iFixit - Answers With Device "BMW"

1999-2006 BMW 3 Series: How can I fix my window switch that has stopped working properly?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:23:16 -0700

My 2006 BMW 330ci has four window switches to control all of the windows. One slight pull on the front two window switches should make the windows roll all the way up. My driver window switch will no longer roll down my window but will roll the window up if I hold the switch. The automatic one touch roll up also does not work. If I pull the switch quickly to engage the automatic roll up, the window simply rolls up slightly and then rolls all the way back down. How can I correct this issue myself? I feel as though it would be an easy fix or a really expensive one at a dealership.

⟐ Commented January 16, 2026 at 1:23 MST

2002-2008 BMW 7 Series: How to change battery for 750Li?

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 04:33:23 -0700

How to change battery on BMW 750Li. I heard only dealership can change the battery because of programming issue. Is that correct?

Thanks!

⟐ Answered January 04, 2023 at 4:33 MST

BMW 2003-2010 5 Series: Battery drains and now car won't start

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 08:37:00 -0700

Hi, I’ve got a 2010 BMW 535i (E60) with 178,000 miles on it. I’ve only had the car a few months, but overall it seems to be in great shape. However, it’s had a problem where when left parked for more than couple days the battery will drain down and then the car won’t start. From some Googling, it’s unclear if that’s actually a “problem” or if that’s just the way BMW designed these cars. For my use case it's definitely a problem since I don't drive every day. This weekend I charged up the battery, got the car running, left it running for maybe 20 minutes so the battery could charge up, and then shut it off. After that it won't start, even after further charging the battery. I tried disconnecting the "IBS" that's connected to the negative battery terminal, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. When I push the start button in the car I'll hear a faint noise for a few seconds (a fuel pump I think) and then nothing happens. I plugged in an ODBII scanner and don't get any error codes. It's a manual, so I was able to get the car up a hill and then successfully roll start the car. Once roll started the alternator appears to charge the battery like it should, but after shutting the car off it still won't start again. What should I try now? Something with the starter?

Update :

Both the battery and the starter were bad. I guess a bad battery can kill the starter, but it seems strange. I’ve got those replaced and now the car starts fine. I still think I have a battery drain problem, but it sounds like maybe new BMWs expect to be driven far more than I drive this car. For now I’ve added a battery tender (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...) to the car to make sure I don’t destroy another battery and/or starter.

⟐ Answer accepted November 28, 2019 at 8:37 MST

BMW: How to check transmission fluid

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 10:14:24 -0700

How to check transmission fluid on 2002 530i bmw

⟐ Commented April 22, 2019 at 10:14 MST

1984-1991 BMW 3 Series: Replace just one CV joint?

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:25:45 -0700

I recently replaced all four rubber CV boots on my 325i, repacked them with grease, and they seem to be holding up fine. During the installation, I decided to leave the axles inserted in their splines in the rear trailing arms because removal is pretty likely to mess up the rear wheel bearings and removing the axels completely is really not necessary. I simply removed the six or so bolts holding the inner CV joints to the output shafts of the differential and lowered the axle enough to remove both boots. On this particular car, you must first remove the inner CV joint to get to the outer CV boot. When trying to remove the press fit collar attaching the inner CV boot to the CV joint, the CV joint fell apart and all the ball bearings fell out onto my concrete floor. Bad news. I somehow managed to get the thing back together, but since I couldn't match the ball bearings to their original slots, the CV joint is pretty "clicky" when slowly pulling away from a stop (in forward and reverse).

So the question: Is it OK to replace just one CV joint (the inner) on the axle? The outer CV joint is welded to the axle, so replacing it requires buying a new axle but it doesn't seem to be making noise. Will a new inner CV joint cause the old outer CV joint to prematurely fail? I know I'm not the only car geek on Answers.

I ordered a new CV joint because of circumstances I won't go into at this point -- I just want to know if it's worth it to install the new joint or if I should pay the 15+ percent restocking fee and return it.

⟐ Answered October 25, 2013 at 15:25 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: Brake Pedal becomes rock hard sometimes.

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:22:24 -0700

2010 BMW 320i

Following recent replacement of Rocker Cover and Gasket by BMW, the Brake Pedal sometimes becomes rock hard after the engine is not working for a number of hours. What is the problem?

⟐ Answered November 29, 2023 at 14:22 MST

1996-2002 BMW Z3: Battery drains in two days through fuse 31

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:01:21 -0700

I have a little mystery to figure out. I have my battery drained by a component connecting via fuse 31, namely: clock anti theft, immobilizer, instrument cluster power, buzzer, board computer, they are all on there. The draw is 0.25 amp for 60 seconds, then drops to 0.05 amp , which would be nice if it would remain there, but alas, it comes back to 0.5 amps after 60 seconds precisely. One local tech told me about the BMW board computer having a dedicated small watch battery which died and caused a similar effect in another BMW. It sound very plausible to me, given the regular nature of the intervals, one could nearly rule out a stuck relay or short.....or am I mistaken? So did anyone ever dig out the computer and find such a little battery which can be replaced? Or did anyone ever have a similar pattern and found the solution? Another weird thing is, that when I pulled the fuse, the car started up as if nothing was missing, except for the cluster no longer indicating its stuff. What gives here?

