Tag Archives: bmw e36

DIY Mass Air Flow and Oxygen Sensor Replacement

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Hoag

Woke up very self assured that I had solved the riddle of my sputtering BMW this morning, and read a few Al Jazeera articles before heading down to Autozone. The Rainier Beach Autozone loans tools for only a deposit, and … Continue reading →

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BMW E36, the Talking Car

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Hoag

It’s easy to see why this didn’t last, but for a period of time in the late 80s and early 90s, BMW designed an on-board diagnostic system that let a driver ask his car, “Are you feeling alright today, my … Continue reading →

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Gasping For Breath: Cleaning a Dinan Air Filter

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Hoag

When the 325 sputtered and nearly died on the way to work on Friday, I lifted up the hood and tried to make some sense of the complex mess of sensors, tubes and wiring in there. The engine would consistently … Continue reading →

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That’s Not Cool

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Hoag

Reading George Orwell’s diary, I’m always impressed by the scope of his interests: bird watching, and ridiculing fascism. Turnip planting, and colonial history. I’m always the most impressed when he combines two seemingly unrelated subjects with a seamless transition, like … Continue reading →

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DIY BMW Transmission Fix

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Hoag

EPROM software update chip for BMW 325is A guy named Tim put a new wheel bearing in my car the other day. Tim is a sprightly dude in his 40s who works at a shop called FAME in Redmond, and … Continue reading →

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DIY Cooling System Troubleshooting: BMW E36

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Hoag

Mechanical husbandry is not glamorous. The other day I saw a guy walking along the side of the freeway towards a dilapidated flat-bed truck that was broken down on the shoulder. He was carrying an enormous driveshaft, and from the … Continue reading →

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DIY Ignition Lock Assembly Replacement

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Hoag

The ignition lock is a useful anti-theft device that we all take for granted, when it works. When your steering wheel locks while you’re still driving, it’s a little like being in that nightmare in which you’re being pursued but … Continue reading →

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