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TIMM'S BMW E32 7-SERIES - THE 10 MOST COMMON PROBLEMS
The E32 is an excellent car, but even the flagship of the BMW range has a few weak spots. From my own experience, that of The 7 Series
Register and the percentage hits on this website a definitive list can be made. Most of the problems exist in all models in the range, some only
for the V8 models. In 2018 the E32’s are disappearing quickly, and one of the major problems (especially in the UK) is rust, a problem with all
cars, and the E32 suffers no more than than any other BMW
The following list is in order of highest to lowest chance of problems
1. The Dreaded Shimmy
Both the E32 and the E38 7-Series can suffer from the dreaded 'shimmy'. This is wheel-wobble that usually first shows itself under braking, for
instance, when coming off a motorway intersection and braking from high speed. The wobble can be felt through the steering-wheel but it
usually disappears as the car speed reduces.
Sometimes this is all you ever get, but more usually you will start to get wobble as the car is accelerated through 50 - 60MPH. The more you
drive the car the worse it will get. The wobble is quite often accompanied by tram lining and a general feeling of imprecision from the steering
in general.
The shimmies are often an indication of general wear in the steering system and suspension, the BMW E32 has a great deal of weight over the
front wheels, especially when braking. It also seems to have a resonant frequency that occurs between 50 and 60 MPH, if there is any
weakness it is at this speed where the problems will occur.
The shimmies can be repaired, often very simply. Click here for repair information
2. Cooling system
This is another problem that the E32 shares with the E38. There are two areas of the cooling system that are particularly weak:
Radiator. The E32 radiators have a plastic body, they break around the Top Hose connection. The Top Hose fitted to the radiator with the aid
of a Jubilee-clip. The usual problem is that the plastic pipe that the hose is connected to cracks under the Jubilee-clip and this causes a small
weep around the hose that is difficult to trace. The usual evidence is white marks down the side of the radiator. The only repair is the
replacement of the radiator.
Viscous Fan. The Viscous Fan is mounted on the water pump shaft and is driven by the main belt from the crankshaft pulley. The assembly
consists of a temperature-dependant viscous-clutch driven from the pump shaft that drives a large plastic fan. When the clutch is cold the fan
idles and can be stopped with a rolled-up newspaper (the usual test), once the clutch is hot the fan is driven with a much greater torque and
produces a great deal of air-flow. The usual problem is that the clutch fails and the fan cannot produce enough air-flow. The fault will show
itself when the car is stationary when it will rapidly overheat. The temperature-rise is usually halted by the the auxiliary fan (A/C fan) which
will operate independently to the A/C system when required. Once the car is moving the temperature starts to drop. A more unusual problem
is that the clutch seizes, this is first noticed by large whooshing noises when the car is revved-up. Replace the viscous coupling immediately if
this happens as the fan will disintegrate and this can cause all sorts of damage including big holes in the bonnet! Replacement of the Viscous
Fan is pretty simple and is covered here (E38 shown E32 similar)
3. Air Conditioning. The A/C system tends to slowly leak gas, fortunately re-gassing gets things going again successfully. Re-gassing is
covered here.
4. PCV Valve Failure. The V8 E32's suffer from PCV valve failure when they reach a certain age. The PCV valve consists of a diaphragm
fitted to a housing that is fitted to the rear of the inlet manifold and when this is damaged it can cause erratic idling and excess smoke. Often
mistaken for Nikasil problems in the early models, the repair is pretty straight-forward but does require a bit of patience especially when
trying to get the Torx bolts out of the bellows assembly. The repair is covered here.
5. Trans Prog Error. If there is one fault that makes you sweat, this is it! You get the message of doom on the OBC and the gearbox locks
itself in 3rd on the 4-speed boxes or 4th on the 5-speed boxes. You immediately realise that the cost of a replacement box is more than the
car is worth and aim the car at something that will produce a terminal insurance claim. However, don't panic, in 9 cases out of 10 the problem
is easy to fix. Here is the most likely candidates:
Battery Voltage Too Low. The E32 hates having a low battery voltage and one of the first things that gives up is the gearbox. Although the
EGS (control unit) keeps running, the 12V solenoids in the gearbox don't, the EGS sees this as a failure of the valve-body and gives up. Low
battery voltage is often due to short trips, failing battery or a faulty alternator. Disconnect the battery, replace if needed or give it an
overnight charge and have another go, hopefully the problem will not return.
S.E.M Switch. This is the Sports, Economy, Manual switch next to the shifter (marked SE* on the V8's). Although it is a simple momentary
switch it can intermittently make contact when in the rest position, or select 'S' and 'M' at the same time. This causes an error in the EGS.
