How to Change the Transmission Fluid in a BMW E30

1. Warm your car's transmission by driving it around for about 10 minutes. Be careful not to go far over this time frame, since you want the fluid to be warm, but not scalding hot for this procedure.
2. Turn your BMW's ignition off and lock the emergency brake into place to prevent injury during the fluid replacement.
3. Jack your car evenly about six inches off of the ground and use extra support in the form of jack stands. You will need four jack stands near each tire in order to position the car level with the ground.
4. Find the transmission pan under the front end of the BMW--it is a square, bolted pan-like object.
5. Position the drip pan on the ground, directly beneath the center of the transmission pan. This is to ensure that any hot fluid spills into the drip pan, and not onto you.
6. Release the drain plug at the center of the transmission pan using the socket wrench. The fluid will immediately fall out of the transmission pan, so be sure that you are not in the way of your drip pan.
7. Unscrew the remaining bolts after you are confident that the majority of fluid has drained from the transmission pan. There will still be a small amount of fluid pooled in the bottom of the pan, so use caution as you let the pan down.
8. Empty any remaining fluid from the transmission pan into your drip pan.
9. Wipe the entire transmission pan with the shop rag and a touch of degreaser. Be sure to clean the outside, as well as the inside of the pan, taking caution to also clean the corners, so that the old fluid does not contaminate the new fluid.
10. Mount the transmission pan back into its original position on the transmission, using your socket wrench.
11. Remove the jack stands from under your BMW and lower the car with the jack.
12. Open the hood of thew E30 and locate the transmission fill plug near the windshield, between the center and the driver's side of the car.
13. Open the fill plug cap at the top of the transmission by unscrewing it with your hand. The fill plug on a BMW E30 is yellow and has a dipstick attached to it. The dipstick can be set aside for now.
14. Place the funnel upright into the center of the transmission's fill plug.
15. Begin pouring the new Dexron III transmission fluid into the transmission through the funnel, to avoid spilling.
16. Release the emergency brake after pouring in the second quart of transmission fluid.
17. Turn the ignition key and shift the car into each gear, holding your foot on the brake pedal the entire time. Shifting gears allows the transmission fluid to flow throughout the system, providing a more accurate reading when measuring the level of the fluid.
18. Put your BMW in 'Park' and let the motor continue to run.
19. Add only one-half of the third quart of transmission fluid through the fill plug and funnel.
20. Use the dipstick to measure the level of the transmission fluid by placing the cap back into the fill plug and immediately pulling it out. The dipstick will show you whether or not your transmission is filled to the recommended capacity.
21. Continue pouring small amounts of the third quart of transmission fluid, until the dipstick reads 'Full.' Use extreme caution not to flood the transmission, since the clean-up for such a spill would add significant time to completing this project.
22. Turn your engine off after the dipstick shows the transmission fluid at the recommended fill level.
23. Re-cap the fill plug with the dipstick cap and close the hood of your car. The transmission fluid change is now finished.

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How to Troubleshoot a Power Steering Leak on an Audi A4

1. Add the oil-based dye, supplied in the kit, to the power steering reservoir. The reservoir for the Audi A4 is located on the driver's side inner fender well, just in front of the windshield reservoir. Test-drive the vehicle for 10 minutes to circulate the dye and load the power steering system. This will force small leaks to show up.
2. Use the black light, supplied in the kit, to search under the hood for leaks. Start at the power steering reservoir, following both the small return hose and the larger supply hose to the power steering pump and the rack and pinion steering gear. Note any leaks found.
3. Raise and support the vehicle using the floor jack and jack stands. Then, from underneath, inspect the power steering rack and the power steering hoses. Note any leaks found.

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How to Turn Up a Stock Audi TT Boost

1. Turn off the Audi TT engine and open its hood.
2. Disconnect the hose leading to the wastegate actuator from the turbo.
3. Connect the open hose end to the boost controller and connect that to the turbo's open valve. Tighten the hose clamp around the turbo valve with the flat head screwdriver.
4. Twist the boost controller 'Boost' knob to the right to turn up the Audi TT's stock boost. Start with only turning the boost up a small degree, and test the TT on the street.

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How to Debadge Audi

1. Heat up the badges for a few minutes by using your heat gun or hair dryer, holding the heat source about two inches away from the badges. Try to avoid holding the heat source too close to the paint as you can risk bubbling the paint up.
2. Slide the dental floss or fishing line behind the badge and slide it down. Move it down slowly and work your way down. If you find you are encountering resistance, heat the badge area again for a few more minutes.
3. Apply some rubbing alcohol to the area using your cotton terry towel to remove the remnant adhesive film that may still be on the body panel of your car.
4. Spray the soapy water on to the area where the badge was once applied and rub it clean using your towel.
5. Spray the water on to the body panel to rinse off the area and then dry it using the cotton towel. Repeat the procedure for any other badges you want to remove from your car.

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How to Replace an ML 320 Dust Filter

1. Remove the two screws on the panel beneath the glove compartment.
2. Pull the panel toward the floor of the car to remove it, exposing the dust filter housing.
3. Press the filter housing lid toward the rear of the vehicle and pull down to remove it.
4. Pull the old filter straight down to remove it from the filter housing.
5. Insert the new filter into the housing. Push the filter up as far as it will go.
6. Replace the filter housing access door. Press on it until it locks into place.
7. Replace the panel below the glove compartment. Replace the two screws that hold the panel in place.

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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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