couple questions - BMW Forum

2Crucial · 03-08-2004, 03:54 PM

hey guys, i'm new to the forums and was hoping you could answer a couple questions for me.

where can i get a right tail light for my 92 e34?

also, more importantly, i got only 13 mpg on my last fill. i drive pretty conservatively but usually it's all city miles. is 13 mpg normal or is there anything else that could cause it?

thanks a bunch!!

edwin

Torque · 03-08-2004, 04:22 PM

bavauto.com carries the lights. to get them a little cheaper, you might want to try ebay or a local junkyard.

as for the mpg, cold weather might play a big part in it (just a guess since i got no idea of where you are at). try changine the air filter, spark plugs and wires to see if it helps. it also depends on what kind of e34 we are talking about here... 525,535,540 or a M

TheHire · 03-08-2004, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Crucial@Mar 8 2004, 05:34 PM
hey guys, i'm new to the forums and was hoping you could answer a couple questions for me.

where can i get a right tail light for my 92 e34?

also, more importantly, i got only 13 mpg on my last fill. i drive pretty conservatively but usually it's all city miles. is 13 mpg normal or is there anything else that could cause it?

thanks a bunch!!

edwin

I have an E34 ('92) and it gives me 14 mpg in city. Pretty bad huh !

Cant help it tho. I have new filter and new spark plugs on it. But I get abt 20-22 mpg on highway.

Ebay would be a better source for your tail light. There are lot of them selling stuff online. Just google 'BMW parts' and you would get the list.

Furious · 03-08-2004, 06:16 PM

ask our forum sponsor for lights , he can get OEM or aftermarket.

2Crucial · 03-08-2004, 11:57 PM

thanks for all the replies. i'm driving a 525. i changed my spark plugs a few months ago. i live in urbana, IL and we had a rough winter. but it hasn't been that cold recently. do you guys think it could be my oxygen sensor? someone suggested it to me but i have no idea if that could be it or not.

also, how much should i be paying for the tail light and is it easy to put in? thanks!

edwin

ps who is the forum sponsor?

Furious · 03-09-2004, 12:13 AM

he has his own forum (The Bimmer Shop Forum) just under the classifieds forum, just post your request in his forum and hell respond for you.

TheHire · 03-09-2004, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Crucial@Mar 9 2004, 01:37 AM
thanks for all the replies. i'm driving a 525. i changed my spark plugs a few months ago. i live in urbana, IL and we had a rough winter. but it hasn't been that cold recently. do you guys think it could be my oxygen sensor? someone suggested it to me but i have no idea if that could be it or not.

also, how much should i be paying for the tail light and is it easy to put in? thanks!

edwin

ps who is the forum sponsor?

What color is your ride?? Cashmere beige metallic??? I saw one coupla days ago. I also see one in champaign, but that'z a newer than 92 and it's black.

Mine is Cashmere Beige Metallic btw

Also

to the forum !!

TheHire · 03-09-2004, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Crucial@Mar 8 2004, 05:34 PM
hey guys, i'm new to the forums and was hoping you could answer a couple questions for me.

where can i get a right tail light for my 92 e34?

also, more importantly, i got only 13 mpg on my last fill. i drive pretty conservatively but usually it's all city miles. is 13 mpg normal or is there anything else that could cause it?

thanks a bunch!!

edwin

I guess mileage here in IL is around 13-14 for E34

here's the link for almost all bimmer websites from FAQ section...

http://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/inde...showtopic=2956

Hope this helps.

kowached · 03-09-2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Crucial@Mar 9 2004, 02:37 AM
... it hasn't been that cold recently. do you guys think it could be my oxygen sensor? someone suggested it to me but i have no idea if that could be it or not.

A failing O2 sensor will absolutely impact fuel economy, when I had on O2 sensor fail on my 540i:

1. Noticed MPG drop off from 18 MPG to as low as 13 MPG within the span of 3 weeks. No check engine light.

2. Then at idle (only) it sounded like I had an exhaust leak, a subtle strange droning that only you will notice. Still no check engine light.

