How to Unplug a BMW Stereo Amp

1. Lift the BMW's hood and loosen the bolt that holds the grounding cable to the negative battery terminal post with a 10 mm wrench. Lift the cable from the battery and set it aside.
2. Open the trunk. Remove the three plastic fasteners that hold the carpet panel of the trunk on the driver's side to the side of the cargo area with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the metal tie-down located on the bottom of the panel with a Torx T-40 socket and drive.
3. Remove the plastic caps from the top side of the plastic panel at the back edge of the trunk with a flat-head screwdriver or trim panel removal tool. Pry the plastic fasteners from the panel inside the trunk. Remove the two screws under the upward facing plastic taps with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
4. Remove the plastic panel at the back of the trunk by hand. Pull the carpeted side panel from the side of the trunk to expose the factory amplifier. Unplug the multicolored wiring connector from the signal outlet on the side of the amplifier. Unplug the black power supply cable from the outlet labeled 'Power In' on the amplifier.

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How Do I Remove a Headlight Lens on a Mercedes 300E?

1. Open the hood, and secure it. Look behind the headlight you are working on and find the plastic release clip behind the turn signal. Slide this clip forward, remove the turn signal and put it aside.
2. Remove the filler panel located just below the headlight assembly by removing the two screws that hold it in place using a screwdriver. Put these screws aside.
3. Find the black plastic filler panel connected to the headlight assembly, and remove the bolts that hold it into place. There will be two bolts on the top part and one or two on the bottom (most likely 8-mm bolts) depending on the year of Mercedes 300E you are working with. Place these aside.
4. Disconnect the wiring connectors at the back of the headlight assembly. Remove the headlight assembly and gently set it down.
5. Locate the plastic clips that hold the headlight lens in place. Push these clips up gently with your fingers and remove the headlight lens.

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How to Change a BMW Driveshaft Bearing

1. Raise your BMW with the floor jack and place it on jack stands. You can either raise one side of it or raise it at all four corners. Either way, make sure it is raised high enough to allow you to comfortably reach the driveshaft. Also, make sure that the car is safely supported since you will be working underneath. You can slide a couple of wheels and tires under as well for added safety.
2. Spray penetrating oil on all the bolts that are going to be removed and let the oil soak in (the longer the better). Disconnect any sensors that go from the gearbox to the driveshaft. Not all models will have sensors, but some newer models like the 750 have sensors that must be disconnected. Note where the sensors go for later reinstallation.
3. Unbolt the exhaust hangers from the exhaust brackets. Disconnect the manifold bolts so that the exhaust can be dropped out of the way. (Depending on the model, you may be able to just loosen the manifold bolts a little to allow the exhaust to drop down enough.) Support the exhaust system with something (jack stands, block of wood, etc.) if you are not removing it entirely.
4. Remove the heat shield located between the exhaust system and the underside of the car (attached with a variety of bolts, depending on the model). Set the shield aside.
5. Remove the transmission crossmember, if needed, in order to access the bolts that hold the driveshaft to the transmission. Support the transmission with something during this procedure.
6. Remove the bolts that hold the driveshaft to the transmission and the bolts that hold it to the differential. Remove the bolts that hold the center support bearing in place. Pull the driveshaft out from under the car.
7. Mark the two halves of the driveshaft where they meet so that when they are put back together they are properly oriented.
8. Loosen the large nut behind the U-joint near the center bearing a little, pull the driveshaft apart, then loosen the nut again, repeating until the driveshaft is separated.
9. Pull the center support bearing off with a gear puller. Note the orientation of the bearing so that the new one is properly installed.
10. Install the new bearing by tapping it onto the driveshaft with a socket or similar tool that can fit over the splined part of the driveshaft. Tap the bearing on until the edge of the input shaft is just visible.
11. Reinstall the front shaft section, ensuring that the markings are properly lined up. Reinstall the driveshaft at both ends of the car in the reverse of removal. When you reinstall the driveshaft, preload the center bearing 4 to 6 mm toward the front of the car. Center the driveshaft in the transmission tunnel and tighten the bolts for the center bearing.
12. Reinstall the transmission crossmember if it was removed. Reinstall the exhaust system. Lower the car to the ground.

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How to Reset a BMW E46

1. Attach the tool to the data link connector, located under the BMW's dashboard.
2. Switch on the BMW's ignition.
3. Watch for the screen on the tool to illuminate and select 'BMW' using the scroll buttons on the tool and then push the reset tool's 'OK' button.
4. Select the 'E46' model with the scroll buttons and push the 'OK' button.
5. Select 'Reset of Service Warning Light' with the scroll buttons and push the 'OK' button.
6. Anticipate for screen to read 'Reset Ok!'
7. Switch off the BMW E46's ignition and remove the tool from the vehicle.

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How to Remove the Door Trim on a 1990 300E Mercedes Benz

1. Warm up the heat gun by turning it on and letting it stand for a few minutes.
2. Run it back and forth over the trim but not touching it. Just enough to soften up the adhesive backing.
3. Set a cloth under the beginning part of the trim and slide the trim removal tool along the cloth and up under the trim to pry it up.
4. Work the removal tool and the cloth along the entire length of each piece of trim to pry it off the vehicle. Do this carefully if you wish to reuse the trim because it can crack or chip easily.
5. Pull the trim gently away from the vehicle door and set it aside.

