92 325is noob with some tech questions

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miatawnt2b

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#1
Hey All,
I just picked up a 92 325is for a great price. This is my first BMW, and I had some questions about mechanical oddities.

First, The OBC says to check coolant level, when I did it was indeed full. After some reading I suspect the float is gummed up or the switch is bad... easy enough fix.

Second The Temp gauge is all over the place. When on the highway, the gauge is steady at about the 10:30 position hovering right around the first line. Normal town driving the guage will come up to half, sometimes a little past half. Does this sound normal? I plan on doing teh fan mod and cleaning up the float this weekend along with a new water pump.

Third, after driving with lights on, the OBC says Tail Light Failure. Reading tells me this is probably incorrect bulbs.

Last and most worrysome to me is a misfire under load, usually under 2500RPM. I replaced the plugs yesterday, but the miss is still there... seems to miss only after 10 minutes of driving. Engine cold, it runs fine. I am leaning toward coil packs, but have no way to verify which one is bad. Can someone help me out with the diagnostic?

And I would also like to check the ECM codes. What's the procedure for a 92? Build date is 2/92.

Thanks,

Jim
 
C

cbouchez

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#3
When I am driving around my temp gauge is on helf at all times not higher nor lower.

And about the misfire change to a better grade of fuel give it a shot.It might work.
Welcome to the BMW scene!
 
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miatawnt2b

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Update:

Misfire fixed with a new coil pack on cyl 3.[thumb] I pick up the parts for the fan mod and water pump this afternoon to be installed this weekend. I am wondering if the thermostat had been completely removed or stuck open causing the guage to read super low on the highway.

I think it's going to need front control arm bushings as the wheel shakes when i'm on the brakes. There doesn't seem to be a pulsation in the brake pedal though.

-J
 
M

miatawnt2b

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#7
Allrighty.

Replaced the water pump and did the fan mod this weekend. I was happy to find that the thermostat housing was metal. However, I also found the thermostat had completely come apart and pieces of it were lodged in the inside water pump impellor. The impellor was plastic, and the vanes were worn away from the metal thermostat pieces. So... I flushed the system as best I could with the garden hose, put in the new pump, and now have a steady temp guage. Is this fan mod really ok with 100deg Pittsburgh humid summer days?

I also got a good look under the car and found the control arm bushings are shot. I have new ones on order because I expected to replace them anyhow. What is a good procedure to test both ball joints before going about the work of installing bushings on these arms?

thanks
-J
 
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