How to Remove the Head From a BMW 525I Engine


1. Remove the fuel pump fuse by first starting the car, and then removing the fuse. Remove the ground wire from the battery, drain the coolant system, then jack up the front of the car and place the jack stands under the frame. Remove the hood to gain the best possible clearance to the head and set it aside.
2. Remove the bolts which hold the exhaust manifold to the engine, but do not remove the manifold itself. Lower the car to the ground then to more easily access the engine. Remove the air filter and hose, plastic timing belt cover, oil dipstick tube, and the throttle body.
3. Disconnect the fuel lines and the throttle position sensor, then remove the heater hose and the upper coolant hose. The removal of these parts will open a path to the car's head.
4. Use the socket set to remove the head slowly, removing one bolt at a time. Remove the bolts from the center outward to help avoid any potential problems with warping the head. To replace the head gasket, clean the old gasket material completely from the block and the head, making certain to avoid gouging the metal or dropping anything into the cylinders of the engine. Replacement of the parts is the opposite of removal.
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How to Repair BMW Rims


1. Research online and at auto shops to find paint and lacquer products that match BMW factory alloys. Purchase the silver spray wheel paint and high-gloss clear lacquer that is compatible with your BMW.
2. Open the utility compartment in the trunk of your BMW to retrieve the wheel lock needed to loosen the lug nuts on your tires. Raise your car using a jack stand. Loosen the lug nuts, using the wheel lock to remove each tire. Place each tire aside in preparation for the rim-cleaning process.
3. Pour paint thinner onto your rims and use a cloth to wipe off grease, brake dust and grime so that the surface is clean. Wait five minutes for the paint thinner to dry.
4. Locate the areas of the rims that are damaged from chipping. Pour auto body filler onto a putty knife and apply it to the damaged areas. Wait approximately 10-15 minutes until the body filler becomes dry to the touch.
5. Sand the auto body filler with100 grit sandpaper. Sand using the 200 grit paper once the 100 grit has worn down. Sand using the 400 grit sandpaper once the 200 grit has worn down and until the auto body filler becomes even with the surface of the rim. Wipe the rims with water and a clean cloth to remove sand and dust. Dry the rims with a clean cloth.
6. Place painter's tape around the outside of your rims so that it is between the crevice of the tire and the rim, protecting your tires from rim paint. Tape newspaper around your tires so that only the rims are exposed.
7. Spray three coats of silver wheel paint on the areas of the rims that you applied auto body filler to, allowing 30 minutes between coats.
8. Wait 30 minutes until the last coat of silver wheel paint has dried. Spray the high-gloss clear lacquer on the damaged areas. Repeat this process three times, allowing 30 minutes for each coat to dry.
9. Remove all newspaper and painter's tape from your tires. Re-mount the wheels on your BMW.
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How to Troubleshoot a BMW 528i


1. Locate the OBDII diagnostic port underneath your 528i's steering wheel. It will be located toward the top of the driver's side foot well.
2. Plug the code scanner into the diagnostic port, then turn on your 528i's ignition either all of the way on or to just the accessories position.
3. Allow the diagnostic scanner to scan for error codes. This will happen automatically once your 528i's electronics system is activated.
4. Take note of the error codes that are displayed on the code scanner and bring them to your local auto parts store, a licensed mechanic, or BMW dealership, where you can have them decoded. Each component of your 528i will output a unique error code when it fails, so you will know what to replace once you have figured out what the error codes stand for.
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How do I Put Down the Convertible Top on a 1987 BMW 325i?


1. Lower both the driver- and passenger-side windows. You may damage your windows or your soft top if you skip this step.
2. Unlatch both of the two locks above the rear-view mirror. This allows you to lift the top from the front of the car.
3. Unlatch the storage compartment for the soft top using the handle on the left rear of the car's interior. Open the storage compartment cover by using the safety catch.
4. Raise the cover from the front of the car and pull it backward. Place it in the storage compartment using neat folds. Pay careful attention not to scratch or break the rear window, because it folds with the rest of the top into the rear compartment. The entire window and soft top are one piece.
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How to Replace a BMW 3 Series Battery


1. Open the trunk of your BMW 3 Series. Wear safety glasses for protection.
2. Lift the floor panel up and out of the trunk. The battery is located on the right side of the trunk under a plastic battery cover with three fasteners.
3. Loosen the two fasteners on the top of the battery cover by turning them counterclockwise using a flat-head screwdriver. Loosen the other fastener along the right side of the battery cover using a flat-head screwdriver.
4. Lift the battery cover off and remove it. You may need to pull the side trim panel in the trunk up to extract the battery cover.
5. Remove the two bolts securing the protective bar that covers the battery using a socket wrench. Remove the protective bar.
6. Loosen the nut on the negative battery cable. Remove the cable from the battery terminal and push it out of the way so that there is no chance of it contacting the terminal. The negative cable is usually black and has 'Neg' or '-' on it.
7. Loosen the nut on the positive battery cable. Remove the cable from the battery terminal and push it to the side. The positive cable is usually red and has 'Pos' or '+' on it.
8. Lift the battery straight out of the trunk. Be careful, as the battery is relatively heavy.
9. Place the new battery in the battery compartment. Connect the positive cable to the positive battery terminal first. Tighten the nut on the battery cable.
10. Connect the negative cable to the negative battery terminal. Tighten the nut on the battery cable.
11. Reinstall the protective bar on the battery and replace the battery cover.
12. Dispose of the old battery properly by taking it to a battery recycling center.
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How to Find out the Interior Color of a Mercedes Benz


