How to Calculate Release Payments on a BMW


1. Read your lease agreement. Look for a buyout provision as well as early termination clause. Early termination clauses are generally reserved for people quitting a lease, but some may have a buyout stipulation.
2. Determine the capitalized cost. This is the difference between the total amount of paid lease installments and the purchase price of the car. For instance, if the purchase price is $40,000 and you have paid 50 installments of $667 on a five-year lease term, the balance or 'capitalized cost' would be $6,650.
3. Include applicable registration and licensing fees. Phone the nearest DMV office and get the costs of any title transfer fees and registration fees. Also calculate sales tax based on your state's sale tax rate.
4. Add the capitalized cost, registration and licensing fees with the sales tax. This will yield your lease release payment or buyout cost.
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How to Adjust the Compass on an OnStar Mirror


Quick Calibration
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
3. Press and hold the on/off button until 'Cal' is displayed in the compass window.
4. Wait a few seconds for the compass window to display a north, south, east or west direction. If 'Cal' remains instead of the compass displaying a direction you will need to calibrate the compass manually.
Manual Calibration
5. Start the vehicle.
6. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
7. Activate compass calibration mode by pressing and holding the on/off button until 'Cal' is displayed in the compass window.
8. Drive the vehicle in 360 degree circles less than 5 miles per hour until the compass reads a direction.
Compass Variance
9. Use a magnetic variation zone map to determine your geographical location and the zone number which references your location.
10. Start the vehicle.
11. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
12. Make sure the compass displays a direction. If not you will need to calibrate the compass following the steps in Section 2.
13. Press and hold the on/off button on the rearview mirror until a zone number appears.
14. Press and release the on/off button causing the zone number to change. Continue to press and release the on/off button until the correct zone number is displayed.
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How to Replace a BMW Windshield Wiper Motor


1. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Loosen the retaining nut on the cable clamp and pull the clamp off.
2. Pull the wiper arm assembly away from the windshield.
3. Remove the retaining nut holding the wiper blade to the wiper motor assembly.
4. Remove the trim covering the wiper motor. This trim is located under the wiper arm assembly where the arm connects to the motor. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the trim in place, then pull the trim off.
5. Remove the bolts holding the wiper motor in place and pull the wiper motor out.
6. Unplug the electrical connector on the motor, and install the new motor. Installation is the reverse of removal for this component.
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How to Change the Backup Light Bulb in the BMW M3


1. Turn the engine of the M3 off and open the trunk. Put on a pair of clean gloves.
2. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to loosen the clip at the center of the trunk lid.
3. Fold the trim panel downward and pull the bulb socket down to disengage it form the electrical connector.
4. Rotate the bulb to the left and remove it from the bulb socket. Install a replacement bulb into the socket and rotate it to the right to secure it. Reattach the socket to the trunk lid. Once you hear a click, the bulb is secured.
5. Reattach the trim and the clip. Close the trunk lid.
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How to Change Oil in a BMW


How to Change Oil in a BMW
1. Drive your BMW onto the car ramps in order to give yourself plenty of room under the car. Put the vehicle transmission in park and place a 4 inch by 4 inch wood block behind one of the rear tires to keep the vehicle from rolling backward.
2. Pull the oil dipstick out of the tube and lay it aside so the oil can drain freely from the bottom. Place a drain pan underneath the engine, directly below the oil filter.
3. Turn the nut on the top of the oil filter cap underneath the motor counterclockwise, using the crescent wrench. Be careful of oil draining from the filter when you loosen the cap.
4. Place the oil filter cap aside and pull the filter from the housing. Locate the drain plug on the back side of the oil pan under the engine and place the drain pan underneath the plug once the oil filter housing has been drained.
5. Unfasten the oil drain plug with an open end wrench and remove the plug, allowing the oil to drain out of the engine completely. Once all the oil has been drained, screw the drain plug back into the oil pan and tighten it with the open end wrench.
6. Place the new oil filter inside the filter housing and screw the cap back on using the crescent wrench to tighten the cap. Slide the dipstick back into the tube and verify that it is secure.
7. Detach the oil cap from the top of the intake manifold and place a funnel in the opening. Add between 4 and 7 quarts of oil to your BMW depending on the size of the engine.
8. Take the funnel out of the top of the intake manifold and secure the oil cap to the top of the manifold. Remove the wood block from the back tire of the BMW and the car off the car ramps.
9. Turn the engine off and dispose of the drained oil at your local recycling center or automotive supply store.
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Troubleshooting a Mercedes Transmission


