3-Series (E36)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1992-1999. Autodoodad
Specific models include: BMW 316i, BMW 318i, BMW 318iS/ti, BMW 320, BMW 323, BMW 320, BMW 324, BMW 325, BMW 328.
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Just after I sank $2300 into a new clutch and flywheel being installed at the Stealer 2 weeks ago...I turn on my car and I'm driving not even 5 miles from the local train station back to my house after work and the Check Engine light comes on...what the f*ck else can go wrong???
I just did a search to check out some fault codes, but it said after 1995, there is no other way than to check it using software. Is this true? I can't do the "5 presses on the Gas Pedal" method to read out the codes?
Is it possible that the cold ass weather or a couple inches of snow could be causing a little malfunction that may not even be a problem?
__________________ 1996 318i
5 Speed Manual
Alpine CDA-7895 Head Unit
12" Alpine Type-R, sealed box
Pioneer 400w amp for $20 at a yard sale (to replace my fried MRV-1507)
Infinity Kappa 4" 2-way speakers(rear)
Infinity Kappa 5.25" component speakers(front)
Debaffled airbox, K&N filter
Tracked Mud on carpets
Shampooed and cleaned carpets
A common fault is leaving the gas cap off. Also I have had theat light come on then after a couple hundred milles and even longer( maybe 500) It mysteriouly goes away. I've also had the light reset and not coma back on. Not sure what that means but I assume if theres something really wrong It would trigger the same faults again.
The check engine light on these BMW's are notorious for coming on most of the time because of the gas cap. I have had the light come on for other reasons found thru the code reader only never to appear again.
Although, I never ignore the check engine light, I retrieve the code, look into what could be the problem, clear the code and never have that one problem recur.
It's just one of those things you get used to driving a Bimmer. The check engine light comes on because the OBD sensed something not right. It is so sensitive, it latches on a fault even if the fault was a momentary one.
I don't mind having the check engine light illuminate more often than other cars because it tells me the computer never sleeps.
I have a 95 318 IS that i just bought and the check engine light keeps popping up. How do i pull the codes on this bad boy so i can find the problem and take care of it. It only pops up during realtively high speed highway driving 55 + mph.
__________________ Alpine White 328 IS, Pioneer Head Unit, Jensen Band pass box, debaffled air box w/ K&N filter, supersprint exhaust. clear corners and side markers, More to come....
John, run a search over the forum using the words "check engine light" and click the "closest match" thingy and an older thread by Furious will come up explaining how to do that on a 95 BMW. Mine is a 96, so I don't think the same thing applies.
By the way fellas, I tried the gas cap because I do know that is very prone to triggering the light. I have noticed before that the light came on and disappeared after a little while as well. I will get it checked out of course, so thanks for the suggestions.
Anyone know how much it may cost to get the fault codes read out?
__________________ 1996 318i
5 Speed Manual
Alpine CDA-7895 Head Unit
12" Alpine Type-R, sealed box
Pioneer 400w amp for $20 at a yard sale (to replace my fried MRV-1507)
Infinity Kappa 4" 2-way speakers(rear)
Infinity Kappa 5.25" component speakers(front)
Debaffled airbox, K&N filter
Tracked Mud on carpets
Shampooed and cleaned carpets
Originally posted by BlantonG13@Dec 28 2004, 08:02 AM John, run a search over the forum using the words "check engine light" and click the "closest match" thingy and an older thread by Furious will come up explaining how to do that on a 95 BMW. Mine is a 96, so I don't think the same thing applies.
By the way fellas, I tried the gas cap because I do know that is very prone to triggering the light. I have noticed before that the light came on and disappeared after a little while as well. I will get it checked out of course, so thanks for the suggestions.
Anyone know how much it may cost to get the fault codes read out?
ooooo, no shit. I'll definitely have to check that out then. Free is a lot cheaper most likely than the dealer.
__________________ 1996 318i
5 Speed Manual
Alpine CDA-7895 Head Unit
12" Alpine Type-R, sealed box
Pioneer 400w amp for $20 at a yard sale (to replace my fried MRV-1507)
Infinity Kappa 4" 2-way speakers(rear)
Infinity Kappa 5.25" component speakers(front)
Debaffled airbox, K&N filter
Tracked Mud on carpets
Shampooed and cleaned carpets
Originally posted by Fadec40+Dec 28 2004, 09:08 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fadec40 @ Dec 28 2004, 09:08 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-BlantonG13@Dec 28 2004, 08:02 AM John, run a search over the forum using the words "check engine light" and click the "closest match" thingy and an older thread by Furious will come up explaining how to do that on a 95 BMW. Mine is a 96, so I don't think the same thing applies.
By the way fellas, I tried the gas cap because I do know that is very prone to triggering the light. I have noticed before that the light came on and disappeared after a little while as well. I will get it checked out of course, so thanks for the suggestions.
Anyone know how much it may cost to get the fault codes read out?
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I know AUTOZONE does it for free.
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yes they do but the code reader they use is a generic code reader so some of the codes you get from their reader maybe different than what your actual maybe thru a reader made specifically for bmw ....
Never ask what else can go wrong. Its called Murphy's Law.
__________________ ____\_________/____
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My sh*t is not disco. Thank You.
you can also post on yahoogroups bmw318ti list. That list is for ti's basically but covers alot of non ti stuff. The list has been running since 95 .
Lots of good stuff.
BTW any one ever figure out what the self test diagnostic means?
(turn car off - hold down trip reset, turn car on- odometer will read test- then let go of button - series of numbers flash, then in the end all gauges go from left to right( i figure this part checks the gauges) Any one esle know what the rest means?
thats all it is, to check if its functioning properly. There a bunch of posts on this forum, so do a search for that as well. A lot of people have goofed around with that stuff. If it doesn't do the normal sequence, I would assume its messed up in some way or another?
__________________ 1996 318i
5 Speed Manual
Alpine CDA-7895 Head Unit
12" Alpine Type-R, sealed box
Pioneer 400w amp for $20 at a yard sale (to replace my fried MRV-1507)
Infinity Kappa 4" 2-way speakers(rear)
Infinity Kappa 5.25" component speakers(front)
Debaffled airbox, K&N filter
Tracked Mud on carpets
Shampooed and cleaned carpets
well, just like what happened the last time the light came on, not even a 100 miles total after it came on, it shut off. I think something may have just been gunked up cause of the weather up here at the time...it seems to be fine now.
__________________ 1996 318i
5 Speed Manual
Alpine CDA-7895 Head Unit
12" Alpine Type-R, sealed box
Pioneer 400w amp for $20 at a yard sale (to replace my fried MRV-1507)
Infinity Kappa 4" 2-way speakers(rear)
Infinity Kappa 5.25" component speakers(front)
Debaffled airbox, K&N filter
Tracked Mud on carpets
Shampooed and cleaned carpets
Originally posted by BlantonG13@Dec 30 2004, 09:50 AM well, just like what happened the last time the light came on, not even a 100 miles total after it came on, it shut off. I think something may have just been gunked up cause of the weather up here at the time...it seems to be fine now.
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I doubt it is that simple. Sometimes it's nice to believe the car fixes itself, but in reality the longer it goes unchecked the more $$$ it will cost you. If the light is gone for now then great, but I would still be inclined to follow up why it came on. Alot of the time the check engine light is emissions related- IE Oxygen Sensors. Just a thought, Good Luck..
may i ask you and well i guess everyone else on the forums.. is it hard to change the clutch in a e36? i have done it to a wrx and it was a pain took us all weekend... but saved him 800$ by doing soo... i can only image how much you would have saved from your 2300$ if you did it yourself... sory offtopic but im interested
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