How to Design an Audi

1. Draw a sketch of your Audi's design on paper using a set of pencils. Draft views of the car's front and rear ends, as well as its side, and at least one angled perspective. Label the dimensions of the car's body after you have drafted the different views. This will guide the creation of a digital model as well as a clay model, which provides the best perspective into your concept design.
2. Create a digital model of your Audi Design using drafting and modeling software such as Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk, and Bryce. These software programs allow you to create digital models of your design. You are able to input the dimensions of the car and manipulate the body panels, as well as viewing angle of the digital model. You can replicate the hand sketches you created in Step 1 or you can attempt to create a 3D digital model that is based off of the hand sketches.
3. Whittle away at a block of clay using a straight razor blade. Cut away at the block of clay until you are able to draw the car's primary design lines. As the outline of the design concept emerges from the clay, cut off the excess pieces of clay and use your hands to manipulate the clay as needed to create angles and impressions in the mold.

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How to Replace a Salvage Key For a BMW

1. Call the BMW customer service line at (800) 831-1117. Tell them the model and year of your BMW and request a quote for the price for a replacement key. The price usually ranges from a couple hundred to several hundred dollars for the key and programming. You will need details about your car to prove ownership, so have the VIN number and title ready when speaking with a representative.
2. Go online and search for a BMW dealership or else call for information about one nearest to you. You can take your car in and have them cut a new key and program it for you, and the cost will be similar to ordering a key from the BMW service center. Be sure to ask about the number of keys offered in the deal and verify that the programming cost is included in the total price.
3. Search online for a replacement key from a third party seller. While buying a replacement key outside of BMW can be much cheaper, you must verify that you can program the key yourself and that instructions are included with the key. If you purchase a key from a non-authorized BMW supplier and cannot program it yourself, you will have to take the vehicle into a BMW dealership and pay their programming fee.

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How to Change the Audi V6 Timing Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench. Detach the accessory drive belt from its pulleys. Turn the crankshaft clockwise by hand to align the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley with the timing mark on the crankcase. The timing marks on the camshaft must also align with their respective timing marks on the crankcase.
2. Remove the plug from the left side of the engine block by the crankshaft with a socket wrench. Align the timing marks on the crankshaft again if necessary. Connect Tool No. 3242 to the crankshaft and tighten it slightly to hold it in place.
3. Disconnect the upper timing belt covers, crankshaft vibration damper and lower timing belt cover in that order. Loosen the mounting bolts for the camshaft sprockets with a socket wrench, and release the sprockets from the ends of the camshafts.
4. Turn the roller for the timing belt tensioner clockwise with an 8 mm Allen wrench to compress the tensioner. Place a 2 mm spring pin through the holes in the tensioner housing and plunger to hold the plunger in place. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise to release the tensioner.
5. Remove the mounting bolts for the crankshaft damper with a socket wrench and detach the damper from the crankshaft. Disconnect the serpentine belt from the idler pulley and remove the guard for the crankshaft damper. Detach the timing belt from its pulleys.
6. Align the timing marks for the camshaft and crankshaft pulleys, if necessary. Place the new timing belt onto the pulleys, so that the arrow on the timing belt points in the clockwise direction.
7. Turn the roller for the timing belt tensioner clockwise with an 8 mm Allen wrench to compress the tensioner. Pull the 2 mm spring pin from the housing of the tensioner plunger. Turn the tensioner roller counterclockwise to apply tension to the timing belt.
8. Connect the damper guard for the crankshaft and attach the serpentine belt to the idler pulley. Tighten the mounting bolts for the idler pulley bolts to 33 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Replace the crankshaft damper and tighten its mounting bolts to 15 foot-pounds. Fasten the mounting bolts for the camshaft sprockets with a socket wrench. Install the timing belt covers.
9. Remove Tool No. 3242 from the crankshaft pulley. Install the sealing plug into its hole on the lower left side of the engine with a socket wrench. Attach the accessory drive belt and connect the cable for the negative battery terminal.

