How to Activate Active Steering on a BMW 545

1. Drive the 545 slowly in a parking lot and make a tight U-turn. You will notice that the steering ratio lessens so that there are not as many turns from lock-to-lock, which refers to how many rotations the wheel makes from on direction to the other. The Active Steering is actually reducing the amount that you must turn the wheel to make the U-turn and the car's computer is using the speed of the car to determine the speed of the steering. If you were to try the same maneuver at speed, the steering would not react as quickly. Active steering also decreases the effort required to turn the wheel at slow speeds.
2. Drive the 545 at higher speeds to experience its behavior under freeway and high-speed conditions. Turn the wheel a little back and forth or drive it around a high-speed sweeper to get a sense of the increased steering ratio and higher steering effort. You will notice that the car responds to the steering much more slowly and safely. Less immediate response at higher speeds equals a safer driving experience.
3. Push the car hard in a large empty parking lot. At a slow speed, turn the wheel hard enough to upset the composure of the car and cause the tires to lose a little bit of traction. You will feel the steering react in order to help bring the car back under control. You should only do this on private property in an empty lot.

Continue lendo

How to Install Power Steering Fluid in a BMW E24

1. Open the hood. Locate the power-steering reservoir. On the E24 (and some other BMWs) the power-steering reservoir is a round metal container located on the left side of the engine just in front of the fuse block.
2. Open the lid to the power-steering reservoir by unscrewing the wing nut that holds the lid on. Pull the lid off and set it aside. Underneath the lid is a metal mesh filter for keeping dirt from going into the power-steering system.
3. Pump the brakes to discharge the system. The power steering and the power brakes share the same hydraulic fluid. Pump the brakes until the pedal feels hard and then check the level of the fluid. Press the brakes until the power-steering fluid has stopped rising in the reservoir.
4. Top up the power-steering fluid if it is low until the level of the fluid is about 10 mm below the top of the reservoir. Turn the car on and then turn the steering wheel from lock to lock (as far it will turn in either direction) a few times. Check the level again to ensure it still at the full level. Replace the lid for the reservoir. Shut the hood.

Continue lendo

How to Replace a Mercedes Emblem

1. Open the hood of you Mercedes.
2. Turn the two tabs on the underside of the emblem 90 degrees, using a pair of pliers.
3. Push the base of the broken emblem out from underneath the hood.
4. Turn the tabs on the new emblem to line up with the holes in the hood.
5. Push the new emblem into the top of the hood.
6. Turn the tabs underneath the hood 90 degrees to lock the new emblem in place.

Continue lendo

How to Change a BMW Water Pump

1. Detach the negative battery cable from the battery of your BMW with an open-end wrench and crescent wrench. Move the cable out of the way so that it does not come into contact with any metal parts.
2. Remove the radiator cap and the cap on the coolant overflow tank located on the passenger side of the BMW engine compartment. Locate the drain valve at the bottom of the radiator and place a drain pan just below it.
3. Open the drain valve with an open-end wrench and allow all the coolant to drain into the pan. When it is completely drained, locate the coolant drain plug on the engine block, just under the manifold on the passenger side of the engine.
4. Move the drain pan underneath the coolant drain plug of the engine block and open the plug with an open-end wrench. Allow the coolant to drain out and then close both the engine block drain plug and the radiator drain plug.
5. Find the main drive belt that winds around the pulley on the fan and locate the tensioner cap on the front of the center pulley. Use a standard screwdriver to remove the cap from the tensioner pulley.
6. Loosen the bolt on the tensioner pulley with a socket wrench to release the pressure on the main belt. Note how the belt is looped around the pulleys so you can put it back properly and then remove the belt from the pulleys.
7. Locate the bolts on the back of the fan blade and remove the bolts with an open-end wrench. Once the fan blade is loose, remove it from the engine compartment.
8. Remove the fan pulley from the front of the water pump by unbolting the four bolts that attach the units with a socket wrench. Detach the four nuts that are holding the water pump to the engine block with a socket wrench.
9. Tap the water pump with a rubber mallet to loosen the seal and pull it away from the engine. Clean any debris away from the engine block where the water pump was attached with a wire brush.
10. Place a layer of white lithium grease around the O-ring that was included with the new water pump. Position the new water pump and O-ring over the engine block and attach the pump using a socket wrench to secure the pump with nuts.
11. Reattach the fan pulley to the front of the water pump, securing the bolts with a socket wrench. Connect the fan blade to the front of the fan pulley with bolts and check all connections to verify they are secure.
12. Place the fan belt around the pulleys the same way it came off and then tighten the tensioner pulley with a socket wrench. Put the tensioner pulley cap back over the top of the pulley.
13. Fill the coolant overflow reservoir half-full of coolant and replace the cap, then fill the radiator with coolant. Place the cap back on top of the radiator and remove the drain pan from underneath the vehicle.
14. Reattach the negative battery cable to the BMW battery and start the engine to verify the water pump is working properly. When you are satisfied, turn the engine off and dispose of the drained coolant at your local recycling center or automotive supply.

