General repairs going on

[Blufrog]

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.

[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!

[1996 328ti]

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?

[cali-ti]

yeah ... and REAL guinness ... mmmmmm ... beer.