The switch can be removed and cleaned or (for emergency use) you can replace it with the sunroof switch!
Shifter Selector Switch. The selector switch is a multi-pole, multi-throw unit and produces a switch pattern (akin to binary) to the EGS.
Problems occur when the contacts get dirty and the one of the switch elements fails to make contact. The switch pattern sent to the EGS is
incorrect and the EGS flags a Trans Prog Error. The shifter selector switch can be removed and cleaned with contact cleaner quite successfully.
Low ATF Level-Filter Blocked. Pretty obvious one this, however, the box usually starts slipping when cornering first. Still, when all else has
failed it is worth replacing the filter and getting the oil changed.
6. Rocker-Cover Leaks. A small oil leak isn't too much of a problem unless the oil fills up the spark-plug holes! Unfortunately this is exactly
what happens on the V8 models. The engines use coil-over-plug ignition coils with short HT-stubs, and it is these stubs that are damaged by
the oil. Once the HT-stubs are damaged the engine will start to misfire. The repair is covered here.
7. Noisy Tappets. There are two different problems here. The M60-engined cars get noisy tappets that come and go, this is not a problem
and is covered here.
The M30-engined cars get noisy tappets due to cam wear due to a lack of lubrication. The lack of lubrication is due to the loosening of hollow
bolts known as 'Banjo Bolts'. These bolts direct oil from the upper oil gallery to the cam spray bar. The problem is that the bolts cannot be
tightened too much as they will be damaged due to the hollow construction and they eventually come loose and this starves the front lobes of
oil. The bolts should be locked with thread-lock but even this gives up, especially when the bolts are 'checked for tightness'.
Banjo Bolts can be purchased with wire-holes so the bolts can be wired in position, this is the preferred method as it is impossible to remove
all traces of the oil from the gallery which is required to use thread-lock. Unfortunately, once the tappets get noisy the cam is starting to wear
quickly, and if left too long the rocker will seize and then snap in half, the wise money is on replacing the Banjo Bolts with the wired types
before this becomes a problem.
8. Blower Final Stage (Sword) Failure. Another classic problem that causes much angst. The 'Sword' is used to control the speed of the
ventilation system blower fan. Rather than just having a couple of ballast resistors as was seen in lesser models, the E32 has a continuously-
adjustable speed control. This is achieved with a number of Field-Effect-Transistors (FET's) mounted on a metal heatsink that vaguely
resembles a sword. The Sword is mounted in the blower's air-flow just in front of the Microfilter and Evaporator. When the FET's fail they
usually fail short-circuit which means that the fan runs continuously at full-speed. If the solder-joints fail the fan fails to run unless the fan-
speed is set to full, this is because a relay is used across the FET's at full-speed.
Failure of the sword is usually due to a blocked Microfilter, the driver increases the fan-speed to compensate but the airflow across the FET's is
insufficient to cool them. They get hot enough to melt the solder connections which eventually leads to 'dry' joints, quite often the FET's give
up altogether. The FET's can be replaced with a little soldering skill. Removal of the sword and replacing the Microfilter is covered here
9. Lighting Problems-False OBC Messages. There are a number of faults covered here all lumped under one heading but all concerning the
external lighting. The E32 lighting system changed quite considerably across the model years and some faults are confined to certain years:
False 'Bulb Failure' Messages. If you have a single warning message (usually brake light or rear side-light warning) and the bulb is
definitely working the most likely cause is corrosion on the bulb-contacts. Clean the contacts with fine emery-cloth and squirt some contact-
cleaner on the contacts....that usually cures the fault.
If you get multiple warnings on the later V8 models, side lights, rear lights, brake lights etc. then the fault is usually due to the headlight-aim
motors. These get electrically noisy and the noise confuses the Check-Control-Module (CCM). The simple repair is to get the headlights aimed
correctly and then remove the connector to the motors.
Intermittent Rear/Brake lights. If you have rear lights that are intermittent the most likely cause is the famous 'Mustard Relay' which was
present on early models. The picture below shows where it isn't on the later models as the Mustard Relay was replaced by electronics in the
LKM (Lamp Control Module). The relay can be taken apart and re-soldered.
Intermittent Headlights. On the early models this fault is again due to fatigued solder-joints but this time on the LKM. The early LKM's had
relay's soldered to the main PCB and the weight of these relay's eventually fatigue the solder joints. The LKM can be taken apart and the
solder joints remade.
10. External Temperature -37F. Another trivial fault but still annoying, this is due to either the probe (shown below at the top LHS of the
RHS fog light cavity), or the connection into the loom which is found behind the cavity.
.
.
.
.
