just got a 318is, newb questions

[Mesverrum]

I just got a 94 318is automatic as my daily driver and had some q's...

In the gauge cluster there is a light lit up on my car just to the left of the park brake light, its like a circle with two dotted line looking things next to it, Whats that supposed to mean? Is it a CEL? My airbag light is also on, anything i can do to turn that off?

Also, I think my cars idle is too high, the rpm looks like its about about 750-800ish when its warmed up, which seems just a touch high and if i let up off the brake pedal at all at a stop light the car starts pulling away.

Last thing i wanted to ask about regarding my car is that every time i drive the car (not driving it hard or anything, just going around town, mostly around 2-3000 rpm) when i park it and get out i hear a sound from the rearish like oil dripping into the pan. In all my other cars that would only happen if i was running the shit out of the car and then parked it without a proper cooldown (my other cars being turbo and all i was usually pretty anal about making sure the oil cooled before stopping the car) Is that just normal for this car or is there something i should check for?

And for my own future reference, whats the name for the engine in the 318? I wanted to look up some info on it like CR and such but almost everything i've had a chance to look at is specific to the 6 cylinder engines.

Thanks
Marc

[Aggieland81]

that light means you need new brake pads, and where your on a level surface in an automatic, its going to idle forward when you let go of the brake....

[Furious]

welcome marc


did you get a full inspect before you bought the car? because the light on the dash as stated aforementioned is the light meaning you need new pads.


your idle problem isnt a big one if you are only just starting the car.

about the cool down thing. are you using your A/C? it could be after drippings from the compressor, or you might have a coolant leak not sure, but if its the oil, keep tabs on it and youll know the first time you pull away after its been sitting (use a peice of cardboard to see exactly whats dripping.


i think your engine is M42

[Mesverrum]

at first i thought it did look like some kind of brake light but then i saw the parking brake light so i wasnt sure. And yes i was aware that auto cars pull when you are on off the brake, i have driven them plenty, but this carfelt like it was fighting with the brake a lot more than i was accustomed to from the other auto cars i have driven, and i cant blame it on any excess of power or anything since this would be the least powerful engine i've driven in auto form.

Well regardless, does this engine have an idle adjustment screw or anything that i can play with? I'd like to see how it feels with a little less idle rpm, maybe perk up my around town gas milage a bit.

I already got the car checked out and have checked it out some on my own and the undercarriage is clean, no leaks anywhere (not the kind of clean where the dealer is trying to hide a leak, just clean without leaks) I'm going to recheck all my fluids again tomorrow in the morning but i figured i may as well ask while i was around the forum at work.

thanks

[*-jester-*]

Engine Number, I believe that:-

If it's a 318 with twin cams (16 vavle) then it's the M42 Engine.
but if it's 318 with the single cam (8 valve) then it's the M43 Engine.