A closeup of the idler arm as installed- passenger tie rod to the left, and drag link to the right. Before the mid 1990's (including the W123, W124, W126, and W201), Mercedes-Benz generally...
Diagnosing a newer car is easier than you think. Since 1996, all new cars like the Volvo S60 and BMW 325i have been fitted with the OBD-II system, which monitors the engine very closely, specifically the emissions systems. If anything looks wrong, and the computer cannot regulate it, it will set...
Getting into the car DIY world means there are going to be some tough times and occasionally some serious road blocks. Having someone local or at least reliable to call on for help and advice is huge. I got myself into a few situations that my independent Volvo mechanic was able to quickly and...
The BMW 3-Series is one of the most iconic vehicles BMW ever built. It has always been synonymous with the motorsports division of BMW since the day of the E30 M3. Recently I had the opportunity to do a little wrench time on a friend's 1987 BMW 325i. He had retired the car early this year from...
Misfires can be the easiest things in the world to cure, or the thing that drives you to drink. Luckily, OBD-II cars are straightforward to diagnose, and diagnosing a dead coil is gravy work that can be done in a little under an hour. You'll need an OBD-II scanner, a sharpie, and a spray bottle...
For me, the most important styling aspect of any car is the interior. As a kid, I would sit up late researching car interiors, looking over photographs and browsing the internet in search of "The perfect interior." Several cars ended up on my list of "Cars I'd like to own when I'm a grown-up"....
In the world of European vehicles, genuine almost always wins. Replacing failed components with aftermarket is often an endeavor in cost cutting, but if you know how to shop, it can be a great way to save money while meeting or exceeding the genuine specifications the manufacturer originally...
Early fuel injected Volkswagens have the most ingenious fuel delivery system I've ever seen. The system worked so well, in fact, that it was used in pretty much everything Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW put out – to name a few manufacturers – for decades. Forty years later, these cars are...
You never envision yourself making auto body repairs. The only visions I have are of proper upkeep and performance upgrades. Never did I think I would be replacing an entire door on any of my vehicles. After getting essentially t-boned at an intersection this Fall, my newly acquired and...
When choosing a strut and spring suspension system for your car, it's not always about how low can you go. It's related to your car's ride quality, handling, durability and ability to adapt to your driving ability. To most this conversation is like falling down the rabbit hole. Every driver,...