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How to Replace the Lens on a BMW 325

Removing and Replacing
1. Pull the lever located near the foot pedals on the driver's side of your BMW 325 to unlatch your hood. Face the hood of your vehicle and pull the hood-release lever located in the grille of your car to fully open the hood.
2. Shine your flashlight to the lower right or left corner inside your hood to find the interior part of your corner turn lens. Locate an oval-shaped hole behind the corner turn lens.
3. Push down and outward on the plastic clip within the oval hole with your flathead screwdriver to release the corner turn lens. Continue to keep your screwdriver in place within the oval hole while pulling the corner turn lens out with your free hand. Set the corner turn lens aside for re-installation. Removing your corner turn lens makes the headlight lens accessible for removal.
4. Lift up on the three tabs located on the top of the rubber trim that surrounds your headlight lens with your fingers. Remove the trim to loosen your headlight lens. Set the trim aside for re-installation.
5. Move your fingers around the top of your headlight lens and pull up on the three tabs that secure the headlight lens in place. Repeat this procedure on the bottom of the lens. Pull one tab out from each side of the lens. Pull the lens towards you once all tabs are released.
6. Align your new headlight lens in place. Push it with slight force to snap it into place. Push the rubber trim back into place snapping the connected tabs down. Push the corner turn lens into its original position until it clips back in.
7. Repeat Steps 1 to 7 to replace the headlight on the opposite side of your BMW 325.

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DIY: BMW Tie Rod Replacement

1. Park the car on a flat, level surface. Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels. Raise the front of the car with a floor jack and lower it securely onto a pair of jack stands. Finish removing the lug nuts and the wheels.
2. Remove the nut on the ball joint at the end of the tie rod nearest the hub. Press the ball joint out of the suspension with a pickle fork (a large metal fork) or with a tie rod puller by placing the tool between the ball joint and the suspension and prying the ball joint down.
3. Remove the metal ring on the dust cover that protects the inner end of the tie rod, using pliers. Bend back the tab on the locking plate that prevents the tie rod nut from turning and loosening. Loosen the nut on the end of the tie rod with an open-ended wrench. As you turn the nut, the entire tie rod will turn and loosen. Continue turning it until it is unthreaded from the BMW.
4. Install a new locking plate in place of the old plate. Check that the indent on the back of the plate locks securely into the sheetmetal. Thread the new tie rod into the car. You may need to hold the locking plate with your other hand to keep it in place while you install the new tie rod. Securely tighten the tie rod by the nut on the end of it with an open ended wrench. Bend down the tab on the locking plate so that it seats against one of the flat sides of the tie rod nut.
5. Slide the rubber dust boot back over the new tie rod. With a pair or pliers, clamp the metal retaining ring firmly around the dust boot to secure it in place. Thread the two locking nuts on the end of the inner tie rod, ensuring that the larger one is installed first. Install the outer tie rod by threading it onto the inner tie rod.
6. Adjust the length of the tie rod by turning the outer tie rod in or out until it is approximately the same length as the old one, then tighten the lock nuts.
7. Thread the new ball joint on the end of the tie rod. Insert the end of the ball joint into the suspension. Install a new locking nut on the ball joint and tighten it to 33 pound-feet with a torque wrench.
8. Repeat the above steps for the other side of the car. Reinstall the wheels and lower the vehicle to the ground. Now you are ready to get the suspension aligned immediately.

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How to Add HID Headlights to My BMW

1. Open the hood and unscrew the mounting screws on the backside of the BMW's headlight assembly.
2. Pull the headlight assembly forward.
3. Unplug the halogen power connector from the headlight ballast.
4. Turn the headlight counterclockwise and pull the headlight out of the back of the headlight housing.
5. Insert the HID bulb into the headlight housing assembly. Align the tabs on the headlight with the notches in the headlight housing.
6. Plug the electrical connector from the HID converter ballast into the HID bulb ballast.
7. Plug the factory halogen electrical connector into the back of the HID converter ballast. Your BMW is now set up for HID headlights. The converter ballast will use your factory's headlight wiring to power the HID bulbs.

