Bunch of Questions and Ideas.

[xBMWx]

Ok. I bought my e36 awhile back a 1993 325is auto tranny. I have not really got the chance to really get to know this car well. My other BMW was a 88 327i, but I want to get to know my car so here goes.

1st I want to list some issues and what not I'm having with the car. The window slide on the passangers side does not work. It has before but does not recently. The interior light don't come on when the door opens since I'm always one to use the search option I've read that you can possibly reset it or something. How do I fix this problem for good?

The OBCs outside temp reading has always read -122F, and the button is broke so I can't push it. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the erratic reading of it or not. I read the temp reader is by the brake duct. Could someone please be specific?

I bought a new valve cover awhile back I guess I put it on incorrectly or something because when I changed the spark plugs they where all soaked in oil except cylinder number 1. I'm gonna take the valve cover back off and try to seal it again. Whats the best way to do the plug gaskets? should i place them on the valve cover itself or on the head?

The car seems like it has a low idle for some reason. It sits a little bit above 500rpms. I've changed the plugs, did seafoam, air filter, and used intake cleaner on it. Anything I could do to possibly fix this?

The window switch lights are out, but I'm not sure if this is the bulbs or a fuse or something else. Both windows ones are out and also the sunroof is to. I'm kinda thinking a wiring thing or something.

My headliner is completely gone also. I was wondering if I should just take it out and put cloth on myself and find someway to seal it or is it cheap to have it replaced?

I've heard some bad things about electrical problems in the e36 since I've owned and read stuff. I can honestly say knock on wood that my car is really awesome electrical wise anyways.

I want to know some ways I can make the car quicker. Like it's already pretty damn fast I just wanna know what could I do to make it faster?

I read about bad coolant issues with these cars to. I have done replaced the water pump from plastic impellers to metal one's. Also I put a 88 degree Celsius thermostat in instead of a 92 degree Celsius one. I'm curious about the temp gauge. It goes up to the middle still. I've seen some e36s that have temp gauges stay lower then the middle line. Are these dummy gauges or what?

When I go outside and start it up in the morning when I 1st start it up it ticks like crazy. I've read that's a common thing on the e36, but not really sure on that 1. Also can you adjust the valves on these cars or are they hydraulic? it take's it about 5 seconds to stop ticking, but when it doe's it don't tick at all.

I know some people who can take the catalytic converter off, and seal the exhaust up perfectly. What do you guys think about that? good or bad idea? Also the muffler in the back is pretty rusted out, but the car sounds really good as is. Will it damage the engine in any way leaving it like that?

Does anyone know if I have a LSD or a open diff, and what numbers are they? it runs like 3k @ 75 that seems like a low 3.?? something. I don't think it's a 2.93 but it may be. Anyone know? and having an auto transmission can I upgrade to higher or would it be a waste?

Last thing. I payed 1,600 for the car, and the reason being the guy thought it had a rear main seal gone out. When I 1st bought the car it poured oil out the back of it. I mean crazy poured. I don't know what happened but one night it like just quit leaking all together. I changed the valve cover gasket just because I wanted to, but why would this car just stop leaking oil??? it stopped before I changed the gasket to. It leaks like once a month. I don't get this?

I know some of you are gonna complain because this post is so damn long, lol. I really never post here I just wanted some insight ya know?

please and thank you to all the help I'm gonna get. You all have been the best...

[bmwguy99]

maybe it ran out of oil?

with the light is it one door or all doors? maybe a fuse is gone or the switches are busted

the ticking is prob. the hydraulic lifters, possibly related to your oil issue.

cant really help with the rest. sorry i couldnt be of more use.

[xBMWx]

Thanks for reply. Its the passengers side door. When you open it the window don't budge and the interior light don't come on. all fuses in box are good.

[fun2drive]

Ok let me see if I can answer a few things.
Yes hydraulic lifters and on a 93 yes they will be noisy on start up because they have to get repumped up after bleeding down overnite.

Your window light switches may or maynot have ever had lights in them. I can't recall the cut off but if you want to fix them you need to take them apart, do a search on this like window switch lights and you can see how to take them apart from the bottom and replace the light bulbs. If you have them the bulbs are most likely the small wedge ones I can't remember but I did this sometime a go on E30's.

You say your window does not go down on the pass side?
Ok did you swap the switch out to discount the switch?
If not do so, then you eliminate that as a possible problem.

Dude just buy an E36 M3 muffler from the cat back, they are all over the place in good shape for a hundred bucks. Buy new hangers, O rings (ceramic metal ones for between the cat to the muffler) and new copper plated nuts. Check realoem to get what you need. Then you will have 8 more years before you need to do this again.

Strange oil comsumption and valve cover gasket replacement.
I have no clue, I can speculate that you had excess pressure do to any number of things such as a plugged air/oil seperator or cold temps that froze the hose to the seperator up...no idea.

You put the valve cover gaskets (2) for the plugs on the plug surround on the head itself not on the valve cover gasket and also use a small amount of gasket sealer, small amount, usually none is needed but you could have a warpped valve cover too, hard to say. Torque is 8 ft pounds by the way for the nut/bolt looking things (see realoem for correct terminology).
Your diff is an open diff unless it is a very special car.
The 92/93 models were known as the Edsels of the BMW E36 fleet, they had cheap interiors and this was BMWs first attempt at trying to be green so the car parts could be recycled. Note the door panel bubbling as a typical example.

I was all ready to order a new 92 using the USAA pricing for like $22K and took it home to my wife, she looked at the interior and said something like this is so cheap. I could not defend that statement because it was true but it was the most appealing car I have ever owned to include my 911 Porsche.

Headliner
Unless you are real handy get it done at an ulphostrey shop for around 200 bucks or less. It is well worth that unless as I said you are very handy at this sort of thing, I am not, I am refinishing seats and door panels but headliners are a PITA.

Your low idle is most likely do to either a vacuum leak or a plugged air/oil seperator.

How about more information on conditions like outside temps when all of this was going on. I can tell you that BMWs will absolutely puke oil out all over the place with a plugged air/oil seperator as well as a good valve cover gasket leak.

This is a start I hope this helps some. Post more detailed infor.

I still enjoy my M3/4 and 275K M3 vert more then driving my new E93. They just communicate better to me and are more tossable...

[xBMWx]

You've mentioned the air/oil seperator as a possibility for 2 seperate problems I'm having. Anybody have a part # for this or a picture location? I searched it, and it looks like its in the location where the oil is leaking from.

I have took apart the window switches. They have the little orange light bulbs.

As for window lift. I switched the window switches and still same ordeal.