Top 10 1999 BMW 323 Series Questions & Answers

I would first check for a vacuum leak. Common areas of intake leaks are: 1. The crankcase vent valve located under the intake. 2.Check the intake boot at the throttle housing. You will find that there is an elbow where a small hose goes to your idle valve. Using your hand feel in the elbow area for a hole in the rubber. Your tech can use brake cleaner and spray the intake to check for leaks or use a smoke tester. 3.Possible failing Mass Air Meter.At idle, in park, and a/c not on the meter reading should be appr. 18-22 hz

Hello There

These are very common codes on BMW's which can also be false codes, try clearing the codes and run the test again they may not come up again.
With regards to the sound which you thought was a vacum leak there a breather pipe which runs under the plastic engine cover near the injectors which always gets a tear init which will need replacing.

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timing diagrame pictures n47 engine

Serpentine Belt Diagram for a 1999 bmw 323i

The horizontal fuses are the spares.

Sounds like it has something to do with either the fuel system, more specifically in the evaporative fuel portion of the car.

A reed switch definition follows from Wikipedia:

The reed switch is an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field. It was invented at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1936 by W. B. Ellwood.

Some people have changed the charcoal canister on their BMWs with this Malfunction Code, but that did not fix the problem.

Some people have changed the air filter and that didn't fix the problem.

Good luck on this repair.

A ROUND YELLOW CIRCLE LIGHT WITH LINES ON EACH SIDE MEANS BRAKE PROBLEMS FRONT BRAKES OR REAR BRAKES HAS A FAULT. NOW IF CIRCLE HAS LINES INSIDE YOUR POWER STEERING FLUID LOW NEED CHECKING.THE WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN OFF WHEN PROBLEM FIX.

The BMW convertible top is one of the most complicated systems on the car. A lot of people have problems with their convertible tops. Some problems are easy to fix, while others are much more complicated. The E36 convertible top contains a plethora of switches and sensors that tell the convertible top controller when and how to lower the top. If any of these sensors stop working, it can render your entire top inoperable.

One of these sensors checks the position and operation of the window. If your window is stuck in the up position, you won't be able to lower your top (see Project 70). Another annoying problem that often occurs is with the trunk. The lock on the trunk is connected to the top system, and when it fails, you'll find that you can't lower the top when the trunk is open, or open the trunk if the top is not fully closed. If you have any problems with your trunk wiring (see Project 82), they can stop the top from lowering. In a similar manner, sometimes the headliner can get caught when you close the roof and keep the convertible top cover from closing all the way. This will prevent one of the convertible top microswitches from closing, which in turn will prevent you from opening the trunk. If you can't get into your trunk when your roof is down, try pushing down on the convertible top cover, and it should trigger the switch.BMW makes at least seven different repair kits that can be used to fix parts of the roof that may have worn out or become broken.
This photo shows the convertible motor linkage, which is located under the large, hinged convertible top cover. You can access this area by pressing the top-down switch and letting the cover rise up all the way. The blue arrow points to the cam that drives the bottom part of the convertible top. This is the part that lifts up so the convertible top cover can be raised. If the convertible top cover hits the edge of the top when the roof is being lowered, you can adjust the linkage to push the bottom part of the cover back further (green arrow). While you're in this area, check to make sure your convertible top motor screws are tight (they were loose on my car when I checked them; yellow arrows).
The left side of this photo shows the right-side latching mechanism for the convertible top cover. The yellow arrow shows one of the springs that often wear out after many years of use-unfortunately, it's not a part you can order separately, so head to a good hardware store for a replacement. The green arrow points to one of the infamous microswitches, which should be checked first if you have unexplained problems raising or lowering your top, or opening your trunk. On the right are two areas commonly repaired using the kits in Photo 1. The Column C inserts are shown with the red arrow, and one of the bow tension springs is shown with the blue arrow. With the convertible top cover raised, you can also see the bow mechanism located toward the front of the car. The yellow arrow shows one of the finicky microswitches that should be tested first when having unexplained problems. If the roof is not lowering or raising the proper amount, you can adjust this by turning the adjustment turnbuckle shown by the green arrow.

i had the same problem with my 1998 bmw 323i and right under the back drivers seat there is an emergency convertible top lever with a orange tip on it. i removed my back seat to make it easier. when you pull that lever, you will hear a bang sound. that is the sound of the motors disengaging.(there are 3 top motors in the trunk by the left side panel when you remove it) you will then have full access of movement to either put the top up or down. But before you do any of this, i Really suggest you watch this youtube video. if this link doesnt work, you can go to youtube.com and type in bmw convertible top motor stuck and click on the first link BMW DIY #3 E36 Top Repair. I suggest watching the whole video first before attempting or if you want, you can have a mechanic do it! hope this helps

Hi there:
Fault Code 119 (77) - MDK throttle mechanical sticking.



The accross DTC P1580 code converts to 3 possible BMW codes, 109, 114 & 119. These all relate to the throttle assembly, which on your car is an MDK, motor driven throttle.


The first thing I would do is make sure that the cable is reinstalled correctly and secure in its bracket. I have seen one or two of these that have broken where the cable attaches to the throttle itself. If all of that looks ok I think you probably have a bad throttle.


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