[uucdigest] Monday, February 24 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6140
_________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.bmwdatabase.com | | For all available Digest commands including unsubscribe/subscribe, | visit the BMW UUC Digest page: http://www.uucdigest.com | | Send SUBMISSIONS to [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Complaints? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you must. | Technical Problems? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: [uuc] Re: Call Drew Z...from up [EMAIL PROTECTED](canada) [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions Re: [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! Re: [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! errata Re: [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions [uuc] RE: E28 Weights Re: [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions Re: [uuc] 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 10:56:10 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: Call Drew Z...from up [EMAIL PROTECTED](canada) You probly mean "Will Z." at www.willz.ca Drew Zacharda (up North, but not that far North) In a message dated 2/24/2003 10:41:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, NYMENCH writes: > Hey all, > > Lost my info on Drew Z...need his web site and email if > anyone has it handy. > > Many thanks, > > Fletch ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:40:31 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! on 2/24/03 10:56 AM, "Joseph T. Baptista Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As most of you already know, I am a new BMW owner as I have purchased a 1996 > 328i (E36). I have several questions for the list....NOTE: I did not have > an owner's manual with the car so I was not able to answer some of these > questions by myself. However you can order an owner's manual through your dealer, and this would be worthwhile. > What is the ASC button? What does it do? (I believe that I have the cold > weather package because I have heated seats and heated side view mirrors.) ASC+T is the traction control, which is always on by default. Pressing the button will de-activate it and illuminate an amber warning light in the instrument cluster. Light ON = traction control OFF. > I have a A / M button next to the automatic shift...what is this for? Dunno, mine's a stick shift. Auto/Manual? > How do you adjust the steering wheel? You can't: it's not adjustable. > When I purchased the BMW, the battery was dead. I have replaced the battery > but the radio is looking for a code. I have removed the radio and recorded > the information from the radio. How do I reset the radio? What is my code? > Is it tied to the part number, serial number, etc? The security code is on a card with the manuals you didn't get :( A dealer can look this up for you based on the radio serial number. > When I purchased the vehicle it did not have any tools in the trunk or a > spare tire. What size spare tire and rim should I look for? You car originally had a full service spare, i.e. the same size and design as your other wheels/tires, whatever those may be (varies with options). > Where should I look for the spare tire and rim? trunk tools? Auto recycler in your area. > The rear interior lights work but the front reading lights and the front > center light does not work. I have replaced the fuses and this does not > solve the problem. Could all the bulbs be bad? There's a cheap and easy way to find out... > The airbag light is on all the time. The vehicle has 96K miles. Could this > be a service light or an indicator that there is a problem? It may mean that the microswitch in one or both front seat belt receptacles has gone bad. This is very common, and requires the entire receptacle assembly to be replaced. > I used the fault code reader and was given the error d6 - vehicle speed > signal not present. Any suggestions or comments? Nope! > I must replace the exterior door handle trim on the front passenger side. I > have removed the old trim but I am having a tough time installing the new > trim. It appears to be an easy fix but I am at a crossroad...any tips > and/or instructions to install? Buy the Bentley Shop Manual. > Last question...the check control light comes on intermittently with the > message "brake light circuit". What could this be? Either one of the two brake light switches at the pedal assembly (also a common fault) or corrosion at the brake light socket in the rear light assembly. Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:25:19 -0500 From: "Alex Cagann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions Hi Joe. Congratulations on your new to you E36. I'm sure you will love it and it seems as though you are very excited...welcome to BMW ownership. Let me try and answer what I can: > What is the ASC button? What does it do? (I believe that I have the cold > weather package because I have heated seats and heated side view mirrors.) The ASC is all season traction control. By default, this mode is always on. When you hit the button, it is then off. As noted, since it is ON by default, once you shut the car off and restart, it will automatically be on again. When you hit the button, you will see a small alert illuminate on the center of the instrument cluster...this is letting you know your traction is OFF. > I have a A / M button next to the automatic shift...what is this for? This is a button you hit for shift modes. Automatic or manual. Of