MISS BM

Okay.. Battery terminal all good and well, secured tight etc. Won't start at all now, well it does try. Got a mate to pull out Fuel Pump but he's a jappy know it all so didn't really help on the bmw scenario. Could it be a blockage of some sort? Car all works fine, it just sounds like there is literally no gas in the tank, but there is (Yes it is 98 I put in) Who is around Auckland area that could come out for a nosy for an okay price? I know of some mobile mechanics but need someone that knows what they are doing and won't charge me through the roof to just have a look for me and get a second opinion on the situation.

And now it won't start at all. Cranks over, tries to start.. Looks like Fuel Pump.

Driving along fine, just put gas in, travel about 5km and then start hitting some bumpy road with tight corners and what happens, my E38 starts randomly cutting out, mid drive. It cuts out, then comes back on again. All lights on the dash come up when the cut happens. Luckily I was able to roll it into my drive.. Turned it off, then started it and all is fine.. Haven't yet taken it for a drive in the worry I might cut out full time... Really odd, felt like my gas was low but I have just put fuel in. I am too worried to drive it anywhere, so is there any BMW handymen that do home visits? Just don't want to risk it and at this point I can not afford a tow anywhere... Super worried as I now have my Daughter at Kindy and no car to go and get her in, plus I have work so the sooner the better. Anything I should check etc?

Seems to only being doing it when it is wet - fine in dry weather.. typical right when it might ever be required! Another thing has started coming through - petrol gauge, and range gauge are going a bit funny on me... Light goes on, goes off, beeps at the 50k mark, did this the whole way home... Only when the ABS/Traction Control, and speedo stopped working.

Left car off for 12 hours - all works again :DHowever, now my sensors are going (most likely due to modifications to exhaust causing excess vibrations)Check other thread if anyone can help!

For E38, 728i 96Randomly last night, my Speedo stopped working periodically and my ABS and Traction Control light are now permanently on. Have tried turning car off and on etc. I think it may be the vibrations as I got my exhaust modified... I am assuming it is the sensor, but can someone give more advice, and possibly a DIY on how to test and fix? Should be similar to an E39..

Yes - I do know the risks of jump starting an E38, but it was my only option available. After the battery running flat, attempting to turn it on, then jump starting it, my radio (the lower part in the e38) is now bust. Of all my 6 Cds popped in the changer months ago, the only one it plays is Eminem, round and round. My radio doesn't work, tape doesn't work, all the buttons don't work, and the display is just multiple dashes running along the top. However, the top unit, where you insert tape, change audio settings, works fine. I can turn it off an on, and the volume up and down, and change the song on that one CD, but that is it. Could this be a fuse problem? Or have I fried a part of my CPU by the surge created when jump starting? Would love to be able to listen to something other than Eminem...

Awesome, thanks, will give that a go do you Recommend any specific one to use?

Can't seem to figure out what it is - not coming from vanos.. I know that much. sounds like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKUmjw7H-hY And I honestly have no idea what it could be. Boys at HellBM had a look, but because thats not what I was there for, forgot to ask more questions. Anything at this stage would be helpful towards what it might be. Thanks in Advance.

Yeah main reason for asking is the fact mine is a 96, but facelift.. Panels are all perfectly colour matched, and looks like nothing has been done. Was only registered in 98, but someone did it somehow. Just thinking how much of a mission it would be!

Interesting question, mainly intrigued to see the answers for facelifting an E38. But in short, is it possible, and if yes, how hard is it?

Because I own a 7 Series, it ain't as easy to fix or find someone willing to do.. Car is now awesome again and woffable (thank the heavens) and all thanks to Ray and the boys at HellBM Went out of their way to help me and my car out (and they normally don't do E38s), and did the job (not just the bushes but more) in less than a day. Awesome service, and awesome people, and the price was perfect. Don't think I will be going anywhere else first before doing a precheck there - Big thanks

I do wish!! Im spewing now over the fact my mate totalled the 740iL.. 110ks, NZ new, service history, 96 and never had any problems with it. Loved that car.. And loved the fact we picked it ip for 4.8k 2 years ago now. Its now sitting on trade me as a wreck for parts... RIP you sexy blue bmw Maybe I should start considering an upgrade... Hmmm