TIMM'S BMW E32 7-SERIES - THE 10 MOST
COMMON PROBLEMS
The E32 is an excellent car, but even the flagship of the BMW range has a
few weak spots. From my own experience, that of The 7 Series Register
and the percentage hits on this website a definitive list can be made. Most
of the problems exist in all models in the range, some only for the V8
models. In 2018 the E32’s are disappearing quickly, and one of the major
problems (especially in the UK) is rust, a problem with all cars, and the
E32 suffers no more than than any other BMW
The following list is in order of highest to lowest chance of problems
1. The Dreaded Shimmy
Both the E32 and the E38 7-Series can suffer from the dreaded 'shimmy'.
This is wheel-wobble that usually first shows itself under braking, for
instance, when coming off a motorway intersection and braking from high
speed. The wobble can be felt through the steering-wheel but it usually
disappears as the car speed reduces.
Sometimes this is all you ever get, but more usually you will start to get
wobble as the car is accelerated through 50 - 60MPH. The more you drive
the car the worse it will get. The wobble is quite often accompanied by
tram lining and a general feeling of imprecision from the steering in
general.
The shimmies are often an indication of general wear in the steering
system and suspension, the BMW E32 has a great deal of weight over the
front wheels, especially when braking. It also seems to have a resonant
frequency that occurs between 50 and 60 MPH, if there is any weakness it
is at this speed where the problems will occur.
The shimmies can be repaired, often very simply. Click here for repair
information
2. Cooling system
This is another problem that the E32 shares with the E38. There are two
areas of the cooling system that are particularly weak:
Radiator. The E32 radiators have a plastic body, they break around the
Top Hose connection. The Top Hose fitted to the radiator with the aid of a
Jubilee-clip. The usual problem is that the plastic pipe that the hose is
connected to cracks under the Jubilee-clip and this causes a small weep
around the hose that is difficult to trace. The usual evidence is white
marks down the side of the radiator. The only repair is the replacement of
the radiator.
Viscous Fan. The Viscous Fan is mounted on the water pump shaft and is
driven by the main belt from the crankshaft pulley. The assembly consists
of a temperature-dependant viscous-clutch driven from the pump shaft
that drives a large plastic fan. When the clutch is cold the fan idles and can
be stopped with a rolled-up newspaper (the usual test), once the clutch is
hot the fan is driven with a much greater torque and produces a great deal
of air-flow. The usual problem is that the clutch fails and the fan cannot
produce enough air-flow. The fault will show itself when the car is
stationary when it will rapidly overheat. The temperature-rise is usually
halted by the the auxiliary fan (A/C fan) which will operate independently
to the A/C system when required. Once the car is moving the temperature
starts to drop. A more unusual problem is that the clutch seizes, this is
first noticed by large whooshing noises when the car is revved-up. Replace
the viscous coupling immediately if this happens as the fan will
disintegrate and this can cause all sorts of damage including big holes in
the bonnet! Replacement of the Viscous Fan is pretty simple and is covered
here (E38 shown E32 similar)
3. Air Conditioning. The A/C system tends to slowly leak gas, fortunately
re-gassing gets things going again successfully. Re-gassing is covered
here.
4. PCV Valve Failure. The V8 E32's suffer from PCV valve failure when
they reach a certain age. The PCV valve consists of a diaphragm fitted to
a housing that is fitted to the rear of the inlet manifold and when this is
damaged it can cause erratic idling and excess smoke. Often mistaken
for Nikasil problems in the early models, the repair is pretty straight-
forward but does require a bit of patience especially when trying to get
the Torx bolts out of the bellows assembly. The repair is covered here.
5. Trans Prog Error. If there is one fault that makes you sweat, this is it!
You get the message of doom on the OBC and the gearbox locks itself in
3rd on the 4-speed boxes or 4th on the 5-speed boxes. You immediately
realise that the cost of a replacement box is more than the car is worth
and aim the car at something that will produce a terminal insurance claim.
However, don't panic, in 9 cases out of 10 the problem is easy to fix. Here
is the most likely candidates:
Battery Voltage Too Low. The E32 hates having a low battery voltage
and one of the first things that gives up is the gearbox. Although the EGS
(control unit) keeps running, the 12V solenoids in the gearbox don't, the
EGS sees this as a failure of the valve-body and gives up. Low battery
voltage is often due to short trips, failing battery or a faulty alternator.
Disconnect the battery, replace if needed or give it an overnight charge
and have another go, hopefully the problem will not return.
S.E.M Switch. This is the Sports, Economy, Manual switch next to the
shifter (marked SE* on the V8's). Although it is a simple momentary
switch it can intermittently make contact when in the rest position, or
select 'S' and 'M' at the same time. This causes an error in the EGS. The
switch can be removed and cleaned or (for emergency use) you can
replace it with the sunroof switch!
