Article
by the backyard hack mechanic Sean750
Document history:
09 Sept 2004 updated links & pictures and rewrote some parts,
added sites of Max Fretter (again ;) and Erich Voelkel (aka
Shogun)
04 Apr 2003 Unfortunately, Max Fretter deceided to close his
site, so I removed his section. Hope it will be back online some
day.
20 Feb 2003 added the long expected Odd-Jarle site
26 Jan 2003 modified Jon Evans section, removed Odd-Jarle section
03 Jan 2003 added the 7seriesRegistry (not the already mentioned
UKregister)
27 Dec 2002 added the 7er.com site with thanks to Erich Voelkel
23 Dec 2002 initial version
To assure you: we are not alone on this planet facing our E32 problems. Around the globe, people connected by the Internet are interchanging valuable technical information about this car. And it's very important that this information is saved somewhere on the internet, so other people may benefit from it. Also, this particular repair information could save you your hard-earned cash, by preventing large garagebills.
There are friendly people on the Internet with a mission. They are technically enough skilled to perform their own repairs, and handling a digital camera as well. Not an easy task with greasy fingers. Also, they are spending their own time to write an article and publishing the pictures (which can be time consuming...and I know). This is a good time and place to say 'thank you' to all of you who are spending their valuable time to put this information on the internet so we can learn from it. Remember that they don't get any money for it.
Unfortunately, E32 technical repair information isn't available at just one single website. There isn't a E32.com, containing all repair information about this car. The information is scattered around the Internet, on various and sometimes obscure websites around the world. This makes it hard to find any particular repair information, especially when you need some information NOW. Throughout the years, I collected an impressive amount of E32 links with information (not only technical repair information). In this chapter I'd like to share with you an overview of available websites with technical repair information for the E32, in random order.
The comments/ratings are a personal opinion on the content of the mentioned websites, from a technical point of view. In other words, how is the procedure explained, quality and amount of pictures and total amount of procedures. To the content owner: please don't take it personal and keep up the good work.
Gale's Repair Page
Jon Evans page
Douglas Meinen's page
Stefan Borch's page
Bill Rickard's page
BMWE34.NET
The E32 UK register
Stig Are Holmen's page
Richard Nott's page
G. Bower's page
Technic.ClubE31
750i.de
The Unix Nerd's Domain
7er.com
The 7 series registry
Odd-Jarle E32 tech tips
Max's BMW E32 page
Tips, Tricks and assistance for the 7
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Gale's
Repair Page
|
Don Gale owns an '92 735i. His site is very popular among E32 enthusiasts, because of the detailed descriptions of his repairs and the high quality of the photo's. The website can be divided into 2 parts, the older section and the new section. The older section contains stories which that are basically text, and you must click on a link to see the corresponding photo (for instance, the 'Auxiliary Fan/Ballast Resistor ' procedure). That is somewhat inconvenient. The newer section is better, a logical text & photo story (like the 'Springs & Struts' procedure). The amount of listed repairs is impressive and probably the largest of the E32 websites I am aware of (besides our website).
Don't expect a fancy website here, with animations, colors and other stuff. Just a good basic source of valuable repair information. I suggest you add this site to your favorites. Now.
Available repair procedures: (just to much, just mentioned a few)
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Jon Evans
page
|
Jon Evans owns an '91 735iL. Some repairs he is doing by himself, some are performed by the local garage. At this moment, he bought himself a Lexus, as he was getting pretty tired about all problems with his 7 series.
Besides standard E32 repair procedures ('fixing the mustard relay', 'rear seat removal') there are some repair procedures unique to this particular site, making this also very important. It is, as far as I know of, the only site which detailed describes how to fix your rearblind (a rare option on 91-93 models). Also available is an excellent article about replacing bulbs in the window switches.