1. Contact your Mercedes dealer and give him your Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN. He can use this information to find out your vehicle's original interior colors.
2. Check your original purchase sticker. Typically, these stickers highlight many vehicle options, including interior colors or color codes.
3. Look for your Mercedes data card in your owner's manual. It provides a series of numbers that represent different vehicle options, including colors. Take the card to your Mercedes dealer to help you decipher all the codes, if descriptions are not available.
4. View the Mercedes Benz World Forum. As of 2010, some member posts provide a list of all interior color codes for cloth, artificial leather and genuine leather seats. You should verify the accuracy with a Mercedes dealer.
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How to Enter a BMW Radio Code


1. Open the hood and check the connection for the battery. Tighten the positive cable clamp retaining nut and then the negative cable clamp retaining nut.
2. Put the key in the ignition and turn the ignition to the 'II' position.
3. Turn on the radio power button. The words 'CODE' will appear on the BMW's radio screen.
4. Enter the code given to you by your BMW dealer using the numbers on the radio head unit. If you do not have the code, you'll have to call the dealership where you purchased the vehicle and obtain the radio code for your specific BMW.
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How to Copy Audi Keys


1. Examine the Audi key to be copied. Keys vary depending on the year and model and whether you currently use the original or a replacement key.
2. Call an local Audi dealer. Give them the year and model of the vehicle and describe the key to be copied. Ask the dealer if the key contains any electronic chips that would prevent it from being copied at a local grocery or hardware store.
3. Have the key copied at either the local Audi dealer or a local store, depending on what the dealer says. Always follow the dealer's instructions. If an Audi key is improperly copied, the car may not start and its electronic systems may be damaged.
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How to Buy Used Audi Wheels


1. Shop the classified advertisements in your local Sunday newspaper under the 'Tires and Wheels' heading. Sellers usually want their ad in the widely read Sunday edition, so you will get your best selection there. Be prepared to get up early and start making calls on any ads that interest you, as the best deals go fast.
2. Look for used Audi wheels in the listings of weekly papers like the 'Thrifty Nickel' and 'Quick Quarter.' These papers have become a go-to place for those buying and selling auto parts, so you stand a good chance of finding what you need.
3. Use the increasingly popular website Craigslist.org to buy Audi wheels. This method, like the two above, offers the advantage of a local transaction and thus the ability to inspect the wheels up close before buying. Craigslist attracts a surprisingly good selection of items, due in part because sellers are able to list their items for free. See the 'Resources' section for safe buying and selling on the website.
4. Participate in an online auction for used Audi wheels on eBay. This website is by far the world's leader in online auctions, so you will probably find a great selection of wheels combined with the opportunity to pick them up at a low price. Make sure that you do a little research on the seller of the wheels. They should be a reputable and established seller of wheels with lots of good feedback from buyers. All of this is easily found by navigating around the eBay website. Verify that the wheels are OEM by asking for the manufacturer part number.
5. Shop for used Audi wheels online by browsing the wheel selections of the many wheel specialty sites on the web. Most of these have a function that allows you to search what wheels are available in their inventory, selecting Audi as the car maker, and also specifying the year and model. One of these sites is listed in the resources section.
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How to Remove Rear Shocks


1. Open the trunk and remove the trunk lining. Use a screwdriver to help you pry up some of the trim around the wheel wells inside the trunk. Simply wedge the end of the screwdriver behind the trim and pull it up.
2. Remove the shock's mounting bolts using a socket wrench. There are bolts holding the shocks in place on both sides of the trunk--one for left, one for right. You may need to use a breaker bar to loosen the mounting bolts.
3. Spray penetrating oil on the pinch bolt that holds the spindle housing in place. It should soak for 15 minutes. Then spray again and let it soak for five more minutes.
4. Remove the pinch bolt using the socket wrench. These bolt heads may snap off easily, so make sure that you have soaked it good in penetrating oil before attempting to remove them. You may need to use a breaker bar.
5. Separate the upper strut from the spindle housing. Use a pry bar and hammer, and pound on the end of the pry bar to separate these components. It may take a while, but it should come apart eventually.
6. Break the lug nuts loose on the vehicle using the tire wrench. Loosen them slightly, not too much. The wheel should remain firm against the wheel hub assembly.
7. Jack up the car slowly using the rear jack point on your vehicle. Typically, this is an extension of the frame located near the trunk area under the vehicle. Remove the lug nuts and wheel. Once the upper mounts have been loosened, there is nothing holding the shocks in place. The shocks and springs over them will naturally decompress, allowing you to remove them. On some vehicles, you may need to loosen the brake line support (do not remove it, though) in order to pull the shock and coil assembly out of the wheel well.
8. Pull the shock and coil assembly straight down and out through the wheel well.
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