course, it does not exactly or IMO, even close to a manual in manual mode, it is there for your use. Hit the M button and play around with your transmission...you'll see how it works. > How do you adjust the steering wheel? You should have a bar under the steering wheel to pull on. This will release the steering wheel so you can adjust it. Of course, you may not have an adjustable steering wheel, that was not standard, as far as I know. > When I purchased the BMW, the battery was dead. I have replaced > the battery > but the radio is looking for a code. I have removed the radio > and recorded > the information from the radio. How do I reset the radio? What > is my code? > Is it tied to the part number, serial number, etc? You will have to call your local dealer to get the code. They may or may not give you the code over the phone. It is not written on the unit, or 'hidden' anywhere on any of the numbers on the radio case. Since you are missing a manual, you don't have your radio code card. Your code is a five digit number. Once you have the code, you just press it in using the radio preset buttons. You may as well go to the dealer to get to know one of the parts dudes. It pays off to get friendly with one as they are very knowledgeable and can give you great deals as a frequent customer. It has been my experience that parts prices, for the most part (there are some exceptions of course) are VERY competitive at the dealer compared to other vendors. > When I purchased the vehicle it did not have any tools in the trunk or a > spare tire. What size spare tire and rim should I look for? > Where should I > look for the spare tire and rim? trunk tools? I would look on ebay for the tools. You can go to your local yards to look for a spare tire. I would just get a full sized spare. You will probably need the jack as well. Just keep asking around for the tools...someone will have some from a wrecked car. You may have a tought time finding these. > The rear interior lights work but the front reading lights and the front > center light does not work. I have replaced the fuses and this does not > solve the problem. Could all the bulbs be bad? What else could be the > problem? Well, they all COULD be bad, but probably not...you never know until you replace one to see. You will just have to electrical troubleshoot here. If this is door switch related (which is probably not the case since the back lights come on) then you need to take those little switches out in the door jambs and clean them. They ground to the body and can get corroded. > The airbag light is on all the time. The vehicle has 96K miles. > Could this > be a service light or an indicator that there is a problem? This will have to be checked out at the dealer. > Last question...the check control light comes on intermittently with the > message "brake light circuit". What could this be? If intermittently you mean when you start the car up...it shows up a brake circuit failure until you depress the brake pedal. If it comes on other times, you need to check that the bulb connections in the tailights are all clean and free of corrosion. Other than that, I don't know....more troubleshooting. > Thanks in advance for taking the time and reading this post and hopefully > providing some much needed help. Enjoy your BMW! Alex Cagann 88///M5 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:25:48 -0600 From: Sean Cordone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! Ja. This is more useful than people give it credit for. Manual mode gives you about 1 or 2 tenths of what you can do with a clutch. For example: - -Switch to manual mode to upshift to pass on the freeway (switching to M locks out overdrive, assuming you're not already in Sport Mode). Upshift to 3rd if necessary. This is a lot smoother than using the throttle kickdown. - -Switch to manual mode and upshift on turn entries to avoid pesky downshifting and keep the revs up for exit speed. Press the aforementioned "ASC" button for some grins as well if you know what you're doing. - -Engage manual mode and put it in second in heavy traffic. The car will pull smoothly from a stop in second, and build up some revs when the crawl gets up a little speed. This is much better than letting the AT pointlessly downshift when you know you'll be slowing in a couple seconds, and the car gets to breathe a little more. --SC Neil Maller wrote: >on 2/24/03 10:56 AM, "Joseph T. Baptista Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >wrote: > > >>I have a A / M button next to the automatic shift...what is this for? >> >> > >Dunno, mine's a stick shift. Auto/Manual? > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:58:57 -0600 From: Sean Cordone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! errata Oops I inexplicably reversed the sense of upshift/downshift in that message. Bad day when you get up and down confused. Apologies. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 10:40:10 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Knight <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions I read somewhere that steering wheel adjustability was removed from the 3 series. On my '97 M3 there is a metal plug where I assume the lever used to live. And I've heard that some did not get this recall performed and thus still have adjustable steering wheels? Can anyone confirm this? I don't want to be passing out bunk data. Jason > > How do you adjust the steering wheel? > > You should have a bar under the steering wheel to > pull on. This will release > the steering wheel so you can adjust it. Of course, > you may not have an > adjustable steering wheel, that was not standard, as > far as I know. