Cars Comp

1. Position the car ramps behind the vehicle and back up onto the ramps slowly. Place the tire stops in position behind the front tires to secure the vehicle from moving during the replacement.
2. Lift the vehicles hood and locate the fuse panel. Remove the bolt securing the panel using the crescent wrench. Remove the fuse responsible for controlling the fuel pump.
3. Find the fuel filter under the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank. Position the floor jack below the fuel tank in preparation of lowering the tank. You will only be lowering the fuel tank about four inches. Using the crescent wrench, remove both metal holding straps that secure the fuel tank in place.
4. Using the floor jack, lower the fuel tank about 4 to 6 inches to gain full access to the fuel filter. Use the crescent wrench to remove both fuel lines going into the fuel filter. Remove the securing bolt and remove the old fuel filter.
5. Install the new filter and replace the securing bolt. Reattach both fuel lines ensuring the arrows on the filter are pointing toward the front of the vehicle. Using the floor jack, lift the fuel tank back in place and reattach the metal holding straps.
6. Reinstall the fuel pump fuse and reattach the bolt that secures the fuse panel. Remove the tire stops and start the vehicle. Drive the vehicle off the car ramps.

1. Open the glove box. Open the fuse box by turning the two white tabs on either side of it. Remove the #54 fuse, which controls the fuel pump. Remove the gas cap. Start the engine and let it run until it stalls from lack of fuel.
2. Raise the BMW with a floor jack. Lower it onto jack stands at all four corners. Remove the fuel filter protective panel, which is located under the car just to the front of the drivers seat. The panel is held on with four screws that are removed with a Phillips screwdriver.
3. Remove the metal clamp that holds the fuel filter in place using your hand. Loosen the six hose clamps that fasten the fuel lines to the fuel filter. Place a container under the filter to catch spilled fuel. Pull the hoses off of the filter. You may need to twist the hoses with pliers to get them off of the filter.
4. Drain the excess fuel from the filter into the container. Discard the filter. Install the new fuel filter in the same orientation as the old one. Slide the fuel lines onto the new filter. It is recommended to replace the BMW hose clamps with conventional hose clamps that can be tightened with a screwdriver, as the original clamps require a special tool to tighten easily. You can also use a pair of pliers to tighten the original hose clamps a little at a time.
5. Reinstall the clamp that holds the filter in place. Reinstall the oil filter protective panel. Lower the car back to the ground. Reinstall the #54 fuse. Put the fuel cap back on. Start the car and check for leaks.

1. Compare fuel economy independently of all other considerations. In its EPA Class Size listing, the US Department of Energy includes 19 small station wagon models produced in 2010. This list rates the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen as offering the highest fuel economy in their class at 34 mpg combined city-highway; however, it does not include other factors, such as the initial price of the vehicle, yearly maintenance fees and insurance costs, or performance.
2. Eliminate certain models from consideration by price. If you cant afford a cars sticker price, it doesnt matter how much it will save you at the pump. The 2010 Jetta SportWagen started at $24,310, and the Honda Fit had a starting MSRP of $14,900, while the Cadillac models cost a minimum of $37,955.
3. Rank small station wagons by performance indicators such as horsepower and acceleration. The BMW wagon delivers an estimated 21 mpg combined city-highway while cranking out 230 horsepower and sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.26 seconds. A similarly priced and comparatively fuel efficient Audi A4 Avant produces 211 horsepower from a smaller engine while accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8.77 seconds.
4. Segregate car choices based on the drive configuration offered. If you want a car with all-wheel drive, that criterion narrows your selection to models such as the Audi, Cadillac, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Volvo and Infiniti EX35. The center differential in an all-wheel-drive vehicle distributes torque to each wheel or axle to prevent wheel slippage and enable better handling in inclement weather.
5. Rate small station wagons by overall handling characteristics. The 2010 BMW 328 wagon featured a sports suspension that gave it a lateral acceleration of 0.85 g and enabled it to take the 600-foot slalom at an average speed of 59 mph. A modestly-priced 2010 Honda Fit had a lateral acceleration of 0.80 g and moved through the slalom course at a 60 mph average speed.
6. Differentiate models by emission level. The Environmental Protection Agency designates only a few of the 2010 small station wagons by the EPAs ULEV, or Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle standard. The Toyota Matrix earned this designation, while the 2010 Nissan Cube qualified for the EPAs SULEV, or Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle rating.