QuestionI just bought my first BMW, a 1987 325ic. It's in pretty good shape, but there are a few issues I'd like to get working. First of all, I failed a smog and was given a $900 estimate to replace the cat and the O/2 sensor as well as do some fuel injector cleaning or something like that. I paid my $75 analysis and left. I went to another place who looked at my failure and said I didn't need the 0/2 sensor and that I could need a catalytic converter, but thought that maybe all I needed to do was warm the car up more. The previous owner took the car in. So I may just try that. Any info on that would be great.
One thing not working is the air conditioning. I went through previous answers so not to ask the same thing. I am going to try that switching thing you said in one post. I will check the ac unit on the passenger side (the only item with a belt) after I have my son push the ac snow flake button. If nothing happens, I'll check those sensors. Is this something I can do? Can I just buy sensors online somewhere and replace them myself? Or are they expensive and not good as just to replace just to narrow down some troubleshooting? One note is that the button below the snow flake, I just bought the car so I forget what it was, lights up when I push it. The snow flake button does not light up at all. Could that just be faulty or is that a good indicator the sensors are not working? I probably ask more questions down the line since you have quite a bit of knowledge on this car. I look forward to putting the top down and cruising around the weekend.
Oh, one more thing. The previous owner said his mechanic recommends the cooling system soon be replaced. Online I found a kit for $340 for a NEW radiator, water pump, thermostat, and whatever else goes with it. The local mechanic said it would about $400 to swap all of this out. How many hours do you think it should take a certified mechanic to do this? I wouldn't think that long. What's a good hourly rate these days for that type of service? I may just try it myself. I was reading some of your comments on replacing the water pump. It doesn't sound terribly difficult.
Thank you.
AnswerTom,
Congrats on the new car. I have an '87 325ic as well. Fortunately for me I dont live in an area that requires emissions testing, so I've never dealt with it much. I can tell you that there are only a few emissions devices on the car. The Catalytic convertor, and the O2 sensor plays the largest role. O2 sensors have a life span of about 50,000 miles although I've seen them last much longer. Chances are you are due for an O2 sensor replacement. This is a very simple job.
Mechanics make money by spending time on your car (hence the hourly rate). Plus if you buy a part from them they mark up the price and make money on the same part that you could buy cheaper. So obviously when you take a car to a mechanic that isn't honest he's going to tell you that everything is wrong with your car, and it's doing to cost big bucks to fix.
I would search the internet for an O2 sensor. If you dont feel comfortable replacing it, then take it to your mechanic and have him replace it. Honestly it couldn't possibly take more than 20 minutes for a competent mechanic to do. Sometimes the threads strip on the O2 sensors, so that could add some time on. The procedure is as simple as lifting the car, find the exhaust pipes (not to hard) and look for a plug that is screwed into the side of the pipe. Unplug the wires going to the sensor, and unscrew the sensor... that's it.
I would steer you away from the A/C. It sounds like you dont have much experience with wrench turning, and the A/C system is not the place for a novice to start. Apart from loosing expensive (and Ozone depleteing) refridgerant you could be burned or have a hose burst. Its best left to a professional.
The coolant system however is a good job for you. I dont think I would go out and buy everything for the coolant system just yet. The waterpump needs to be changed at about 100k miles. Your timing belt also needs to be changed at 100k miles, and most people do them at the same time since you have to take the front off the engine for both. Literally you are 1-2 steps away from changing the timing belt when you are just changing the water pump... so do it anyways. First off I would check with the previous owner to see if it's already been done.
If there is anything else I can help with, please let me know.
Josh