1. Check your valve hoses. The valve hoses in the Mercedes engine are located in a small black box on top of the valve cover. Check the tops of the valve covers to make sure they are not worn out; if they are, you will need to replace them.
2. Look at the color of the transmission fluid. Transmission fluid needs to be flushed and changed frequently, and the fluid is a deep cherry red in color. If it has become black or turned a dark gray, there could be an internal oil leak that is affecting your transmission.
3. Look at your transmission oil pan. A mechanic may need to remove this for you; if there is metal at the bottom of your transmission oil pan, the transmission will have failed.
4. Check your vacuum modulator. This part is responsible for telling the transmission when to shift. If it is not adjusted properly, you may experience an 'early shift' or 'late shift.' Shift slips can be adjusted by turning the modulator clockwise to increase the pressure and initiate a later shift, or counterclockwise to lower the pressure and initiate an earlier shift.
5. Change your throttle pressure. Another way to adjust how the transmission shifts is by increasing or decreasing the tension of your throttle pressure cable. Make the slide shorter to make the transmission shift later, or make it longer to make it shift earlier.
6. Listen to the engine while it idles. An unstable idle or 'growling noise' could be a sign of a poor intake air temperature sensor, bad engine coolant temperature sensor or a dirty throttle body. Make sure all these components are working properly to prevent transmission damage.
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How to Install a Stereo in an Audi A5


1. Loosen the bolt on the negative battery cable with the wrench. Lift the cable from the battery and set it aside.
2. Slide the two Audi/VW stereo keys into the slots at either corner of the stereo. Push the tools into the openings until they lock into place.
3. Place your fingers into the loops at the ends of the tolls and pull the stereo from the dashboard stereo dock. Disconnect the stereo wiring from the back of the unit and unplug the antenna cable.
4. Slide the installation sleeve included with the aftermarket stereo deck into the vacant stereo dock. Pull the two stereo wiring connectors and antenna cable from the back of the dock to the front of the dashboard. Plug the stereo wiring connectors into the wiring harness adapter leads.
5. Connect the wiring harness adapter lead connectors to the corresponding outlets on the rear panel of the new radio. Insert the antenna cable lead into the antenna input on the back of the aftermarket stereo deck. Slide the unit into the sleeve (inside the stereo deck) until it locks into place within the dash.
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How to Get Rid of a Check Engine Light


1. Open the fuse panel on your vehicle. Most vehicles have a fuse panel under the steering wheel.
2. Plug the electrical connector from the diagnostic reset tool into the open port made for the connector on the fuse panel. There will only be one port large enough on the fuse panel to accommodate the diagnostic tool.
3. Turn the diagnostic reset tool on, using its power switch.
4. Turn the ignition key to the 'II' position and wait for the light on the diagnostic tool to go out or stop flashing. This will get rid of the illuminated check engine light on the dash.
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How to Maintain Convertible Tops on a Mercedes Benz


1. Clean your Mercedes Benz soft top only with products designed for use on convertible soft-top fabric and windows. Chemical cleaners that are not designed for use on these fabrics and plastics can discolor the top and may obscure visibility. Mercedes Benz convertible tops are normally made from German Sonnenland canvas, so you will need to use a cleaner designed to safely clean canvas.
2. Avoid getting your vehicle's soft top dirty, if possible. Mud, sand and other debris will scratch and abrade the soft top. Dirt can also get trapped in weather stripping on the top and affect the seal that is formed when the top is raised. An improper seal will cause the top to leak.
3. Do not drive your Mercedes convertible through an automatic car wash. The high-pressure blast of the water can seriously damage the fragile top, weaken seals between the weather stripping and the vehicle and will normally get your interior wet in the process, which can lead to mold.
4. Store your Mercedes convertible indoors or under a car cover to reduce the likelihood of the top being damaged by bad weather or falling debris such as tree limbs in a storm. Soft tops are not difficult to puncture.
5. Use discretion when putting your vehicle's top up and down. The more you raise and lower your convertible top the more wear and tear you put on it. Avoid putting the top down only to raise it five to 10 minutes later. Purchase a car cover and carry it with you if you want to cover your vehicle in a parking lot or a friend's house.
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Removing an E30 BMW Transmission


1. Use the jack to elevate the front of the BMW and stabilize the vehicle with the jack safety stands.
2. Pop open the hood and remove the negative and positive battery cables.
3. Locate the starter positioned between the transmission and engine and use the wrench to unbolt it.
4. Detach the drive shaft from the differential and then from the transmission. After removing the bolts, pull the drive shaft from the differential.
5. Use the wrench to disengage the nut at the end of the speedometer cable and shift linkage located on the left side of the transmission. Set the bolts and nuts aside.
6. Turn the crankshaft pulley to expose all of the transmission-to-flywheel bolts. Remove the bolts with a socket wrench.
7. Locate the transmission bell housing and remove the bolts that attach it to the cylinder block.
8. Position the transmission jack beneath the transmission, and place the wood block between it and the transmission to help distribute the weight of the transmission for removal.
9. Locate the transmission's cross-member that is attached to the frame and use the wrench to remove it.
10. Pull the transmission out slowly.
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