Good site.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Douglas
Meinen's page
|
Douglas Meinen owns an '88 735i. The repairs mentioned are small and unfortunately not much of a help. The website is mentioning a windscreen replacement, but the information told is just to limited to inform you well about such an procedure. Same story on the armrest repair. This information won't help you.
But, on the contrary, a good valve adjustment procedure is present, which is adequate enough to mention here.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs: the last update of the site was 2001 so it's isn't upgraded since
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Stefan
Borch's page
|
Stefan Borch owned a very early ('86?) 735i. Now he is driving a 525i. His comment: 'Due to the incredible expenses of keeping my apparently worn out E32 running, I decided to sell it.'
Nice site. Some legendary
repairs:
- the heater core replacement procedure in 2 versions: the
extended version and the 'quick' version (although the second one
is just replacing the pipes). If you want to know how your
interior looks like when a grenade explodes inside, just look at
the pictures......
- refurbishing the wood trims in the interior
memorable quote: 'it's not so bad as it looks....' (exploded dash section -- heater core replacement)
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Bill
Rickard's page
|
Just 2 repair procedures available.....why would I mention it? Because some important information is ~again~ available here.
We all know the risks of working with SRS (airbag equipped) vehicles, especially when working on the instrument cluster. This site tells an excellent procedure about removing an airbag steering wheel. And in addition, changing the instrument cluster bulbs. Originally it was written for a E34, but the E32 procedure is the same.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs: -
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BMWE34.NET by Bruno Lafosse
|
Why an E34 website when we are discussing E32 websites? 2 main reasons.
First of all, the E34 is sharing a lot of components with the E32. Drivelines, suspensions, engines, you name it. And when a component isn't the same, the dissembeling and assembling of the part is is mostly the same of its smaller brother. For instance, the wheelbearing replacement procedure is identical for a e34/e32, and so on. This site can be very helpful for the E32 owner (telling you this, you might get the idea that you are driving a larger 5 series with a 7 badge.....that isn't the case.... I own a 5 and 7, and the 7 is way much better when it comes to comfort, handling and driving)
Second, the site has an excellent layout and structure. This is how a professional website should look like. Only point of criticism: sometimes its not obvious where the procedure is located, the difference between maintenance and repair section are not that clear. Most of the times, you should check both sections.
Other features of this site includes: forum, chat, registry, racing section and so on.
Available repair procedures: (just to much, only reported a few important ones)
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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The E32 UK
register
|
This website is the section 'repairs' of the UK E32 website. Some repairs mentioned here are fully documented, along with photos.
The quality of the repairs may vary a bit (different authors), and sometimes a few discussions are posted between the repair procedures. Also, its takes sometimes a lot of searching to find the subject you are looking for (no menu structure). Nevertheless, some important information may be found here.
Available repair procedures: (a few examples mentioned)
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Stig Are
Holmen's page
|
Stig Are Holmen owns a '91 735iL. This website doesn't have any technical info, related to repairs. What it does contain is alot of information about the E32, like technical data, colorcodes and so on. Something like 'everything you ever wanted to know about your E32 but where afraid to ask'.
Available repair procedures: -
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Richard
Nott's page
|
The subtitle of the technical section is 'Helpful information gathered together from Hard Experience, the BMW Digests or Other Sources.'
That pretty much covers it. Information gathered from different sources. The basic idea is good, but the information is just too large, because all BMW models are represented. Sometimes the model number is mentioned, making it easier to identify the story, but most of the time you are guessing which BMW model the information is about. The E32 is barely represented here.
The information is just text-based, no pictures/photo's.
Available repair procedures: (some mentioned)
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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G. Bower's
page
|
G. Bower owns an '90 750il. Just 2 repairs on his site, but one is (again) very important and impressive either.
At last some 750 information on the web. Fix number one is about rebuilding the DK motors AKA throttle body assemblies. The reason why this is so important: parts aren't available for these babies (supposed to be un-maintainable), and a visit to the local BMW dealer for some new DK's will put your family on bread and peanut butter for the next couple of months.
