1999 BMW Problems

beamerboy2006

Have a 1999 bmw 318i e46 but got these problems if anyone can help me???

1) Steering is veering to left.Got it tracked in quick-fit but its still miles off??

2) Gurgling noise from the engine, sounds like some sort of fluid is not being circulated properly???

3) When i press the brakes there is a bit of a odd noise like something is going to snap???hard to explain.

4) Finallyairbag light is on???will i fail the nct for this???

Cheers any replys would be grateful

cyborg

beamerboy2006 wrote:

Have a 1999 bmw 318i e46 but got these problems if anyone can help me???

1) Steering is veering to left.Got it tracked in quick-fit but its still miles off??

2) Gurgling noise from the engine, sounds like some sort of fluid is not being circulated properly???

3) When i press the brakes there is a bit of a odd noise like something is going to snap???hard to explain.

4) Finallyairbag light is on???will i fail the nct for this???

Cheers any replys would be grateful

1) Probably done in twit-fit but I'd check the tyre pressures to make sure they're all the same -do you have wide elow profile tyres?

2) Check coolant level isn't low

3) hard to understand too ! is it a screech,clunk ,tap, rattle?

4)don't know

Fey!

1) check your air pressures and tyre wear

2) check your fluid levels, esp coolant

3) check your brakepads/disks

4) possibly a cable knocked out of place. Dealer or good indy job, usually about €80 - €100 in my experience. Diagnostic reset.

Sounds like it might be time for a service. What service lights are on when you turn on the ignition, when did you get it done last, and have you had an inspection I or II done?

MercMad

Check if your tyres are directional and if not swop the two front tyres around. Sometimes tyres can wear in a certain way and despite tracking being correct the car will still pull. Its a cheap and easy way to test !!

Set the heating to hot and top up the coolant. It may be that you've had it on cold all summer and the coolant inside the heater matrix is low.

The brake pedal pivot point needs lubrication !

Yes it will fail and most likely its the sensor under the passenger seat !

cargrouch

airbag warning light not a fail. well they didn't fail me. It's a no-no for a driving test though.

Kimbot

Not being smart but of all the above mentioned it sounds to me as if the car had been in some form of crash!!

Airbag light is on, car pulling to the left, noise when breaking and a gurgling from the engine!!!

I might just be adding 1 + 1 and coming up with 10 tho!!

michaelanthony

If they are low profiles wide tyres, they could be tramlining on s hitty surfaces

beamerboy2006

yeah they are low profile. tyre pressures are ok still veering.

2) Coolant level is non existant so thats prob my problem there. Will any coolant do??

3)Its more of a clunk!!

Fey!

Check the ball joints in the back for you veering problem.

Also, have a look at the camber of the roads you're travelling on; it's a longshot, but can be the cause of a car to pull left.

beamerboy2006

cheers again lads.

got most of the problems sorted.....only thing now is the rear left suspension sounds like its gone. Every bump sounds like there's sumtin rollin round the boot of the car...any1 know what that is????

beamerboy2006

is it safe driving round with bad suspension???will it do the car further damage?

Kimbot

beamerboy2006 wrote:

is it safe driving round with bad suspension???will it do the car further damage?

In a nut shell... yes. Depending on how bad the suspension is it coulod....

a: come loose a rip the chasis apart.
b: come looe a the spring come through the chasis.
c: collapse and the car crash..

there are many outcomes, get it sorted asap!!

Fey!

Best case a bushing gone.

Worst case the subframe gone.

Nom-IzZ

gurgling sounds usually mean there is an airlock? does it only happen as soon as ya turn the engine off after a long drive? usually happens as a dodgy header tap/heater control valve

hope that helps, I throw it into a bmw specialist and get i all check out,presume the errors would show up when its hooked up to diaganostics

My 2c

Simon

beamerboy2006

yeah it was a bushing gone at the back left. Now all im worried about is the gurgling noise. it seems to be comin from just to the left and below where the coolant goes!!!(excuse my ignorance) but i dont have a clue what its called. Any ideas??