Continue lendo

How to Replace a Tail Light Lens

1. If retaining screws are not accessible from outside (as will be case on most newer vehicles) open the trunk lid, rear hatch door or tail gate to reveal the tail light retaining screws. Pull the interior trunk trim panel straight out to reveal the back side of the tail light housings, if necessary. Remove the bulb sockets from the back side of the tail light assembly by twisting them out counterclockwise.
2. Remove the tail light retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver or by turning the thumb nuts with your fingers, depending on your vehicle.
3. Remove the bulb sockets from the rear of the tail light by twisting them out counterclockwise. Pull the tail light straight out from its mounting bracket from the rear of the vehicle.
4. Push the replacement tail light assembly into its mounting bracket on the rear of the vehicle. Tighten the retaining screws or thumb nuts to secure it into place.
5. Push the bulb sockets back into their respective mounting holes on the back side of the replacement tail light and turn each one clockwise until it locks into place. Push the trunk trim back into place, if necessary.

Continue lendo

How to Reset the Service B in a Mercedes C230

1. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it until the battery comes or the engine turns on.
2. Locate the left and right arrow buttons on the left side of your steering wheel. Press either button until the mileage is displayed on the instrument panel display screen.
3. Press the up or down button until the service symbol appears on the screen.
4. Locate the trip odometer reset button to the left of the instrument panel. Hold the reset button for a few seconds until the screen displays the message, 'Do you want to reset the service interval? Confirm with the R-button.' Release the button once the phrase appears.
5. Press the reset button to reset the Service B notification.

Continue lendo

How to Clean BMW Rims

1. Collect the cleaning supplies and purchase the rim cleaner. Obtain a soft, nonabrasive sponge and towel. Add warm water to the bucket, filling it halfway.
2. Dunk the sponge into the bucket. Squeeze out the excess water. Rub the BMW rim to remove dirt and grime. Use a circular motion to clean and be careful of loose rocks or debris. Take off any rocks or debris by hand so that you don't mash them into the rims while cleaning.
3. Spray the cleaner onto the BMW rim. Start from the top and spray in rows downward. If you are using a pour bottle, use about a quarter-size amount of cleaner on the sponge.
4. Let the cleaner sit on the tire rim for roughly three minutes.
5. Wring out the sponge into the bucket. Eliminate all cleaner from the sponge. Then wipe the rim dry with a soft cloth, revealing a shine.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for the remaining tire rims.

Continue lendo

How to Reset the quot;Service Engine Soonquot; Light on a BMW 323CI

1. Locate the DLC (diagnostic link connector) in your BMW 323 CI. It is located under the driver's side dashboard, left of the steering wheel. Compare the plug end of the code reader/eraser with the shape and size of the DLC.
2. Plug the code reader/eraser into the DLC and turn the ignition key two clicks to the 'key-on/engine-off' position. This will power up the code reader and the BMW's accessories without running the engine.
3. Read the code reader's onscreen menu display. There will be four to six options on the screen. Locate the 'enter' button and the arrow 'scroll' buttons that move the cursor up and down on the menu screen.
4. Scroll to 'Erase codes' or 'Clear Codes' on the menu and press 'enter.' Follow the directions on the screen.
5. Turn on the engine and locate the 'service engine soon' light on the dashboard panel. It should be out. If the light comes back on, have the BMW 323 CI serviced, or use the code reader to find out what is tripping the 'service engine soon' light.

Continue lendo

How to Change Inner Tie Rods

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Remove the wheel using the ½-inch air gun and socket. Remove the cotter pin in the outer tie rod stud using the wire cutters. Remove the outer tie rod nut with a wrench.
2. Loosen the lock nut on the outer tie rod shaft using a wrench. Remove the tie rod from the spindle by placing the forked end of the tie rod separator tool in between the spindle and the tie rod. Hit the tool with the hammer until the outer tie rod comes loose in its tapered hole in the spindle. Lift the tie rod out of spindle.
3. Turn the outer tie rod counterclockwise to remove from the shaft. Count the number of turns it takes to remove it from the shaft, as this will be important in installation. Make a note of the turns. The tie rod end will need to be installed on the new shaft the same number of turns for alignment purposes.
4. Remove the inner tie rod end boot by using the wire cutters and twisting and cutting the clamp holding it in place. Pull the boot off the shaft. Insert the proper-sized end of the inner tie rod remover into the tie rod remover tool. Use the inner tie rod remover to screw the inner tie rod off the rack.
5. Install the new inner tie rod by screwing it on the rack by hand as far as possible. Using the inner tie rod remover tool, turn the inner tie rod end clockwise until tight.
6. Push the inner tie rod boot on and place the large clamp around the inner part of the boot where it fits unto the rack. Use the wire cutters to pinch the end of the clamp to hold in place.
7. Run the lock nut on the tie rod shaft and screw it up to above the middle of the thread. Screw the outer tie rod on for the number of turns recorded when removed. Insert the tie rod into the hole in the spindle. Screw the nut on and tighten with a wrench. Install the cotter pin and tighten the lock nut against the outer tie rod end with a wrench.
8. Install the wheel with the ½-inch air gun and socket.

Continue lendo

How to Replace a Headlight Bulb in a Mercedes S430

1. Open the hood and unplug the electrical connector running to the back of the headlight. Squeeze the tabs on the connector and pull them off the headlight.
2. Pull the dust boot off of the back of the headlight with your fingers.
3. Grab the headlight at the base, called the "collar," and rotate the headlight counterclockwise to unlock it from the headlight housing. Then, remove the headlight from the housing.
4. Install the new headlight. Make sure that before you attempt to secure the headlight to the housing by turning the headlight bulb clockwise that you have the tabs on the headlight collar aligned with the notches in the back of the housing, and that the front of the collar sits perfectly flush with the headlight housing. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Continue lendo