This time around we have a W220 chassis Mercedes S500 with a very obvious misfire - the engine was clearly bouncing around on its mounts!  Checking diagnostic codes should always be the first port of call in this kind of situation.  Here two codes came back P0205 and P0305.  P0305 is misfire on...

Older BMWs are stylish, sporty cars that were once on the cutting edge of automotive technology. However, the audio systems of this era could use a bit of an upgrade now that it's 2014. Most people can't survive on just cassette tapes and CDs these days, so how is it possible to play music using...

Rear shock mounts can take a beating on the road, really they are a wear item that you should expect to have to replace at some point.  Specifically, let's take a look at the 8-Series E31 setup which is similar in respects to the E30 and E36 3-series with the shock mounted separately from the...

A door handle is just a simple mechanical lever right?  Well, back when BMW designed the 8-Series coupe in the late 80’s nothing was simple. There are a variety of features and functions contained within its handle. It just so happens I have a disassembled handle mechanism lying around, so let’s...

Fixing windshield washers that have stopped spraying is one of the easiest fixes a DIY’er can take on.  Usually the fault is with the pump motor attached the fluid reservoir.  Just put your ear near it when the washers should be on and you should hear it buzzing.  If it doesn't then chances are...

  What color is power steering fluid and which kind does your car take? Well, it depends on who you ask and what your vehicle calls for. Most cars rely on regular cherry-red ATF for power steering assist, including the BMW E39 5-Series, most BMW E38 7-Series, and many others.  Today, I'd like to...

Nothing can make a car look worse than a set of curbed and chipped alloy wheels!  The best fix for this is usually to have the wheel professionally stripped back to bare metal, filled and then primed and repainted afresh.  The real pros will make your wheel look factory new, but it’ll cost you...

In the 90's, power brake assist was not vacuum assisted, rather it was provided by a hydraulic system known as the ATE H31 Hydroboost in BMW’s high end cars up to the 850Ci. I’ve read in places that BMW chose this for the V12 powered 850i and 750iL because of the difficulty in fitting the larger...

This week I'm taking a look at a couple of common OBD codes that can cause a check engine light to illuminate.  A lit CEL usually leads to a state inspection or emissions fail but the good news is a lot of CEL problems are easy DIY fixes.  The car in question here is a BMW X5 with the M54...