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:00:59 -0800 From: russelc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: E28 Weights Kevin, The E28 535i weight by owners manual is 3240lb, this is listed as curb weight. RussC > Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 22:36:05 -0800 > From: "Kevin Kelly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] E28 Weights > > Last week I posted that my U.S. spec E28 533i weighed about the same as my > U.S. Spec. E38 535i, so I decided to hunt around to see exactly what they > weighed, but I couldn't find a weight for the U.S. Spec. 535i. Can anyone > find an article or site with the E28 535i weight. The lightest of the E28s > was the barn burning 90 hp 1.8L 4cyl hot rod 518 that went 0-60 in 13.6 > seconds... > > 2,513 lbs. Euro 518 (4/83 Roundel) > 2,910 lbs. Euro 528i (4/83 Roundel) > 2,960 lbs. U.S. 528e (4/83 Roundel) > 3,067 lbs Euro M5 (Euro Magazine) > 3,153 lbs. Euro M5 (URL Below) > 3,120 lbs. U.S. 533i (4/83 Roundel) > 3,145 lbs. U.S. 524td (8/85 Roundel) > 3,420 lbs. U.S. M5 (URL Below) > http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWText/technical/WhatMadeM5HandleGrea > t.html > 3,483 lbs. SA M5 (South African Magazine) > 3,504 lbs. U.S. M5 (Car & Driver) > > Kevin Kelly > BMW CCA 50039 > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 14:00:53 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] RE: 1996 328i questions Jason Knight wrote: > I read somewhere that steering wheel adjustability was > removed from the 3 series. On my '97 M3 there is a > metal plug where I assume the lever used to live. check out Jim Powell's web site. he did the conversion on his M3/4 : http://www.apexcone.com Ben ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:09:48 -0800 (PST) From: Tammer Farid <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] 1996 328i (E36) Loads of questions!!! - --- "Joseph T. Baptista Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > I did not have an owner's manual :-( Get one ... and a Bentley. > What is the ASC button? What does it do? That's your traction control button. Pushing it lights a warning light on the dash and disables the system. All E36 have heated mirrors. > I have a A / M button next to the automatic shift...what > is this for? Ummm ... not super-familiar w/ slushboxes but auto/manual is my guess. It's probably what allows you to shift the steptronic autobox by bumping the lever, and so on. > How do you adjust the steering wheel? Some E36 wheels tilt, I don't think yours does (my '94 did). If it does, there's a black plastic lever on the left side of the column. Push it down to unlock it and adjust the tilt. (Did any E36s have telescoping wheels?) > When I purchased the BMW, the battery was dead. I have > replaced the battery but the radio is looking for a > code. <> What is my code? Is it tied to the part > number, serial number, etc? The car should have come with a small white "Anti-theft radio" card printed with a four-digit code. Whenever the radio is unplugged, it wants the code to start back up. That's the anti-theft feature. It's not printed anywhere on the radio ... and the card is probably wherever the manual is! There may be some way for the dealer to get you the code, perhaps by sending the serial number to Deutschland (as they do with keys), but I dunno. > > When I purchased the vehicle it did not have any tools in > the trunk or a spare tire. What size spare tire and rim > should I look for? Where should I look for the spare > tire and rim? trunk tools? What size wheels are on the car now? Probably 205/60-15 or 205/55-16 or 225-50-16. Just get a cheap steel wheel (16x7, et35 or so I think) and an all-season tire. Trunk tools ... maybe Ebay or a junkyard? > The rear interior lights work but the front reading > lights and the front center light does not work. <> > Could all the bulbs be bad? What else could be the > problem? If not the bulbs, I dunno. > The airbag light is on all the time. The vehicle has 96K > miles. Could this be a service light or an indicator > that there is a problem? Maybe this is related to the vehicle-speed-sensor malfunction, but I don't know. My E36 airbag light was caused by a faulty SRS control module (computer) ... $$$$. > I used the fault code reader and was given the error d6 - > vehicle speed signal not present. > I must replace the exterior door handle trim Don't know. > Last question...the check control light comes on > intermittently with the > message "brake light circuit". What could this be? There's a brake light switch on the transmission housing (pretty sure) that can be faulty. > Thanks in advance for taking the time and reading this > post and hopefully > providing some much needed help. HTH, sorry I can't answer all of them. I'm sure someone else will fill in the holes (and correct any glaring errors I made). Good luck, and hope you got a good deal on this car ... tammer __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6140 *************************** | | In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. |________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | | Autoscope-Motorsports - http://www.autoscope-motorsports.com | |==================================================== | | Koala MotorSport . 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