What I Learned: One Year with a $600 BMW 525i Wagon

Eventually you will more than likely need to remove your fan and fan shroud from your Mercedes 450SL. It is not difficult but does require removing a number of items to accomplish the task. To get started, a little coolant will need to be drained from the radiator via the drain plug at the...

Is there really a difference between Genuine, OE, OEM, and Aftermarket parts? The short answer is YES! Since not all parts are created equally, how should you decide on what to buy? Let's break it down. Genuine Parts Simply stated, these are parts that were originally installed during production...

Without the proper cooling of an intercooler, turbo cars are at risk for heat sink which can hurt performance and also cause serious engine problems. If you live in a colder climate, the stock intercooler may be sufficient for a mild power build. However, the stock intercooler has also proven...

Just why is it that when the job is almost done more goes wrong. Well, that’s life when you are working on a 1975 that sat for years in the desert—things disintegrate. I truly was excited to do one final check of the 1975 Mercedes 450SL in preparation of starting it next week after nearly a...

We live in a day and age where we expect our cars to start every time. Unfortunately, many P1 Volvo owners have discovered that their cars would not start due to a steering lock failure. Steering column lock failure is not covered under any extended warranties, but Volvo eventually acknowledged...

As promised, I have concluded my testing of the BlueChem line of diesel engine cleaning products. Now we wrap up with the BlueChem “Oil System Cleaner” and “Oil System Care.” As you know, the older diesel engines did not burn as clean and efficiently as do the new diesels and thus leave behind a...

Imagine it's Wednesday morning, and you are getting ready to leave your house for the day and the unthinkable happens. Your car won't start; you hear an annoying screech from your brakes at the stop sign, or you hear an alarming thump when you hit a bump in the road. Now, what? Once you can...

There are two parts of the lower control arm on E39 models like the BMW 525i that will wear out: the ball joint and the bushing. To test these parts, raise the front end of the car so that the tires are off the ground, grab the tire with your hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock position and...

If you have a late 80’s to present BMW you likely have seen a similar looking depiction in your engine bay like the collage above. Almost all model BMW’s use a similar ZF manufactured power steering reservoir and finger grooved cap like the ones pictured. And like all of the ones pictured they...