G. Bowers did an excellent write up about revisiting those motors, complete with measuring information and voltage references. The other writeup is about fixing the heater valves, also the supposed_to_be_un-maintainable version. Dear mister Bower, we want more stories!
Memorable quote: 'I have been a proud owner of a 1990 BMW 750il for two years now....(..)..The relationship has not been all rosy, however.'
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs: -
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Technic.ClubE31
|
Did I make an error? We all just love the E31, but I thought we are talking here about E32??
No, I didn't make a mistake. The problem for 750 owners is that specific 750 info is sometimes hard to find on the Internet. Therefore you must seek at places you wouldn't expect to find information about your car. When it comes to good repair info about that mighty v12 block, this is a good source. The engine of the 850 and 750 is the same, except the exhaust system (850 dual, 750 single exhaust) and a different motronic.
Take a look around in the 'repair' section and watch those awesome pictures at 'banjo bolts repair pics', 'intake manifold repair' and 'leaking chain tensioner'. Other procedures aren't always fully covered with photos.
Some available repair procedures: (only selected those who are applicable for the 750)
Any important additional information besides repairs: you should definately check this one out.
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750i.de
|
The owner of this site owned a '88 750i. Now he is apparently driving a E38.
This site, despite the name, won't help you very much. Only pictures of bright shining 750's. Some minor information about the DK motors is available, but the links to the most valuable information (original Bosch specs about the DK's) don't function. The only -more or less- usable is the connector layout of the ABS module.
Available repair procedures: -
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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The Unix
Nerd's Domain
|
The owner of this site is John G. Burns, who owns a E24 (6 series).
This is a very large website with lots of information about virtually any BMW model. Don't expect to see repair information about the E32.. I am referring to this site because its very comprehense overall, and gives good pre-buy advises (what to look for when purchasing a E32).
memorable quote: 'Many E32s had self leveling rear suspension but this is often deleted if it fails due to high repair costs. I'd prefer a car without it.'
Available repair procedures: -
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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7er.com
|
As said, this is an original German website translated by altavista. It could cause some strange grammar, and some links may not work. If the links in the menu at left don't work, use the links mentioned in the text.
This is an interesting site. Lots of miscellenous information, and a very -again very- nice story about the development of the V12 (M70) engine, along with beautiful pictures. The repair section is excellent, with alot of photo's. Interesting thing about this site is that some specific M60/M62 repair information is available.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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The 7
series registry
|
A fading star. Once an incredible source of 7 series information (text only) due to the huge archives of the digest (compilation of email postings) and history of the postings (back until 1995!). One of the oldest sources of information. Now you can't find anything anymore, lots of errors. Don't bother to visit it.
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E32 Tech
Tips
|
The owner of this site is Odd-Jarle Kristoffersen who owned previously a 1991 750iL.
This site wasn't available for quite a long time, due to the fact that Odd-Jarle was moving from Norwegian to the States. I am glad he brought it back online, it contains some valuable and interesting information.
It's one of the rare sites on the internet specifically about an 750. An informative site with some real good technical info, like the pin-diagram of the tranny computer and the MAF testing. Some repair procedures are referring to other sites or forum posts which are unfortunately sometimes unavailable.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs:
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Max's BMW E32 page
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The owner of this site is Max Fretter who owns an 735i.
Although the amount of repairs isn't overwhelming, there are some rare repairs which makes it a site you should check out. For instance the excellent story about rebuilding the hydraulic brake booster and the sunroof alignment.
Available repair procedures:
Any important additional information besides repairs: -
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Tips,
Tricks and assistance for the 7-series
|
The owner of this site is Shogun aka Erich Voelkel who owns an '88 750iLi.
This site contains an impressive collection of various links to repairs and additional information about the E32. It is certainly worthwhile to pay a visit and check out some links. A remark must be made: some information is in german language.
Some examples of links on this site:
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