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How to Refill the Transmission in a BMW 318

1. Drive the BMW 318 for at least 20 minutes. The most accurate measurement of transmission fluid level can be achieved only when the fluid is warm.
2. Park on a level surface.
3. Apply the hand brake (emergency brake).
4. Apply the foot brake and move the gear selector through each gear. The engine should be running for this run through the gears.
5. Check the transmission fluid level on the dipstick located under the hood, near the left fender. First wipe the fluid from the indicator, replace the dipstick then pull it out again to read the level. There are two lines indicating 'low' and 'full' measurements.
6. Add fluid to the transmission via the dipstick opening using a funnel. Apply the fluid slowly with intermittent checks to avoid over-filling.
7. Stop filling the transmission when the indicator shows fluid at or near (but not exceeding) the 'full' line.

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How to Change the Water Pump in a Mercedes C280

1. Make sure you have the proper water pump for your car. The best way to ensure this is by using the chassis number of the car when you buy the water pump from the parts distributor. A water pump for a C280 usually runs around $250. Before trying to loosen the water pump bolts, it is also a good idea to spray some type of lubricant on the bolts to make them easier to remove.
2. Jack the car up and place it securely on jack stands. Drain the radiator with the drain valve at the bottom of the radiator.
3. Open the hood and remove the fan shroud, fan belt, power steering pump and hoses that block the water pump bolts. Leave the power steering pump attached to the hoses and push it out of the way.
4. Remove the pulley on the power steering pump. Use a strap wrench to hold the pulley while you unbolt the pulley bolt with a socket and wrench. Remove the pulley on the water pump with the same method.
5. Undo the rigid pipe in the side of the water pump that goes to the front of the engine. Undo this at the front of the motor and leave on the pump, or remove at both ends and set aside.
6. Remove the plastic leak tube, if one is present, on the bottom of the pump.
7. Remove the four 6-mm Allen head bolts that hold the water pump on. To get to the front ones, use a ball-head attachment for the Allen wrench that allows the end to pivot around. Be very careful not to strip the bolts when removing them.
8. Install a new pump with a new O-ring. Reinstall everything in the reverse order of removal.
9. Place the car on level ground and fill the radiator with the motor running.

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How to Test an ABS Speed Sensor

1. Elevate the rear of the vehicle in a secure position with a car jack, and place it on jack stands. Place wheel blocks around the front tires. Remove the rear tires to test the ABS speed sensors.
2. Locate where the engine's electrical wiring harness meets the sensor's electrical wiring harness. This is generally in proximity and secured around the strut housing in the wheel well in the front and the shocks in the rear.
3. Remove the sensor from its position using a quarter-inch ratchet with an 8- to 10-mm socket, which is generally located by the heat shield on the caliper.
4. Examine the end of the sensor. If it looks like a big fur ball at the end, then too much contamination is disrupting the sensor.
5. Spray the sensor with brake cleaner and wipe with the rag to remove contamination. Contamination on the sensor can send erroneous signals to the computer.
6. Disconnect the engine harness from the sensor harness. Set the voltage meter to 'Ohms,' and connect the positive and negative terminals of the voltage meter to the input and output on the sensor. If the voltage meter registers as infinity, then the sensor has failed and needs to be replaced.
7. Switch the meter back to 'Volts,' if you do not see an infinity in the ohms setting. If the voltage meter reads above 5 volts, it is starting to fail and can cause intermittent problems. If the voltage meter reads below 5 volts, check the knock sensor for corrosion and check the electrical connections leading to the knock sensor.

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How to Reset My E38 Instrument Cluster

1. Turn the ignition off, if it is on. Leave the key in the ignition.
2. Locate the trip odometer button on the lower left side of the instrument cluster.
3. Press and hold the trip odometer button while turning the key in the ignition to the first position.
4. Watch the words that display on the instrument cluster until you see 'Reset' on the display screen, and then release the button. (If 'Reset' doesn't appear, you cannot do a reset because you have not met the minimum consumption limit.)
5. Tap the button once more to complete the display reset.

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How to Change the Transmission Fluid on a 1999 Audi A4

1. Place the front of the Audi on jacks so you can reach below the vehicle more easily. Slide underneath and locate the gear box, which is a round metal object in the center of the car, slightly to the driver-side. Place a pan large enough to hold three quarts of fluid underneath.
2. Remove the fill bolt, which is near the rear of the gear box, with the 17mm Allen or socket wrench. Remove the drain bolt in the front of the gear box with the same tool. Wait about 15 minutes until the transmission fluid is finished draining. Wash off the drain and fill bolts while waiting.
3. Replace the drain bolt with the socket or Allen wrench. Use the fill bottle to pump three quarts of transmission fluid into the fill hole until the fluid is level with the bottom of the plug. When the gear box is full, transmission fluid will begin to drip from the fill hole.
4. Replace the fill plug with the Allen or socket wrench. Lower the car from the jacks.

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