help with my e34 please!
Discussion
Ive recently bought a 525 tds and have a few niggles with it. I dont think its anything major but im not sure.
My ABS warning light is now on, but occasionally is not?? seems to be when its warm that its off but that may be coincidence.
also my temperature is happy at half way, then the fan kicks in, it drops to a quart then back up to half, this happens regardless of driving conditions, have i got trouble??
if anyone can help i would be very grateful.
My ABS warning light is now on, but occasionally is not?? seems to be when its warm that its off but that may be coincidence.
also my temperature is happy at half way, then the fan kicks in, it drops to a quart then back up to half, this happens regardless of driving conditions, have i got trouble??
if anyone can help i would be very grateful.
ABS is probably from the wires breaking up to a wheel sensor, so you'll need a fault code read before just trying out different ones to spot the right one.
The heating thing is possibly from a few causes, the water pump might be having problems, the thermostat is likely to be stuck open, and the viscous fan might be weak.
If it move pretty quick, it may just be the sensor.
The heating thing is possibly from a few causes, the water pump might be having problems, the thermostat is likely to be stuck open, and the viscous fan might be weak.
If it move pretty quick, it may just be the sensor.
it moves pretty quick, in fact he whole drive is great,also i have a knocking from the rear drivers wheel, which i think may be a bush? are they expensive? i think i will replace the thermostat and see what happens no harm done if it aint that, are they simple enough to do on this engine? thank you
thank you for that 
the needle lol it moves up from cold at normal needle climb then the fluctuation between quart and half is quick. also i know im a pain lol but also i have no mileage or trip showing on dash. could this be a fuse or a more complex pull the dash out job? many thanks
the needle lol it moves up from cold at normal needle climb then the fluctuation between quart and half is quick. also i know im a pain lol but also i have no mileage or trip showing on dash. could this be a fuse or a more complex pull the dash out job? many thanksThis is the best thing for you :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Service-Manual-1989-19...
Worth every penny, I've had three E34's and recommend the manual, it'll save you a fortune
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Service-Manual-1989-19...
Worth every penny, I've had three E34's and recommend the manual, it'll save you a fortune
dumphus65 said:
sorry, got sidetracked with kids! Does this manual cover TDI? thanks for all your help!
I've never had the diesel, and I let my manual go with my last E34 (I've an E39 now).I seem to think it did, but anyway, if you look on the bentley manuals website, I'll try to find a link, if the yanks imported the diesel, they'll have a manual for it.
Oops, looks like the yanks didn't import it.
Krauts = very good at keeping all information secret
Yanks = very good at grassing krauts up, on cars they import to the usa.
I've not been able to find anything for you, hopefully someone else will know of something ..... the rest of the car will be covered, just not the engine.
This seems to confirm it will be very hard to come by, they list the car, but have nothing for you to download :
http://www.workshopmanuals.biz/bmw_3+5_series.html
Krauts = very good at keeping all information secret
Yanks = very good at grassing krauts up, on cars they import to the usa.
I've not been able to find anything for you, hopefully someone else will know of something ..... the rest of the car will be covered, just not the engine.
This seems to confirm it will be very hard to come by, they list the car, but have nothing for you to download :
http://www.workshopmanuals.biz/bmw_3+5_series.html
dumphus65 said:
Buy the way what did you think of the e34? this is my first, ive had 3series in the past and loved em, but i must say the 5series is lush lol
Compared to the 5 series, I dislike the 3, the 3 is very "ordinary"The E34 is better than the E39 in many ways, they are just getting a bit long in the tooth now for roaring up and down motorways like I do.
The E34 is far better build quality than the E39, the only thing in my opinion they have improved on the E39, is it uses a power steering rack, rather than a power steering box.
I personally wouldn't have a diesel, of any make, but that's only my opinion, and you will be better off with an older diesel if you must have one.
Some nice chaps on here : http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/default.asp
dumphus65 said:
Buy the way what did you think of the e34? this is my first, ive had 3series in the past and loved em, but i must say the 5series is lush lol
Compared to the 5 series, I dislike the 3, the 3 is very "ordinary"The E34 is better than the E39 in many ways, they are just getting a bit long in the tooth now for roaring up and down motorways like I do.
