jochen

I have similar symptoms with my Mitsubishi - and especially after the car hasn't been used for a while. The throttle butterfly valve sticks in the fully closed position and jams shut. If I take my foot of the gas slowly, and let the throttle close slowly, the idle will be smooth. If I take my foot of quickly, and the butterfly valve closes all the way suddenly, it sometimes sticks and my idle speed drops right down to 200-300 RPM, and struggles to idle. A slight touch on the gas, unstick the throttle, and it comes up to a smooth 600RPM. Jochen (I wish my Mitsi was a 320i)

The gauge reads L/100km doesn't it? So that's 6-7L per 100km, not 6-7L per km (massive difference!) If it shows 6-7L it's pretty good. Best car I ever had I could get down to 5 by driving very carefully (and it was a Fiat Tipo). 6-7L/100km is pretty good for a BMW, most big cars use around 10 to 12L/100km Jochen

To 318Touring & petone: Most E36 radios are too old to have world tuners. BMW made seperate Jap, Euro/NZ and USA versions. Except for the very latest Business CD - this has the World tuner. But I don't have one. I do have a Kiwi E36 Business RDS radio/tape here, email me for more details Jochen

What did you fit instead? just curious... I happen to have a couple of E46 NZ radios here looking for homes... And one for an E36/E34/Z3, and one for an E39... Jochen

the big shiny

Here's a useful 'How to' for BMW fans: HOW TO CHANGE JAPAN RADIOS TO NZ FREQUENCIES - WITHOUT A BAND EXPANDER Factory fitted BMW radios from around 2000 onwards have a 'world tuner' inside them. The same radio can be used anywhere in the world. The radio can be programmed to operate in JAPAN mode (FM = 70-90), or in OCEANIA or EUROPE mode (FM=87.5-108). They also do a USA and CANADA mode but that's not useful here in NZ. BMWs imported from Japan have their radios set to JAPAN mode (wonder why?) These can be readily re-programmed to NZ frequencies as follows: 1. Switch on radio 2. Within 10 seconds, press and hold down the 'm' button until the serial number appears (takes around 10secs) to enter the radio's service menu. 3. Use the + or - buttons to cycle through the menu settings until you see AREA JAPAN or just JAPAN (varies a bit depending on radio) 4. Use the 1...6 buttons to select either OCEANIA (or OCE) or EUROPE - both are valid settings for New Zealand - see below for differences. 5. Switch radio off to store the change Voila! Your radio has now bee reprogrammed to receive NZ FM frequencies! Also, the cool RDS features will now be available. Differences between OCEANIA and EUROPE modes on an E46 Business RDS radio (other radios may vary slightly): a) EUROPE has LW, MW and FM. OCEANIA has AM and FM only. OCEANIA shows ST for a FM stereo station; EUROPE doesn't show anything for stereo or mono FM stations. c) EUROPE has the softkeys set to RDS and TP; OCEANIA has RDS and PTY Which ever one you choose - OCEANIA or EUROPE - is up to you, they both work. I hope you find this info useful, and that the forum moderator makes this a 'sticky' PS: If anyone wants any info or help with BMW radios - talk to me. I've helped around 80 BMW owners convert from Japan radios to proper NZ radios for their BMWs, thus keeping the vehicle in original condition, and obtaining proper radio reception. Send me an email for more info! Cheers, Jochen

Free to members of this forum, and BMW fans Only prerequsisite: you must own/have/drive a BMW :-) Help me out, I'll write a report, and request it be 'stickied' in this forum! What do you drive...?? Jochen

If you have a Jap import BMW, 2001 or newer, I'd like to hear from you. I have some instructions here on how to re-program Japanese radios to NZ frequencies. Valid for most all BMWs (and Minis, Landrovers too btw) manufactured after about 2001. Get in touch, send me an email, and I'll tell you how to re-set your radio to NZ frequencies. No tools required. No removal of radio required. Jochen

Hi all, To those that rasied questions: I can help all of you. Mail me off-list: jochen at woosh.co.nz Sorry I'm late in replying - what with 3 little kids, lots of work, trying to load WinXP from scratched discs, fixing faulty memory chips in BMW radios, and trying to find a water leak in my car, and waiting for the satellite to fall out of the sky, I've been busy...:-) Cheers, Jochen

You batteries will be knackered. The dash has a rechargable battery on board, so it never forgets the last speedo mileage etc. The battery fails after some years, giving your symptoms. Easy to replace - it is soldered in. Jaycar can supply good replacements. Jochen

Hi all, If you or a friend has a BMW radio with Alzheimers disease, I can fix it for you. The Alzheimers manifests itself by the radio forgetting it's settings every time it is turned on. Most common symptom is the fader not remembering its position, and the radio resetting to front left speaker at switch-on. If you have this problem, I can fix it. I just did 2 over the weekend. If you have any other radio problem - and I mean with the original OEM radio - give me a call, I can probably help. I also have replacement radios for those that wish to change Jap-version BMW radios to Kiwi-version BMW radios. Cheers, the BMW Radio Guy, Jochen :thumb:

64.xxxxx means its part of the heater and air conditioning systems, but I can't locate the part in the catalogue...