Shifter Selector Switch. The selector switch is a multi-pole, multi-throw
unit and produces a switch pattern (akin to binary) to the EGS. Problems
occur when the contacts get dirty and the one of the switch elements fails
to make contact. The switch pattern sent to the EGS is incorrect and the
EGS flags a Trans Prog Error. The shifter selector switch can be removed
and cleaned with contact cleaner quite successfully.
Low ATF Level-Filter Blocked. Pretty obvious one this, however, the box
usually starts slipping when cornering first. Still, when all else has failed it
is worth replacing the filter and getting the oil changed.
6. Rocker-Cover Leaks. A small oil leak isn't too much of a problem
unless the oil fills up the spark-plug holes! Unfortunately this is exactly
what happens on the V8 models. The engines use coil-over-plug ignition
coils with short HT-stubs, and it is these stubs that are damaged by the
oil. Once the HT-stubs are damaged the engine will start to misfire. The
repair is covered here.
7. Noisy Tappets. There are two different problems here. The M60-
engined cars get noisy tappets that come and go, this is not a problem and
is covered here.
The M30-engined cars get noisy tappets due to cam wear due to a lack of
lubrication. The lack of lubrication is due to the loosening of hollow bolts
known as 'Banjo Bolts'. These bolts direct oil from the upper oil gallery to
the cam spray bar. The problem is that the bolts cannot be tightened too
much as they will be damaged due to the hollow construction and they
eventually come loose and this starves the front lobes of oil. The bolts
should be locked with thread-lock but even this gives up, especially when
the bolts are 'checked for tightness'.
Banjo Bolts can be purchased with wire-holes so the bolts can be wired in
position, this is the preferred method as it is impossible to remove all
traces of the oil from the gallery which is required to use thread-lock.
Unfortunately, once the tappets get noisy the cam is starting to wear
quickly, and if left too long the rocker will seize and then snap in half, the
wise money is on replacing the Banjo Bolts with the wired types before this
becomes a problem.
8. Blower Final Stage (Sword) Failure. Another classic problem that
causes much angst. The 'Sword' is used to control the speed of the
ventilation system blower fan. Rather than just having a couple of ballast
resistors as was seen in lesser models, the E32 has a continuously-
adjustable speed control. This is achieved with a number of Field-Effect-
Transistors (FET's) mounted on a metal heatsink that vaguely resembles a
sword. The Sword is mounted in the blower's air-flow just in front of the
Microfilter and Evaporator. When the FET's fail they usually fail short-
circuit which means that the fan runs continuously at full-speed. If the
solder-joints fail the fan fails to run unless the fan-speed is set to full, this
is because a relay is used across the FET's at full-speed.
Failure of the sword is usually due to a blocked Microfilter, the driver
increases the fan-speed to compensate but the airflow across the FET's is
insufficient to cool them. They get hot enough to melt the solder
connections which eventually leads to 'dry' joints, quite often the FET's
give up altogether. The FET's can be replaced with a little soldering skill.
Removal of the sword and replacing the Microfilter is covered here
9. Lighting Problems-False OBC Messages. There are a number of
faults covered here all lumped under one heading but all concerning the
external lighting. The E32 lighting system changed quite considerably
across the model years and some faults are confined to certain years:
False 'Bulb Failure' Messages. If you have a single warning message
(usually brake light or rear side-light warning) and the bulb is definitely
working the most likely cause is corrosion on the bulb-contacts. Clean the
contacts with fine emery-cloth and squirt some contact-cleaner on the
contacts....that usually cures the fault.
If you get multiple warnings on the later V8 models, side lights, rear
lights, brake lights etc. then the fault is usually due to the headlight-aim
motors. These get electrically noisy and the noise confuses the Check-
Control-Module (CCM). The simple repair is to get the headlights aimed
correctly and then remove the connector to the motors.
Intermittent Rear/Brake lights. If you have rear lights that are
intermittent the most likely cause is the famous 'Mustard Relay' which was
present on early models. The picture below shows where it isn't on the
later models as the Mustard Relay was replaced by electronics in the LKM
(Lamp Control Module). The relay can be taken apart and re-soldered.
Intermittent Headlights. On the early models this fault is again due to
fatigued solder-joints but this time on the LKM. The early LKM's had
relay's soldered to the main PCB and the weight of these relay's eventually
fatigue the solder joints. The LKM can be taken apart and the solder joints
remade.
10. External Temperature -37F. Another trivial fault but still annoying,
this is due to either the probe (shown below at the top LHS of the RHS fog
light cavity), or the connection into the loom which is found behind the
cavity.