The E34 is far better build quality than the E39, the only thing in my opinion they have improved on the E39, is it uses a power steering rack, rather than a power steering box.
I personally wouldn't have a diesel, of any make, but that's only my opinion, and you will be better off with an older diesel if you must have one.
Some nice chaps on here : http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/default.asp
http://tis.spaghetticoder.org/e34/525tds_(M51)_SAL...
There's BMW's own handbook
edit- not a lot of TDS stuff has been uploaded by the site.
There's BMW's own handbook
edit- not a lot of TDS stuff has been uploaded by the site.
ABS...probably a wheel sensor, but could also be the ABS relay in the fuse box...Code reader should give an indication which...
The temp fault could be a (brown) sender or, more likely, a dodgy earth to the engine or to the instrument cluster. The TDS M51 engine used a viscous fan so shouldn't "cut in" as it just spins faster (up to engine speed) as the coupling heats up. The (factory fit)water pumps on these are plastic impeller types and they do tend to fail suddenly...it isn't a gradual preocess as the failure is the plastic impeller breaking up and the metal shaft not turning what is left...
Replacements can be metal impeller versions which are more reliable and wear more gradually...
In summary, change the waterpump, thermostat and thermostat housing (also plastic and prone to cracking) before the pump fails terminally...This should fix any issue other than the sensor/earth problems, should they exist.
The noisy rear could be (in addition to the bearing or bush) the ABS trigger ring being cracked/broken...could be the problem with the ABS, too...
A bush (presume you are meaning the rear beam subframe mounting bush) being worn would cause the car to feel unstable and it would "clonk" over bumps, etc...parts are cheap enough, fitting requires patience, heat and a special (made up) tool...
Bearing wear would be a rumble/whine increasing with road speed...bearings are a bit of a pig to do on the rear, mainly because the hub nut is extremely tight...If you have an air/impact hammer it shouldn't be too much of an issue. You will need to pull the driveshafts, though...
The dash is either a blown bulb or 2 or the dash itself (well, the battery on it) has failed (usually indicated by the service indicator lights always showing oil service no matter what is done)...Not all E34 dash displays are the same...The TDS along with 518 and 520 use the "low dash" and the other models the "hi dash"...they aren't interchangeable, but it is possible to solder on a new battery if that is needed.
Biggest issue with M51 engines is the injector pump failing...expensive to repair/replace and time up correctly....usually renders the car "scrap" when it goes..
The temp fault could be a (brown) sender or, more likely, a dodgy earth to the engine or to the instrument cluster. The TDS M51 engine used a viscous fan so shouldn't "cut in" as it just spins faster (up to engine speed) as the coupling heats up. The (factory fit)water pumps on these are plastic impeller types and they do tend to fail suddenly...it isn't a gradual preocess as the failure is the plastic impeller breaking up and the metal shaft not turning what is left...
Replacements can be metal impeller versions which are more reliable and wear more gradually...
In summary, change the waterpump, thermostat and thermostat housing (also plastic and prone to cracking) before the pump fails terminally...This should fix any issue other than the sensor/earth problems, should they exist.
The noisy rear could be (in addition to the bearing or bush) the ABS trigger ring being cracked/broken...could be the problem with the ABS, too...
A bush (presume you are meaning the rear beam subframe mounting bush) being worn would cause the car to feel unstable and it would "clonk" over bumps, etc...parts are cheap enough, fitting requires patience, heat and a special (made up) tool...
Bearing wear would be a rumble/whine increasing with road speed...bearings are a bit of a pig to do on the rear, mainly because the hub nut is extremely tight...If you have an air/impact hammer it shouldn't be too much of an issue. You will need to pull the driveshafts, though...
The dash is either a blown bulb or 2 or the dash itself (well, the battery on it) has failed (usually indicated by the service indicator lights always showing oil service no matter what is done)...Not all E34 dash displays are the same...The TDS along with 518 and 520 use the "low dash" and the other models the "hi dash"...they aren't interchangeable, but it is possible to solder on a new battery if that is needed.
Biggest issue with M51 engines is the injector pump failing...expensive to repair/replace and time up correctly....usually renders the car "scrap" when it goes..
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