OBD II has spoiled us. When we were kids, we had to find misfires BY OURSELVES! Now drivers have a blinking Malfunction Indicator Lamp and diagnostic trouble codes telling us which cylinder is in trouble. You would think that would make our job easier, but we still need to find the cause.
The structural strength of the front and roofline of the passenger compartment depends heavily on the windshield and its bond with the A-Pillars, roof, and base where it connects to the upper frame rails. Replacement parts, installation materials, and procedures must meet safety standards.
With anti-lock brakes controlling wheel speed while decelerating; traction controlling wheel speed under acceleration; and advanced versions of Dynamic Stability Control, BMW drivers are safer than ever. How do we keep this winning streak going?
In 2000, the U.S. government responded to serious issues related to automobile tire safety with the TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation) Act. This mandated that an elaborate computer-controlled system had to be added to every passenger vehicle to monitor tire pressures. It’s our job to keep these systems up and running.
BMW has always been a company that leads the way with technological advancements. One important development was the Mechatronic transmission. It’s been installed in many models, so we need to be more familiar with its do’s and don’ts.
Valve diameter, lift, and overlap are all contributing factors to the volumetric efficiency of an engine. If you can vary the relationship between the intake and exhaust valves you can broaden the power band and still have a smooth, clean idle. Variable valve timing is a great advance — as long as we can keep it working.
A pattern failure may indeed point you to a bad component, but when the part is expensive you want to be very sure it’s the culprit before you replace it.
A no-start on a good customer’s E46 looked like it was due to a fuel-supply problem, but automatically installing a pump would have been a dereliction of diagnostic duty.
