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In Reply to: Going up in the world posted by Jay on April 28, 2002 at 17:27:05:
... the lights in the radio, which are a bear to access, and which the dealer will charge you at least $200. to replace... check to be sure the tape deck will play tapes-- the rubber drive belts break easily, or tape can be stuck in the drive. Turn all the dials back-and-forth, and listen for static in the speakers. Make sure the current owner has the radio securitykcode, in case you need to disconnect the battery, in which case the code will need to be punched in to the radio, or else will not play at all.
When you turn on the ignition, look to see if the on-board computer says "-35 degrees", trying to warn you that it is too cold and that you need to be careful that the roads are iced up, even though it's a hot, sunny day. (If the onboard computer is giving you the improper temperature, it is a real headache to track down the problem and correct it...it took me months to find out how to get the right temperature... and the temp readout will commandeer the on-board computer, w]giving you this erroneous info every time you ge in the car. This problem is cheap, easy and quick to fix once you know what the problem is, but if the car happens to have this problem, it's an excellent way to get the previous owner to lower the cost, because it's such an embarrassing nuisance. It comes on ALL THE TIME!!!)
Check to see that the remote mirrors go up, down, and back and forth correctly on both sides.
Check the remote operation of the alarm... the doors should lock, the alarm should arm, the trunk should lock, and the double-bolt locks on the doors should not be able to be unlocked from the inside. Sit inside the car... activate the alarm... if you cannot open the lock on any of the doors, the locks are working properly.
When you use the key in the door, all the windows, the trunk, and the sunroof should lock and close.
Wden the key is removed from the ignition, even when the alarm is not armed, the radio alarm should go off if any buttons on the radio are even touched.
Check to see if all the tools are in the tool kit in the rloof of the trunk... the tire tools and the owner's manual are not missing... and the recargeable flashlight is in the glovebox. (there in a socket for the flashlight).
Operate all the adjustments of the seats on the driver's side as well as the passenger side. The seats should lean back and forth, the seat should raise and lower, and should move forward and back. The headrest should go up and down. If it has memory or heat, they should work.
Check the operation of the sunroof. Make sure it does not stick partially out of the roof when it's supposed to be shut, or sunk partially in.
Check to see that all the exterior lights come on.
Turn the light switches on in the console on the middle front overhead. They should be able to bbe turned on and off manually, and when turned to the automatic position, the lights should: come on when any door is open... the light should stay on for a few seconds before going out... the lights should turn off as soon as you turn the ignition to the ON position. The light should come on as soon as the outside door handle is raised. The light should go out as soon as you lock the door.
Turn the heater on... check that all the vents are blowing heat. Turn the air conditioning on... heck that all the vents are blowing cold. This is especially important, since the '88 had a problem with 10 different "stepper" motors coming loose inside the dashboard... they are a special headache to fix when they did not work correctly.
Turn the air conditioning to the halfway position on the center dial... the fan should blow harder the more it is turned up. If the fan does not turn on until the swith is turned up all the way... a common problem. the repair is about $200... it's a part called the "sword".
Make sure all the interior lights work.
Check to see that there are no warning messages coming on at the bottom of the instrument cluster. Push the round button on the right side of the instrument cluster... see if there are any messages that come up. When it's working properly, a long, skinny rectangular box lights up on teh bottom.
There's probably twelve thousand things I've forgotten, but that's a good start!// Bill '88 735i
I own an '85 528i SE at the moment but have seen an '88 735i SE for sale locally and am seriously considering buying it. I can remember my Dad having an E32 come into his garage 12 years ago (I was 11) and I fell in love with it! Amazing motors then & now.
Any advice on things I should most watch out for? This one's got 133,000mls and a fsh but I know these are a hell of a lot more complex than my old girl!
PS I've already checked out the insurance premium!
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