3. Finally after 1-2 weeks of the exhaust droning, my car started to stumble and want to stall (but never did) at idle, the rest of the RPM band was fine. After a few days of that, the check engine light came on indicating a failed pre-converter O2 sensor on the passenger side.

I replaced both pre-converter O2 sensors and the idle returned to normal and MPG shot back up. I don't know if you have pre and post converter sensors on your E34, but I suggest replacing them in pre/post pairs. IF you have post-converter O2's, they are just "monitors" and are not responsible for air/fuel mix.

2Crucial · 03-10-2004, 04:05 PM

thanks for all the info guys. i bought a tail light bulb from a small import parts store and so i'm gonna try to replace it myself today. hopefully it won't be too difficult. if you have a link for oem DIYs that'd be great!

btw, i have a gold e34.

how can i check if my o2 sensor needs to be replaced?

TheHire · 03-10-2004, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Crucial@Mar 10 2004, 05:45 PM
thanks for all the info guys. i bought a tail light bulb from a small import parts store and so i'm gonna try to replace it myself today. hopefully it won't be too difficult. if you have a link for oem DIYs that'd be great!

btw, i have a gold e34.

how can i check if my o2 sensor needs to be replaced?

then it was you 3-4 days ago on goodwin and green. I turned right and you went on straight.

BTW it's not gold, if you open up the hood it says the color - Cashmere Beige Metallic.

I have the same color.
Hope to catch you sometime again.

Take care
Later

Maz · 03-10-2004, 11:29 PM

WEll my MPG on my E34 is in the shitter also!! Avg 11.8 usually!!! The only things I havent replaced are the air filters and spark plugs!! I have brand new O2 sensors but that didnt help my beast!!! I am still stumped on this question and the gas is not cheap around where I live either

Leicesterboy15 · 03-11-2004, 11:02 AM

I have an 89 e34 m30 3.5 on 155k and the mpg is bad that but not as bad as you guys are experiencing (around 17 in town and 25 on the motorway if I stay at 80mph). So you either have a heavy right foot or unfortunately there is a problem somewhere, even at the best of times tho they are not known for being easy on the fuel.

The other thing to watch is that the computers are not always totally accurate and if there is a problem with it, this could be throwing it out even more (presuming you are using your computer to calculate your average).

TheHire · 03-12-2004, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leicesterboy15@Mar 11 2004, 12:42 PM
I have an 89 e34 m30 3.5 on 155k and the mpg is bad that but not as bad as you guys are experiencing (around 17 in town and 25 on the motorway if I stay at 80mph). So you either have a heavy right foot or unfortunately there is a problem somewhere, even at the best of times tho they are not known for being easy on the fuel.

The other thing to watch is that the computers are not always totally accurate and if there is a problem with it, this could be throwing it out even more (presuming you are using your computer to calculate your average).

Thatz awesome man !! I get 20 MPG on highway. City mileage always between 13-14. (My car refused to start in one of the winter days and the spark plugs got flooded, so i had to replace them all.) But even with new spark plugs i am getting same MPG

ghead

I guess that'z the best it can do

BTW I got an E34 2.5 m50.

TheHire · 03-12-2004, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maz@Mar 11 2004, 01:09 AM
WEll my MPG on my E34 is in the shitter also!! Avg 11.8 usually!!! The only things I havent replaced are the air filters and spark plugs!! I have brand new O2 sensors but that didnt help my beast!!! I am still stumped on this question and the gas is not cheap around where I live either

that'z not too bad Maz. I was getting 9 MPG

before i changed my spark plugs.
I am sure if you change the filters and spark plugs, you would get a better MPG.

BTW how old r ur spark plugs?? Did you change them at all after buying it?? Might be a good idea to have them replaced before the car breaks down on you coz of that. Also I am sure you will save on gas with the new ones.

and btw premium does hurt my wallet here IL too !! I guess you are in CA, so it could be worst.