Adaptive Headlight Malfunction on BMW E90 Series Cars Explained
The first BMW models to feature the company’s Adaptive Headlights technology were introduced in 2003. Since then, the German marque has made some notable updates to the feature, but its core utility remains the same — to improve visibility while going around a corner. Since its debut two decades ago, Adaptive Headlights have been made […]
BMW DISA Valve Explained — How It Fails and Why?
Towards the end of the 1990s, BMW introduced a technology called the DISA (Differenzierte Sauganlage) valve. It was the German manufacturer’s take on a variable-length intake manifold and featured on most of its cars over the next decade. While the BMW DISA valve brought added performance and efficiency, it also came with its share of […]
How to Do a Power Steering Flush on a BMW E46
The steering system on your BMW E46 uses a hydraulic steering rack that relies on hydraulic pressure to assist with turning the wheels. This fluid, aptly called power steering fluid, also helps lubricate the multiple moving parts in the steering system. Over time, it can pick up debris and metal shavings that will alter its viscosity, […]
How and When to Perform Valve Adjustment on Your Bimmer?
If you drive an older BMW, chances are that you’ll need to adjust your valves periodically to keep the engine running smoothly. To do this, you’ll need to remove the valve cover gasket and go hands-on with your valve train. Needless to say, not many owners perform this procedure themselves. However, the truth is that […]
How to Bleed Brakes By Yourself
Every time you press the brake pedal on your BMW, hydraulic fluid is pushed through the brake lines, forcing the brake pads to squeeze down on the brake discs, slowing your car down. When it’s time to replace the pads and/or rotors, it’s a good idea to change your brake fluid as well. However, this […]
Is the BMW M56 Radiator the Same as the M54 One?
The BMW M54 was introduced in 2000 to replace the M52 engine. Over its six-year production run, the M54 would power the E39 5-Series, E60 5-Series, E85 Z4, and most famously, the E46 3-Series, amongst other models. As it turned out, this engine failed to comply with the stringent emissions norms in four U.S. states, […]
BMW Wiper Blades Rundown — Our Top 5 Picks
Wiper blades are often overlooked when it comes to car maintenance. You only realize how crucial they are when they aren’t working as they should be. Driving in the rain with faulty wiper blades is not just inconvenient — it’s downright dangerous! The older they get, the more brittle the rubber becomes. At one point […]
E46 Subframe Reinforcement — Foam or Metal Plates?
The BMW E46, the fourth generation of the popular 3-Series, is one of the more iconic cars the German manufacturer has produced. A decade and a half since the last E46 3-Series left the factory, it grown to become a favorite amongst enthusiasts and lives on as a collectible classic. Over the years, the E46 […]
2A82 Intake VANOS Code — Source of Your Phantom Misfire
Misfires happen from time to time, especially in cars that are in their teens. For most bimmer owners, diagnosing a misfire goes something like this. After starting the car and noticing that something’s not right, you go ahead and check the spark plugs. If the spark plugs are good, you check the ignition coils by […]
E46 Control Arm Troubleshooting Guide — Causes and Fixes
Many individual components make up the steering and suspension system on your BMW E46. The suspension alone includes shock absorbers, all kinds of joints and bushings, and of course — the control arms. The control arm consists of two main components — the control arm bushing and the ball joints — that will inevitably wear […]
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BMW Coolant – What to Get and What to Avoid
Coolants, or antifreeze as it’s sometimes referred to, is a fluid that plays an integral role in regulating the running temperature of your engine. When an engine is running, it produces extreme amounts of heat that, if not managed, can cause catastrophic damage to various parts of the engine. The cooling system, including the coolant […]
BMW VANOS Explained — What It Does, Why It Fails and How to Fix It
Variable valve timing was a true game-changer when it first appeared. Born as a means to achieve the ultimate performance, but also efficiency, VVT was quickly adopted by almost every major car manufacturer out there. This, of course, includes BMW who dubbed their approach to variable valve timing as VANOS, or Variable NockenwellenSteuerung in German. […]
BMW N52 Engine – Everything You Need to Know
By the mid-2000s, BMW had built itself a reputation for developing excellent examples of naturally aspirated inline-six engines. At the turn of the millennium, it revealed the M54 (and the performance-oriented S54 shortly after) and cemented itself as one of the best in the business when it came to the six-pot layout. Needless to say, […]
BMW N51 Engine — All You Need To Know About SULEV
The N52 succeeded the highly-successful M54 and powered multiple BMW cars between 2004 and 2015. While it became one of the most reliable and popular inline-six engines BMW ever made, it had a lesser-known sibling called the N51. Interestingly, the N51 is near-identical to the N52, powering the same cars and available during the same […]