A true E38 tuned by ACS, is badged as a S7 and they are much better performance wise. Most likely jusy the body kit? But I wouldnt judge it before actually viewing it in person

Got a full car jam report, and comes with the confirmation of your purchase from NZTA

Yeah it looked pretty mean before I had it, was on 22s so can understand the draw. But I got it cheap because it needed work. And the person before me had no idea about anything.. He didn't even know where the battery was... Hence the ownership for 5 months and flicked it off before the wof came about. Oh well, to date its only cost me $320 for fixing the things it needed (starter motor, brake rotors etc) Not sure how much getting the bushes done will prop up the costs. Id counter in the fact I need a new bumper and trim.. But that wasnt the cars fault, was the male behind the wheel... So all in all not a lot, but I guess when you dont know what you are doing or where to go it can be rather daunting. I think it has a permanent home with me though... Not until a nice 740 comes around

Does a car with a history of 12 owners (I would be the 13th) scream some form of worry? two being dealers, but the rest all flicked off the car within 6 months, most common being 2-8 weeks? One owner for 7 years, but things got flicked from there onwards... I guess I shouldn't judge a car by its ownership, but its the curiosity of why It was being sold so often that worrys me... Previous owner had it for 5 months before now passing on to me? Anybody else have this problem, and did the car come out on the other end as okay, or were there more problems than what could be fixed hence the regular sales? Car has only been in country from 2002, one owner from 2003-2010, then chucked around 12/13 times from then until now. Or am I just being an overparanoid car owner

Yeah I upgraded a mates golf to 6.5s.. Never needed anything bigger, and sound quality was almost up there with a 6x9.. And I loooove my 6x9s for a good dose of bass without a sub. Didn't know you could go to 6.5 in the E38! Thought it would be similar in the housing department to my front E36s and would need hacking and drilling to get one in. did you purchase the Custom mounts or make your own? Im not handy with the wood work side of things, so not sure how I would go making my own. Could I chuck the 6.5 in without the wooden mount or too much of a Mish? Sorry for all the questions! Would defiantly like to go up to 6.5s if possible, but how much extra will the costing be for the mounts (not worried on speaker costs), and just the ease of doing it would become a lot harder? Thanks in advance, and again sorry for the questions.

Yeah decided to go with a component set and put them in all the doors, and just leave the back deck for now.. I tried hooking up my 6x9 in the back slot there, but the wiring must be buggered as it didn't even run. Someone has previously run a sub as there are after market wiring going into the boot. .. Not touching the head unit.. And in order for me to get my back tray running again with just the stock size speakers, need the cases/adapters for them to sit in. my back tray is very very naked, just wiring through out. Am planning to put these in the doors. (http://www.jonvy.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=58_225&product_id=2796) Me and mate going to do it over a day (we hope).. Just remembering when I did my window regulator and getting the door card on and off then.. sh*t that was a mission. at the moment, just want clear sound so I can listen to a song without it farting everytime we attempt to turn it up

You weren't in an E30 by any chance were you? Sorry if it was anything else, brain bmw wired... Awesome will keep that in mind Cheers

Amen

Silverdale, John there does everything for me, he did my starter motor and then offered help when I did my brake rotors. Hes amazing, but turned down this job, said its a pain in the ass to do and best was to see what other mechanics might be interested.. He did my wof, so thats where the mission started. By the sounds of the way everyone was going, its a pain in the ass job for this certain car? Yet I found a DIY on another forum making it look easy.. Maybe their all just scared of bmws lol

Yes please, would love too! Uhh how do I manage it? Lol not 100% forum Savvy, sorry guys!

And I can't help but think how slack most of the local mechanics around here are... As soon as you tell them bushes need replacing on an E38 they run and hide. Funny how I never had problems like this with my E30 (which was slightly modded I should mention) or any two of my E36s... Just my E38.. hmm Is there something about them I should know about? Not much more to the story than a dissapointed car owner who couldn't rely on any of the local mechanics to do the work, and has to go over to the next area to do it... Ray was more than happy to deal with my E38, so why shouldn't of any the others...

Haha I asked the guy if it was for the whole control arm, he said nope, just the bush.. And just for the front too. You guys did better than repco though, they had nothing!