My passenger side window on my 1998 318is coupe has been stuck in the closed position for some time. I can usually get it going by removing the door trim and then hitting the window motor with a...
Today is the final update for the supercharged BMW 318is as it has been sold and I will be attempting to use my new (to me) Volvo V50 as my daily transport. The BMW sold very quickly - within a...
Today my 1998 BMW 318is reached 300,000 km (186411 miles), and is still going strong. Not bad for a car with an aftermarket supercharger fitted for most of its life. I haven't updated on the...
For several years I've had a strange knocking type noise coming from my car. I've tried to solve it myself, and replaced several parts. I've also sought expert help on a couple of occasions but...
Over the last few weeks I've attempted to sort out a few issues with the car. Some time ago I ordered some new window slides hoping to fix the issue with my passenger-side window getting stuck...
My car originally came with rear headrests but I broke the rear parcel shelf and replaced it with one that didn't have the holes for the headrests, and I didn't mind the improved rear vision that...
I recently bought a short shifter for my 1998 BMW 318is off eBay (or maybe it was Aliexpress). After watching various instructional videos on Youtube on how to install it I gave it a go myself...
For a week or so now I have been noticing a problem when driving that most occurs when going down hills where I can feel the car bucking or surging. I also noticed that sometimes it would idle at...
I know people say you shouldn't skimp on something as important as brake parts, but I had already bought a set of reputedly good quality DBA HD rotors hoping to fix a break vibration issue on my...
As per usual, I fix one problem and another appears. This time the airbag warning light came on for a moment, then stayed on, then was off the following day but came on again momentarily. I...
I bought a set of new DBA 4000 series heavy duty rotors and Bendix Euro+ pads for the front of my BMW E36. After a month or two I started feeling vibration under braking, which progressively got...
The passenger door has been difficult to open from the outside for a long time now. Sometimes it would only open if you pushed against the door. But it wouldn't open at all the other day, and the...
I noticed the other day that my radiator expansion tank was empty so filled it up and the next time I drove the car it was empty again. I had a look for leaks and found a trail of coolant under...
There was oil around the exhaust side of the cylinder head cover gasket and also in one of the spark plug tubes so time to replace this gasket. I last did one of these on my first E30 318is and...
I had been hearing some unusual noise from the rear which I thought might be the differential possibly low on oil. Also the gearbox sometimes doesn't spring in and out of fifth gear. First was...
When I got home after buying my 1998 318is Sport, my wife, who had been following me, said that that when I accelerated hard it was quite smokey - although she couldn't tell me what colour the smoke...
I started having some trouble with my supercharged BMW E36 318is a few weeks ago. Firstly the car smelt strongly of fuel, and then it started losing power or stalling while driving. I kept a...
If you hear a squeaking noise coming from behind your 1991 to 1998 BMW 3 series steering wheel, or possibly the steering doesn't feel so smooth and maybe binds every now and then, then there's...
Since I bought this car, the air intake system has been a bit of a mess. Originally the exit from the PCV valve was routed to before the MAF. Except there was no PCV valve - just a pipe from the...
I have a spare 7-button MID from one of the cars I dismantled and now that I have moved to a colder climate (Sydney Blue Mountains) I thought it might be interesting to fit it to see what the...
The ABS+ASC warning light has been stuck on in my 1998 318is coupe since I bought it. When I checked the fault codes the error was a fault with the pump unit. I have looked into this problem a...
Last time I had a wheel alignment done the mechanic told me that my front lower control arm bushings were worn out and were in need of replacement. The ball joints and control arms themselves were...
My fuel gauge in my 1998 BMW 318is coupe stopped working the other day. My first thoughts were to check the sender which I believed was on the left side of the car, underneath the rear seat. I...
I finally got around to having the second hand M50 dual mass flywheel and clutch kit fitted today. I can confirm that it is a bolt in replacement with no modifications required. The...
The other night I noticed an unusual whirring noise from the engine area on my 1998 BMW 318is coupe. I assume it was one of my idler pulley wheels which I have previously noticed as being noisy and...
For some time I had noticed some noise from the rear of the car but it got to the point where I finally did something about it. I jacked the car up and could hear and feel the problem by turning the...
After several months of searching for my next car, last night I spotted a 1998 318is Sport for sale. Not only was it priced quite low, but the advertisement said it was supercharged. The next...
