20 Most Recent 1999 BMW 328 Series - Page 7 Questions & Answers

There are wires under the carpet, you might have pinched one re-installing the seat. I have seen this happen with shifter cables also.

check your brake pads. if not that, it may be abs sonsor wire. usualy one of the front ones.

there are special tool 11250 and 112410 mount on the hub to remove it

You should be able to cycle the key to pressurize the fuel rail. There is a little tire-valve looking thing on the fuel rail that you can burp to see if you have fuel pressure.

You can also check for spark with a commercial spark testing tool or the classic hand method of taking a screwdrivver and placing it in the spark plug boot and laying the driver on top the motor near something metal/grounded. Crank her and see if you have a spark jumping to ground.

Then when you know you have spark and fuel you can start considering other issues....perhaps have the ecu read for possible trouble codes.

It sounds like ecu has water in it meaning that this is strictly electrical not mechanical.Im not sure where they are on your model but locate it and make sure there is no water ingress or signs of water penetrating it, if so dry it out and hope for the best, failing this i would get it checked out.Its defenatly your ecu thats at fault here clearly, hope this helps!!!!

flat paddle at bottom of steering column if so equipped

if you disconnect your airbag doing these changes then the air bag needs to reset by a OBDII reader...

could be a number of issues. like crankshaft position sensors, mass air-flow....but i like to look at the central problem first...the ECU

the ecu compartment is under the windshield on the passenger side on E36

you gain acess to it under the hood....
this compartment gets wet, the ecu lays on a flat surface in that
compartment.

the bottom side of the circuit board gets wet and starts corrosion.

remove the ecu, take the bottom plate off, clean the bottom of the circuit
board with alcohol and a soft tooth brush.

you should be able to see the signs of corrosion or conductive build up.

this gunk bridges solder points doing all sort s of wierd things to your
car, including false sensor readings from asc/abs controllers and other
sensors....

all the way to engine failure and worst case burnt and shorted wiring
harness.

I'm on my 3rd ecu, took me and the repair boys a few years to figure this
one out.

BTW: i would get that ecu mounted above that flat surface, use some sort
of standoff to raise it so that it is not laying in the wet.

The most common reason for this is low hydraulic fluid. The noise is probably the pump running while empty. When fluid id present it dampens that noise. Behind the rear seat is the combination motor/pump/reservoir. With the top in the DOWN position, fill the reservoir with ATF and cycle the system a few times as far as it will go. Repeat until the reservoir will take no more fluid. If that works, it is only a patch fix. You must now inspect the lines, motor and cylinders for leaks. The fluid does not evaporate. If it is low, you have a leak. Karl at topgunwon.com

I cant make any assumptions about the repairs your mechanic is attempting
to your vehicle.It does sound a bit odd and the price of the instrument cluster does seem costly.We service BMW's at my shop and your issues sounds out of the ordinary,I would suggest you get a second opinion.If you were in north carolina we would diagnose it for free.

hi i am having problem with unlocking the doors on my 2000 BMW 328i
but when i disconnected the battery over night it works once but again when i lock it it doesn't unlock
anyone help here thanks

Hi.

The EML light means that a fault had been detected, and that error codes had been stored in the ECM (car computer) memory.

To find out what the problem is you will need to scan the car computer to pull out codes.

If you are located in US this can be done free of charge at the nearest Autozone.
Otherwise code reading is done for a small fee at any local garage.

If you want to do it yourself you will need to purchase an OBDII code scanner.

Did you replace the brake pad sensor? If not, it will need to be replaced.

As long as there is pressure than yes. Otherwise bleed the system and make sure the fluid is full. You can adjust linkage if needed.
You can go to autozone.com and register for full free online repair manual.

did you have a tuneup done if not do it. also there most likely is an inline fuel filter problem. it is under the hood if you would like to replace it..just to be on the safe side...

your sunroof motor is tired, and the sunroof rails need to be checked. The key is the old style so get a new key from the dealer to get the diamond shaped one. those are unbreakable. Let me know if the sunroof cover (the carpet patch that keeps the light out) is sliding ok or if it is displaced

to program a new key:
open the car while locked with the new key via the door key-hole
sit inside and close all doors.

put the key in the ignition and turn to the second position (do not start, just to the ON position) and then back off (without removing the key) 3 times.

take the key out and press and hold the lock button (BMW EMBLEM) and with your other hand press the unlock button three times and let go of the keys.

you will hear the dorrs lock and then unlock.

the key is then programmed.

Have had this problem. Solve it by reading the owner's handbook, which gives clear instructions. Do not use the key in the tailgate door before reading the instructions.
Tommy owner of 1996 model

YOU COULD HAVE DIRTY FUEL INJECTORS OR A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR.OR YOUR GASOLINE COULD HAVE WATER IN IT.AND RESTRICTED EXHAUST LIKE MUFFLER OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL CAUSE ROUGH IDLING AND STALLING.

Check and ELIMINATE the Possible Problem With WHEEL BALLANCING on SAID AXEL. Sounds as if A Wheel is Not Ballanced Properly. This Is Assuming that your Wheel "BEARINGS are GOOD.

Check the engine to body ground strap. Usually at the rear of engine on top and screwed to the firewall. Must have good connections. _Ned_