⟐ Commented August 06, 2025 at 13:01 MST

2005-2013 BMW 3 Series: My car doesn't want to start.

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:53:57 -0700

Every time I start my car it goes brr brr brum brruum instead of bruum bruuum. What should I do?

Please help me, because car = my life.

Best Regards,

Pametna Muha

⟐ Answered February 13, 2025 at 19:53 MST

2000-2006 BMW X5: 2003 X5 alternator replacement

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 16:33:08 -0700

specific r&r sequence for replacement of alternator. top down? bottom up? items to be removed

⟐ Answered April 17, 2020 at 16:33 MST

1999-2006 BMW 3 Series: using sealant your head gasket

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:03:22 -0700

can you use head gasket seal it in a BMW 330 series 2001 is it advisable.

⟐ Answered September 16, 2015 at 16:03 MST

1984-1991 BMW 3 Series: Factory alarm goes off when trying to jump the battery

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:48:07 -0700

Hello! I've got a 1991 E30 with a dead battery, and when I try to jump it, the factory alarm goes off, preventing the jump from occurring. I then have to wait for the alarm to stop, and then try again, with the same result. There used to be a button under the steering wheel area that would kill the alarm, but it's no longer there, and I believe it was removed (or the wires cut, etc.) during a "repair", so I'm left not knowing how to jump my car. I've read that if they key is in the ignition in the "second position" then that disables the alarm, but it doesn't seem to help.

Would replacing the battery fix the problem? But then again, I believe my battery is still good, so it would be a shame to have to get a new one, when this is such a seemingly minor issue.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

John

⟐ Edited April 23, 2013 at 11:48 MST

1999-2006 BMW 3 Series: start problem diagnosing electrical

Wed, 18 May 2016 11:46:59 -0700

car doesn't start? i thought is the engine, but i find out is not the engine.

⟐ Commented May 18, 2016 at 11:46 MST

2011-2018 BMW 3-Series (F30 F31 F34 F35): 120308 code drive train fault f30 328 2012

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:20:04 -0700

my cars alway shows on screen drive train fault and when i scan it 120308 fualt shows

⟐ Answered December 27, 2025 at 3:20 MST

2002-2008 BMW 7 Series: Are the Break booster and vacuum pump the same thing?

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:16:58 -0700

A BMW shop diagnosed a oil leak at the break booster pump seals on my car. I am researching an can not find the difference between the vacuum pump and break booster. I even found seals for the "break booster vacuum pump". Are they one unit?

⟐ Answered February 13, 2025 at 20:16 MST

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series: How do I change the BMW E36 Cabin A/C air filter?

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 03:45:04 -0700

How do i change the BMW E36 Cabin A/C air filter?

⟐ Commented July 10, 2020 at 3:45 MST

BMW X3 3.0si (E83): bmw x3 leaking transmission fluid

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:55:56 -0700

my bmw is leaking transmission fluid

⟐ Answer accepted December 03, 2025 at 9:55 MST

2000-2006 BMW M3: Cannot start my car

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:47:52 -0700

Hi Guys, when I try to start my e90 m3, i can't start the car. I am getting DSC failure and FTM error. I can hear the engine cranking and trying to start but it stopped after that.

I have called up several friends and they told me that battery could be weak. I have tried to jump start using another car battery but same error.

Any advice? Should I just try to change the battery?

Are the errors normal for a weak battery?

⟐ Answered December 21, 2021 at 8:47 MST

1987-1996 BMW 5 Series: How do I reinstall the door latch pull cable?

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 21:33:40 -0700

I’ve got a 1993 E34 BMW 525i. The driver’s window wasn’t working, so I took things apart and fixed it. I’ve now got a new window motor installed and working great. However, in the process of taking things apart I broke the door pull cable. It was frayed and probably due to break soon anyway No big deal, I thought, a genuine new one was only $14: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A...

I’m finally to the phase of putting everything back together, and can’t for the life of me figure out how to install this cable. I need to get it hooked into the latch mechanism, and then get the other end attached to the handle on the door.

Door overview:

Handle side:

Lock side (sorry, hard to take a picture in here):

Pull cable hook:

Pull cable on door handle:

Any ideas on how exactly this attaches? Let me know if there’s additional pictures I can take that make it easier to see what’s going on. Thanks!

⟐ Comment deleted March 31, 2019 at 21:33 MST

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series: bmw 325i 1992: How to fix the clutch fan?

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:47:59 -0700

The clutch to the fan is loose, makes the belt to pop out and the fan hits the inside of the bumper ,it over heats and makes the wheel very hard to turn,

⟐ Answered October 20, 2015 at 10:47 MST

1992-1999 BMW 3 Series: How do I change the A/C condenser on my 99 bmw 328i

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 02:14:31 -0700

i had my 99 328i checked out at the shop and they quoted that i needed a new condenser coolant and oil. they gave me a price at about 1200 condenser being 650 and then labor. my question is ive ordered my own condenser for about 75$ so i just need help with the installation now. any help in doing this is appreciated maybe a step by step guide or something,

⟐ Answered October 08, 2015 at 2:14 MST