A/C recharging/ advice on buying an '89 325is

[Dominick]

whould that leak cause any major problems? Or not? What to look for in auto tranny? How should I test drive it to feel any "m20 problems" ? Thankx ;)

The car wasn't leaking like crazy, they just towed it from the accident and then they flushed the system, so I'm assuming that the car(primaraly the engine) is good.

no, no problems with the leak, the compressor just wont come on (safety switch b/c low pressure =low lubrication for the compressor)

for the auto tranny, check the fluid and make sure its red not black or brown. see if it shifts smooth and not jerky and rough.

i drive a 318 so i dont know about the m20 :roll:

[kowalski]

i doubt it will be red, rarley stayes red, the smell is what you have to worry about, if it smells burnt get it checked first. no many people change they're tranny fluid regularly... its supposed to be the color of cherry juice.

[I_like_E30]

How do you check the fluid? Could you just drain some?

[Dominick]

check it from the tranny dipstick in the engine bay as if you were checking the oil quality/level.


edit: that is if auto bmw have the dipstick there (im sure they do though)

[kowalski]

my car doesn't even have a tranny dip stick, i was pretty pissed about that when i went to check it... ahh well its a 91 318is im pretty sure they dont even come with dip sticks hwoever i guess i could make one... thread a tube into the filler hole on the tranny and bend it all the way up into the engine compartment but thats way to much work..