How to Be a BMW Mechanic

1. Obtain a degree in automotive mechanics. Some BMW employers will be willing to train you; however, having an associate degree in automotive mechanics increases your chances of being hired. Research local community colleges to determine if they offer degrees in automotive mechanics. Obtaining an associate degree usually takes about two years.
2. Consider obtaining an BMW associate degree. If you are in the Ashland, Massachusetts, or Charlotte, North Carolina, areas Massachusetts Bay Community College and Piedmont Community College offer a two-year academic program in BMW-specific courses. Obtaining a BMW associate degree may get you a job at a BMW facility more quickly than someone who just obtained a degree in automotive mechanics.
3. Complete a BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP). Visit the BMW STEP website to locate a training location closest to you. One of the BMW STEP requirements is that you must be willing to relocate within a region where compensation is high for a BMW mechanic, which is justified by the rigorous training program. Training can be as little as 10 weeks to 24 weeks depending on how comprehensive the course is and how quickly you would like to complete the program.
4. Maintain a savings or have means of taking care of yourself while training. The BMW STEP is a rigorous program that prepares you to be skilled at repairing BMWs. The program suggests that you are able to take care of yourself financially while training. Research your current assets and savings to determine if this is possible.

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How to Replace a BMW 745I Headlight Bulb

1. Determine which headlight bulb needs to be replaced on your BMW 745i and locate the black plastic cover on the back of the headlight. The cover will be on the inside of the engine compartment, just behind the headlight.
2. Detach the plastic cover on the back of the headlight by carefully pushing down on the top to release the tabs that lock it into place and moving the cover back. When the plastic cover is loose from the top slots, pull up to unhook the cover from the lower slots and set the cover out of the way.
3. Locate the plug in the back of the headlight and pull the plug straight out. Push the headlight bulb into the plug and gently turn it until you feel it release, then remove the bulb from the plug.
4. Handle the new headlight bulb by holding the glass with a clean dry cloth and inserting the new bulb into the plug. Push the bulb into the plug and turn until you feel it lock in place.
5. Insert the plug back into the headlight, and then put the plastic cover over the back of the headlight by inserting the bottom edge of the cover in the slots and then pushing down and moving the cover forward until the top pins catch the slots above the cover.
6. Test the new headlight bulb on your BMW 745i by turning the headlight switch on and confirming that the light is working. Once you are satisfied that it is operating correctly, turn the headlight switch off.

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How to Buy Used Rims

1. Decide whether you want performance or functional rims. Performance rims are designed for looks and are usually made from chrome or another shiny metal alloy, while functional rims are designed to meet certain handling standards in various driving conditions. You can find functional rims at junkyards, but for used performance rims, you will most likely have to go to a performance retailer.
2. Know what size rim your car needs. This depends on the size of your car. Many small compact cars use 13-inch rims, and the sizes only go up from there, with some SUVs and trucks using 27-inch rims. Look in your car's owner's manual to find out the size rim your car is built for.
3. Visit a local dealer specializing in your car's make or a performance auto shop to get help from a car specialist as you try to decide what rims you want to get. Even if you plan to purchase from a junkyard, it is wise to talk to someone familiar with the rims you are looking into. You can also visit websites specializing in the sale of rims or browse a wheel catalog such as Southern Wheel Catalog, which will offer a wider variety of rims that may not be available in your region.
4. Choose the metal material used on your rims. Chrome and platinum are performance-based metals that are high in price and have a low life expectancy. Steel or aluminum tires, on the other hand, cost only a fraction of chrome and platinum, are much more durable and can last years longer. Chrome or platinum rims that already have scratches or visible wear and tear should be avoided--they will have a very short lifespan before needing to be replaced.
5. Make sure your rims have a weight rating exceeding the curb weight of your car. You can find the curb weight of your car in the owner's manual. The rim seller should either know the weight rating or have a guidebook listing it.

