Subject: A welcome to those who are new here! Author: mwong as M.Wong (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 4010 posts Posted on: 2005-02-01 12:10:49

Welcome to the E38 board!

These are some unofficial thoughts to those who have recently found this board... it's made up of BMW enthusiasts who try very hard to help each other with their cars. While I am no expert, I do enjoy the information sharing that goes on here and I would like to make a few suggestions.

First, I encourage you to REGISTER your own BimmerBoard USERNAME. Registered users get 50MB of free storage space for images and files and they can turn on personal settings to customize the appearance of the forums. You'll be able to post new messages once you have your own username. Make a donation and you'll get 200MB along with a roundel by your username, too.

There is a sister site to this board called www.e38.org and a link to it can be found in the right column under “Related Links.” That site is a collection of posts about many of the frequently asked questions about the E38. Information ranging from model year differences between 1995-2001 and common problems with the E38, to DIY instructions on many repairs.

If you're in the market to buy an e38, you'll find useful David Cecil's advice for anyone purchasing a BMW E38 7-series.

In addition, take the time to search the BimmerBoard archives. Often the same question has been answered, like where to get an aftermarket battery made by Douglas, the same company that provides the BMW brand.

When asking a technical/repair question, list as many details as possible about the problem, and any repairs that you have tried. It’s very important to provide your car's information: year, model, miles, and the production date that can be found on the driver’s door VIN plate. Online diagnosis is difficult, but it really helps to know that information when trying to answer a question. (Many people also say in what part of the country or world they are located. Sometimes a local owner has dealer or independent shop recommendations, or parts source locations that are in your area.)

Finally, do read the owner's manual. If someone responds to your question with “RTFM,” please take it as a gentle suggestion that you should “Read The Manual.” I hate to admit it, but it actually has a lot of good information. (Don’t have one? There are a few on-line at www.e38.org.)

There is a “Specialty Message Boards” category in the right column. Please keep Off Topic (OT) questions and posts not related to BMW's in the E38 Lounge or Off-Topic Lounge. You can also find a Test Forum, available for you to experiment with pictures or to see how your signature looks. Click here for information on how to upload photos to your account.

Regarding repair manuals, Bentley has not released an E38 repair manual. There is one for the E39 that has some pertinent information, but it seems Bentley will not be producing one dedicated to the E38. The BMW TIS (Technical Information System) and ETK (Electronic Parts Catalog) that is used at BMW dealers for parts and technical information is available at the Central Letter Shop. If you search e-bay for "BMW TIS" you can find a used or older version for a much more reasonable price.
www.CentralLetterShop.com
www.ebay.com

When you get a check engine light, most large auto parts stores like AutoZone will read OBD-II codes for FREE in hopes of selling you replacement parts. Write down the code, like P1234, and check it on line or on the boards. Knowing the codes does not guarantee that the fault can be pinpointed, but it’s a good start.

For those who wish to buy their own, these diagnostic tools are popular:
www.PeakeResearch.com
www.OBD-2.com

Diagnostic trouble code guide:
www.my330i.com/odb2.php

If you are looking for BMW part numbers, there is a good on-line parts catalog that you might find very helpful.
www.RealOEM.com

You can get parts from a BMW dealer at a discount by mail order. Crevier BMW, Circle BMW, and Pacific BMW come to mind.

Also check this list for other possibilities. BMA and EAP4Parts seem to be popular.
On-Line BMW Parts Vendor List. Don't forget to give our sponsors (oembimmerparts.com and eCarToys.com) an opportunity to earn your business, too.

If you need the parts right away from your local dealer, many offer a discount to BMWCCA members. The BMWCCA has a pretty good monthly magazine, and after you have been a continuous member for over one year, they will give you $500 to $1500 when you buy a new, European Delivery, or CPO used BMW! (There is a limit to one ‘reward’ per year, and you must be a member for more than 12 months straight.)
www.BMWCCA.org
BMWCCA Membership Reward Program

Just a quick reminder, requests to share VIN information and requests for copied CDs or DVDs (like Navteq) should not be done on a public message board.

We know of instances where posting requests/VINs for vehicle history reports have led to suspension of privileges by CarFax.

Many people report that this site and it's community of helpful contributors have saved them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. If you feel that BimmerBoard has been an asset to you, please consider making a donation to financially support it and its mission by clicking the PayPal button below.

Finally, BimmerBoard is an all-volunteer operation but it does have expenses for web hosting (we use a LOT of bandwidth), servers, advertising in the Roundel and Bimmer magazines and for event sponsorships. Your donation will be used to operate, improve and expand the site for the benefit of all our members and readers. Everyone who makes a donation will have their account upgraded to 100MB of storage for photos plus get free email forwarding for their username @bimmerboard.com. Your username will be displayed in the forums with the Roundel logo to signify your status as a donating member, too!

• sticky: A welcome to those who are new here! (url) - M.Wong 2005-02-01 12:10:49 (15014 views)