1990 735i

[forrestkk]

I'm in the USAF and stationed in the UK. I just bought a 1990 735i for my wife. It is my first BMW(I'm a Ford guy at heart), and I am impressed with the quality of the vehicle.

I am having a few minor problems with it though and I need some help.

1. 2 days after I got the car the driver door lock stopped working electrically and there is bearely enough movement in the mechanism to lock the door from the back door. I think it is the door lock actuator? Any ideas?

2. The auto-climate control goes full cold once the drivers selector knob is moved out of the full hot detent. I'm thinking a shorted or open rheostat? Any Ideas?

3. The driver's power seat has a mind of it's own. It will hold position foward and aft. It holds reclined position and head rest, but if you raise it vertically about 5 minutes after it is raised the seat automatically returns to the full down position. Thats a little hairy because it's a 5 speed. I have no clue on this. Also the 3 memory positioner does not work.

4. The trip computer does not seem to function. The buttons illuminate with dash lights, but there is no LCD display? This seems to me just to be a nicety but it would be nice if it worked.


Thanks for your time,

Kevin

[Prairieman]

send me an e-mail. I have a pile of links to this model, including a UK club/registry.

[PersianM3]

Hey waz up. I had the same problems with my car.

For problem number one, yes its definitely an actuator. My left side back door wont open cause of that. Actuator itself is $150 at
www.alloemparts.com

problems 2 and 3 i dont know.

problem 4. I had the same problem on my obc. There are 4 bulbs that make it illuminate. The only place you can get the bulbs are at the dealer. For me, a set of 4 ended up being $8. They are so easy to put in.

1. Remove the cassette / cd player
2. After wen removing, there is a lifting mechanism right next to the obc. Push it towards you and the obc should pop out. One the OBC, there are two bulb slots on top and two bulb slotson the bottom. You put two bulbs on top and two bulbs on the bottom.

But another thing if you are talking about the trip computer / mileage. I am not sure how many bulbs you need to have to replace.

1. Disconnect negative (-) battery cable and cover terminal with an insulation material.
2. On cars with drivers side airbag, remove airbag unit from steering wheel. Store the airbag in safe place
3. With front wheels pointed straight ahead, remove steering wheel.
4. Remove instrument cluster retaining screws.
5. Place a towel over steering column. Carefully tilt top of cluster forward out of dash panel. Unlock and disconnect harness connectors from back of cluster.

you need about 4-8 1.2W bulbs, To access bulbs behind base plate, release toggle locks and pivot cluster base plate up off of instrument carrier.

Hope all this info helps you!!!
:D

[forrestkk]

Thanks for the info. I think I've got 1 or 2 out on the Instrument panel, but the they are definetly all out in the OBC. The door lock actuator is what I figured. Oh well, It'll be worth it since it's the driver door.

Thanks,

Kevin