Details are here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=50471712

Check out http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction...asp?id=30144047

The E34s and E36s had an amp in the rear LH side the amp fed the rear speakers, the front were driven direct by the radio. the radio actually has amps for front and rear in it, so the stock amp took normal speaker output from radio, then amplified it again There's a turn-on wire from radio to amp, it also powers the rear window antenna amplifier - so don't forget to use it. If you don't the antenna amp won't get power and radio reception will be crappy. All of this is true for the E34/E36 - I'm not sure what you car is so there you go... J

Dont put any metallic window tints on your rear window, you'll screw up your radio reception (cos that's where the antennas are) J

I've got a couple of E46 stock radios arriving soon Genuine BMW OEM parts. Original BMW fitting instructions supplied, easy peasy to change. if you want one (eg: to replace a Jap-market radio) email me off-list Jochen

If the temp shows -37deg this means the temp probe is open circuit. You can check the probe with an ohmmeter - it should show some resistance (dunno how much) and change when you eg dip it in cold water then hot water. The probe is a simple thermistor - a resistor that changes value with temperature. You can also check that the temp display works by shorting the probe connector contacts and the temp should change from the negative maximum which it is now, to a positive manximum (prob above +50) The probe is the most fragile piece as it can get damaged in a frontal prang - my Mum's Merc has the same problem, but she's too cheap to fix it. J

Check it our, great specs, I bet it even survives having the door kicked in :rambo: http://www.worldwidearmor.com/for_sale_82.html Wonder what it weighs?

Reply to e30stz: I'm not Jochen D I'm Jochen S :-)

Happy to help, I'll email you off-list Jochen

Sick of the shitty jap radio reception? Can't get all FM stations? Can't tune above 90 on FM? Radio display not matching the station frequency? Replace your jap-market BMW radio with a stock unit that receives all NZ stations I've got a 'BMW Bavaria C Business RDS' unit for sale. See pic attached. As fitted to the E34/E36s from start of production thru to around 1997 Radio tape with CD changer control, straight swap for a Jap unit, no mucking about with wires required. Plug and play. I've thoroughly checked this radio, cleaned the tape deck, it's all 100% working. Comes with user manual (translation from German), and security code. Even has RDS so you can get song titles on your radio display when you tune to 91 ZM. So if you love your jap-import BMW, give yourself a treat and get a decent replacement radio. Yours for $150, and I'll fit it for you if you collect. These were around $1,000 when they were new, they are a quality (Pioneer) stereo, built to BMW specs. Email me if interested. PS: I can supply any BMW radio for any model BMW, I've got some E46 radios coming soon - stock units, full CD changer control, steering wheel control, everything.

I've got a few original BMW NZ-spec radios for sale for E34/E36/Z3 With and without CD-changer control You can swap out a Jap-import Beemer radio for one of these and keep the original BMW look and feel, and retain all the BMW features like antenna-diversity, speed-dependent volume, matching auto-dimming illumination, etc. And it's plug-and-play, no chopping of cables or messing up of wiring looms. And they are genuine quality BMW parts. All tested, all cleaned, all with security codes and manuals. If you're interested mail me on jochen@woosh.co.nz See ya, Jochen

If you've got a Jap import BMW, your original radio won't get all NZ FM stations. Don't fit a band expander, talk to me. I can source you an original BMW radio, identical to your jap unit, but made for the NZ market. And it won't cost much more than getting a band expander fitted. All legal, no stolen crap . And I can fit it for you. Call Jochen 027-516 6439 or 09-630 3444 or email me here

For sale - original factory BMW stereo, 3 different models, all to suit E34 or E36 or Z3. Full NZ specification, all AM/FM stations, ideal as replacement for Jap import radio. Works with existing BMW CD changers Full BMW design, BMW-orange illumination, high quality radio. Diversity antenna, FM-RDS, some models also have shortwave. Plugs straight in to existing wiring harness. Original manuals and radio pass with radio code included. Keep your Jap import Beemer original with a genuine factory BMW stereo, don't spoil the interior looks or trash your wiring with a non-BMW radio. Your Jap radio can be replaced in minutes, no dash disassembly required. Plugs straight in. These units are not stolen, they are imported direct from Germany. Call Jochen 027-516 6439 or 09-630 3444