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How to Replace the Thermostat on an Audi 1.8T

1. Remove the two bolts that secure the water outlet housing to the Audi's engine with a socket and ratchet. With the bolts removed, lift the housing off the engine to expose the thermostat.
2. Note the positioning of the thermostat inside the engine. When you replace the thermostat, you must install it with the same positioning. Pull the old thermostat out of the engine and plug the hole with a shop rag.
3. Remove the old gasket from the engine with a wire brush or metal scraper. Do the same for the old gasket material stuck to the bottom of the water outlet housing.
4. Pull out the shop rag from the engine and install the new thermostat into position. Place a new gasket over the thermostat.
5. Place the water outlet housing onto the gasket and secure both to the engine with the socket and ratchet.

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How to Repair 325 Xi BMW Headlights

1. Park the 325 Xi, and turn off the engine. Open the vehicle's hood.
2. Release the lamp cover above the headlamp assemblies. For the high beams, press downward and remove. For the low beam, rotate the cover cap to the left. Once the lamp covers are removed, the bulbs can be accessed.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb sockets. Unhook the wire spring by swinging it out. Remove the old bulb, and push the new bulb into place until it clicks. Do not handle the glass of the new bulb with your bare hand. Use the clean cloth to wipe down the replacement bulb before installing it.
4. Reattach the wire spring and electrical connector. Place the lamp covers over the headlamp assemblies. Close the hood.

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How to Remove a W123 Dash

1. Pull all of the knobs and dials on the front of your dash. Place them in a safe area. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws attached to the heat vent covers. Lift the covers off and place them with the previously removed dials.
2. Open the glove compartment and remove the mounting screws that hold it in place. Pull the glove compartment away from the dash. Remove the remaining screws on the lower dash panels. Pull the dash panels away from the lower section of the dash.
3. Pull the face plate away from the front of the dash to expose the radio and its bracket. Use a screwdriver to remove the four mounting screws that hold the radio in place. Slide the radio and its bracket from the dash. Remove the electrical wiring from the radio and completely remove it.
4. Pull the bezel away from the instrument panel. Remove the screws on the panel and slide it out of the dash. Unhook the rear electrical connector and lift it out of the vehicle.
5. Remove the rest of the screws on the upper dash panels. Carefully remove the remaining dash panels. Take care not to damage the vehicle's interior as you remove the panels.

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How to Unlock a Jammed Glove Box

Free the contents of your glove box
1. Try the key for the glove box again, even if it is for the third or fourth time. Wiggle it, then jiggle it again, or slide the key slightly out and in again. Sometimes keys are simply not cut perfectly or are too worn to easily undo the mechanism. While we are on the topic of trying the key, check to make sure that you have the right key. If you are using a valet key, it will not unlock the glove box.
2. Hit the glove box really hard a couple of times. Maybe it is just jammed and needs some force to get unstuck.
3. Spray WD-40 or a similar compound into the latch mechanism. Perhaps it's just stuck and needs a lubricant. Then, repeat Step 1--and, if necessary, Step 2.
4. Try sliding a credit card along the slot of the lock if you can access it. This is the oldest trick in the book, but many door locks can be 'picked' with a credit card just by sliding it to the underside of the lock. However, most glove boxes are secured and latched in such a way that this probably is not viable.
5. Try picking the lock with a safety pick and tumbler wrench. This may take some practice and know-how. Try turning the lock both clockwise and counterclockwise. Keep pressure on the lock and insert the paperclip, jiggling it around.
6. It may be possible to remove the entire glove box. Look for exposed hinges or screws. While it is not very likely that any of the hardware securing the glove box will be exposed, if it is, removal may be one of the most viable and least costly solutions. Just remember how to reinstall it, and keep all the small parts in one place.
7. If all else fails, head for the nearest locksmith or the auto dealer, where an employee might have a way to get in without charging you money. If lack of time is a factor, then a locksmith may be your best bet, since you'll be certain the right tools are readily available.

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