanks again

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by momorugger

how do i check the lightbulb electrodes? or headlight switch?... I will definitely look into your diy write up. thanks again

Or the electrodes might be shorting against each other.
Sometimes generic bulbs from the auto parts store don't work.

[momorugger]

so, should I just change my bulbs and see if that fixes it? I still don't get the whole electrode thing. I am pretty useless with electronics

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by momorugger

so, should I just change my bulbs and see if that fixes it? I still don't get the whole electrode thing. I am pretty useless with electronics

Electrodes is probably the wrong word. They are contacts. Sometimes the contacts are too large and they short together in the socket. I'd probably get the bulbs from the dealer rather than replacing with the same version you already used.

[Mad-Machine]

something to check for in the window. I had to realign the regulator in my car. There is a rod that runs to the rear end of the door (by the latch) that you can loosen and adjust to level out the path the window runs in. If it is angled too far forwards, the glass will fall out of the track

[TECH TI]

My driver's side window fell in the door twice on my Ti. I think the second time it was because the place I took it to installed the clip wrong inside the door. I did have to replace the window regulator though. I NEVER close my door without rolling up the window now. The two times the window fell in the door it happened when I closed the door with a window half down.