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How to Change a Pollen Filter in a BMW E36

1. Remove the screws holding in the rectangular panel beneath the glove compartment.
2. Lift off the panel to expose the pollen filter access door.
3. Remove the four screws on the filter compartment door. Remove the filter compartment door.
4. Pull the old filter out of the filter compartment.
5. Remove the old filter from the compartment. Remove the filter from the filter frame.
6. Insert the new filter into the filter frame.
7. Slide the filter into the compartment.
8. Replace the filter access door and the four screws that hold it in place.
9. Replace the rectangular panel. Replace the screws that hold the panel in place.

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How to Reset the Radio Theft Code in a BMW 318ti

1. Turn the ignition switch to the 'On' position.
2. Press the radio power button to turn it on. Wait for the word 'Code' to appear on the display.
3. Enter the five-digit radio code using the station preset number buttons. The radio resets and is now operational.

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How to Replace the Car Key Battery in a Mercedes Benz

1. Turn the SmartKey face down so the blank side of the key is facing up. Press down on the plastic backup key tab to unlock the mechanical key. The mechanical key will pop up when it is unlocked.
2. Move the key away from the edge where it is located and toward the opposite edge. Sliding the key will unlock the battery compartment.
3. Pull on the battery compartment to remove it. It should easily slide out from the SmartKey.
4. Remove the two batteries from the battery compartment. Always replace both batteries at the same time.
5. Place the new batteries in a lint-free cloth and use the cloth to insert the new batteries under the contact springs with the plus (+) side facing up.
6. Slide the battery compartment into the SmartKey until it locks, then slide the mechanical key into the SmartKey to close it. Test the SmartKey by trying to unlock your car door.

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How to Remove the Rear Seat in a Passat

1. Pull up the retention clips at the front of the rear seat to release the front side. These are easy to find at each side.
2. Push the seat back.
3. Lift the seat up to release it from the rear clips. The seat is now out of the bracing and can be removed.

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How to Replace a Headlight on the Mercedes S430

1. Turn off your Mercedes S430 and prop open the hood.
2. Remove the two bolts holding the lower grille in place and pull the grille out of the front of the car.
3. Remove the two bolts on the section of the bumper revealed when you took off the grille.
4. Remove the screw on the trim of the front arch wheel well that holds the side fender in place. Do this for both wheel wells.
5. Remove the screw locking the mounting clip in the wheel well that holds the bumper and fender together. Do this for both wheel wells.
6. Pull out the long, flat mounting clip that was secured by the screw you just removed.
7. Pull the bumper slightly away from the vehicle.
8. Remove the two top bolts holding the headlight in place.
9. Detach the wiring harness from the rear of the headlight and pull the headlight out of its cavity. Pull the bumper farther away from the firewall if you need more room to release the headlight.
10. Insert the new headlight in the headlight cavity and push the bumper back into place. Remount the two headlight bolts. Reinstall the bolts, screws, and clips you removed that held the bumper and grille secure.

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How to Repair an Exterior Mirror on a Mercedes Benz

1. Push the right side of the driver's mirror lens or the left side of the passenger mirror lens into the mirror housing, using your hand. This pushes the other end of the mirror lens out of the housing so you can grab onto it.
2. Grab the mirror lens with your hand and pull outward on it until the retainers pop off the mirror motor mounted inside the mirror housing.
3. Place the new mirror lens into the housing. The tight tolerances of the housing automatically center the mirror lens over the mirror motor.
4. Press the mirror lens in place until you feel the lens seat onto the mirror motor.

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How to Repair a Thermostat in the BMW E39

1. Drain some of the engine coolant into the drain pan by opening the drain valve with a wrench on the bottom of the radiator.
2. Remove the bolts holding the thermostat housing on the engine with a wrench. You can find the thermostat housing by following the radiator hose to the engine. Pull the thermostat out of the engine and scrape away any remaining gasket material using a scraper tool.
3. Install the new thermostat into the engine, putting the spring side in the engine. Place a new gasket and the thermostat housing in place on the engine and tighten the bolts with the wrench. Fill the radiator and reservoir with coolant as needed.

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