All posts tagged: E32

BMW Ownership: A Decision Made in the Spirit

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Last week I came across an interesting document while browsing vintage BMW literature online. The document is a 1989 Preview Brochure for the 3er, 5er and 7er series BMW cars. In my 17 years of BMW ownership, I had never even heard of a preview brochure. I was shocked at how well the introduction was written; it really sums up our collective enthusiasm for BMW car culture in an eloquent and simple way. We have to appreciate how this kind of marketing material could only have come from a boutique, West German auto manufacturer in 1989, just months before the Berlin Wall fell. Back then, the company was not the corporate behemoth that it is today. One can recognize where the copy must have been loosely translated directly from German, as the wording has a kink or two. Today, that marketing copy would be so highly polished by the BMW executives that something like this would never see the light of day in the US market. Here’s what it means to be a BMW enthusiast. …

Five New YouTube Videos on my 1990 E32 735iL

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Recently, upon late night browsing of Facebook Marketplace, I stumbled upon a 1990 735iL available for sale. Days went by, then a week. I saw that the car was still available and it was on my mind; I couldn’t stop thinking about how great the car’s condition was. It had been garage kept and driven less than 1,000 miles per year since 2008. Then, Facebook’s sneaky notification buzzed my iPhone. The asking price had dropped from $3,500 USD down to $2,900 USD. I asked for some details on the car, checked out the VIN number, and prepared my offer. I asked if $2,500 USD would do. It was accepted. One week later on a Sunday afternoon the seller delivered the car to my driveway two hours from New York! This Fall 2020 E32 project began as an accidental purchase of a classic BMW that I really should not have purchased. My day job is a stay-at-home Dad to my one year old daughter. I run a business and YouTube channel on nights and weekends, which …

BMW Door Handle Gasket Seal Replacement E31, E32, E34, E36

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The rubber door handle gaskets on the E31 8 series, E32 7 series, E34 5 series and E36 3 series cars will all fail in time. The original BMW gasket dries up in the sun from UV exposure over the years causing cracking and crumbling. Unfortunately BMW does not sell the gaskets separately, so you must purchase the entire door handle if going with the genuine replacement. This can add up to several hundred dollars for a sedan. Instead, quality aftermarket gasket kits are what most people use, coming in at around $29 USD for a set of four gaskets. You can buy a set here. How to Remove the Door Handle Cover Plate and Gasket Open the door and look at the jam on the edge of the door With a nylon pry tool, remove the plastic cap covering the access hole. Avoid using a metal object for this step as it can damage your paint. Spray lubricant such as WD40 onto the sliding brass mechanism and allow to sit for a few minutes. …

How to Do The BMW Trouble Code Stomp Test for E30, E31, E32, E34, E36 Cars

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You may have heard about the “Stomp Test” that can tell you what trouble codes are stored in your vintage BMW’s engine computer. Unlike modern OBD II cars (from 1995 onward) that use a scan tool plugged into the OBD II port, older cars system is classified as OBD I. Some cars have this OBD I diagnostic port under the hood which can allow for a tool to scan for codes. Fortunately for classic BMW drivers in the US, there is the Stomp Test. This works on cars with Bosch Motronic 1.3 or later, which is in model year 1988 cars and up. If you have a 1987 model year BMW, it may be on the cusp, so it depends on what ECU is in the car and its production date. I have been told this test does not work on European or Euro Spec cars, though have not confirmed myself. How To perform the Stomp Test: Turn the ignition to position two. That’s the second click on turning the key. Do not start the …