What is the fingernail test?

[ryanschoebel]

Ive heard of the fingernail test being used for carbs when cleaning and tuning. But what the heck is it? A look through the carburetor files section didn't turn up much, and neither did the google search.

[Flynt]

reach into throat to feel needle jet hole with fingernail, run needle in until you hang on it, back needle out until your nail clears it...  that's what you call "zero" as the reference for adjustments.  Takes the variability and wear of the needle seat out of the equation.

Frank

[Sparky84]

Takes the variability and wear of the needle seat out of the equation.

Frank

It could take into account the thread differences also when new.

[Pat Conlon]

It could take into account the thread differences also when new.

^^^ Exactly, I've seen about 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn difference between carbs.

Remember, the factory sets these needles with a 4 channel gas analyzer. 
No counting turns of the needles for those guys.

[Old Rider]

Here is another fingernailtest i did it 2 days ago when i slammed may car door with my finger inside    i got soft close doors witch pull the door so it fully closes and make sure you really feel the pain

[Old Rider]

And today i found this :
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/a-growing-number-of-drivers-claim-that-bmws-soft-close-doors-are-severing-their-fingers-052118.html

[ryanschoebel]

Ouch!

[ZOA NOM]

natural selection

[FJ_Hooligan]

That's a BMW feature that helps prevent them from using the blinker lever.

[Pat Conlon]

Is it true that you can't add oil to a BMW engine?
You have to take it to a BMW dealer for oil changes? $$$

[Old Rider]

Is it true that you can't add oil to a BMW engine?
You have to take it to a BMW dealer for oil changes? $$$

I think it is like you loose the 5year engine warranty if you not use the bmw long life oil and can not document that the oil was changed at a bmw service shop.That is what i heard some years ago when
i suspected that the timingchain in my car might snap and wanted bmw to replace it.The timingchain snapped on several cars similar to mine .The cars that was affected by this had the timinchain parts made i Italy.On  my car the parts was made in Germany  so i was told that the chain will never snap.The chain is located behind the engine at the transmission so engine and trans has to come out and be separated  if the chain is going to be replaced.
I have bad experience with bmw dealer not doing what they say so i try to do most of service jobs myself.Once i had the car in for oil and brakefluid replacement they had done nothing to my car.
The drainplug had a thick layer of dry dust on it there is a plastic cover to get to the drainplug and that also had layer of dryed dirt on it. and finally when i checked the brakes all the brakebleeder screws was dusty and dry both inside the drainhole and on the outside on the treads.This was on a big bmw shop !! i confronted them and made a video of the drainplug and brake bleeder screws.
they did not want to admit that nothing was done but they did the job once more

[Pat Conlon]

Yea, I heard the new BMW engines are sealed.

[RPM - Robert]

Is it true that you can't add oil to a BMW engine?
You have to take it to a BMW dealer for oil changes? $$$

I think it is like you loose the 5year engine warranty if you not use the bmw long life oil and can not document that the oil was changed at a bmw service shop.

This is not so in the states. It is illegal for any manufacturer to require you to service your vehicle at the dealership. Look up Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. However, it is not illegal for them to make it impossible to service without specialty tooling. Which in turn effectively makes it a "dealer only" service or you have to buy their specialty tools at outrageous prices. The last year I was managing at the oil change shop, in 2012-13 or so, the new BMW models for that year could be drained and filled for a normal oil change. However, there was no fill stick, and they required a specialty reader that plugged into the OBDII reader. Which was about $700 at the time. Or technically you could drain it and fill it by reading the owners manual and looking at the "oil & filter change" capacity and wing it. I purchased the OBDII reader for the shop as we did quite a few BMW cars since the dealer wanted an arm, a leg, and the sacrifice of your first born to service them. We only charged about $100.

[FJ_Hooligan]

To change to headlight bulbs on my '07 Avalanche and '09 Suburban requires access behind the inner fender.

Unscrew 2 inner fender bolts and pop out 3 plastic rivets, remove 6 bolts holding the top of the front grill, pull front bumper cover away from bumper to get access  behind the inner fender.  There are 3 bolts holding the headlight bucket on and one of them is behind the inner fender.  Both sides require this. 

I read where if you take it to the dealer to replace a headlight bulb, it's a minimum of $400.  Whoever designed this should be shot.

[ryanschoebel]

the dealer wanted an arm, a leg, and the sacrifice of your first born to service them. We only charged about $100.

TBH, that's a lot of dealers these days. Its not often you can find good, fair, and honest mechanics like you guys.