oil level BMW 328i 1997 E36 Workshop Manual

Please
read
these
warnings
and
cautions

before
proceeding
with
maintenance
and
repair
work
.

WARNING-



"
Friction
materials
(such
as
brake
pads
or
shorts
or
clutchdiscs)
contain
asbestos
fibers
or
other
friction
materials
.
Do
notcreate
"
See
also
Cautionson
page
viü



dustby
grinding,
sanding,
orby
cleaning
with
compressed
air
.

"
Some
repairs
may
be
beyond
your
capability
.
If
you
lack
the



Avoid
breathing
dust
.
Breathing
any
friction
material
dust
can
lead

skills,
tools
and
equipment,
or
a
suitable
workplace
for
any
proce-



to
serious
diseases
and
may
result
in
death
.

duredescribed
in
this
manual,
we
suggestyou
leave
such
repairs



"
Batteries
give
off
explosive
hydrogen
gas
during
charging
.
to
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
service
department
or
other
quali-



Keep
sparks,
lighted
matches
and
open
flame
away
from
the
top
fied
shop
.



of
the
battery
If
hydrogen
gas
escaping
from
the
cap
vents
is

"Do
not
re-use
any
fasteners
that
are
worn
or
deformed
in
normal



ignited,
it
will
ignite
gas
trapped
in
the
cells
and
cause
the
battery

use
.
Many
fasteners
are
designed
to
be
used
only
once
and



to
explode
.

become
unreliable
and
may
fail
when
used
a
second
time
.
This



"
Connect
and
disconnect
battery
cables,
jumper
cablesora
bat-
includes,
but
is
not
limited
to,
nuts,
bolts,
washers,
self-locking
nuts
or
bolts,
circlips
and
cotterpins
.
Always
replace
these
fasteners

with
new
parts
.
"Do
not
quick-charge
the
battery
(for
boost
starting)
for
longer
"
Never
work
under
a
lifted
car
unless
it
is
solidly
supportedon



than
one
minute
.
Wait
at
least
one
minute
before
boosting
the
bat-
stands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Do
not
support
a
car
on
cinder



tery
a
second
time
.
blocks,
hollow
tiles
or
other
props
that
may
crumble
under
contin-

uous
load
.
Never
work
under
acar
that
is
supported
solely
by
a



"Do
not
allow
battery
charging
voltage
to
exceed
16
.5
volts
.
If
the

jack
.
Never
work
under
thecar
while
the
engine
is
running
.



battery
beginsproducing
gas
or
boiling
violently,
reduce
the
charg-
ing
rate
.
Boosting
a
sulfated
battery
at
a
high
charging
rate
can
"
If
you
are
going
to
work
under
acar
on
the
ground,
make
sure



cause
an
explosion
.
that
the
ground
is
level
.
Block
the
wheels
to
keep
the
carfrom
roll-

ing
.
Disconnect
the
battery
negative
(-)
terminal
(ground
strap)to



"
The
air-conditioning
system
is
filled
with
chemical
refrigerant,

prevent
others
from
starting
thecar
while
youare
under
it
.



which
is
hazardous
.
TheA/C
system
should
be
servicedonly
by

trained
technicians
using
approved
refrigerant
recovery/recycling
"
Never
run
the
engine
unless
the
work
area
is
well
ventilated
.



equipment,
trained
in
related
safetyprecautions,
and
familiar
with
Carbon
monoxide
kills
.



regulations
governing
the
discharging
and
disposal
of
automotive

"
Finger
rings,
bracelets
and
other
jewelry
shouldbe
removed
so



chemical
refrigerants
.

tery
charger
only
with
the
ignition
switched
off,
to
prevent
sparks
.

Do
not
disconnect
the
battery
while
the
engine
is
running
.

that
theycannot
cause
electrical
shorts,
get
caught
in
running



"
Do
not
expose
any
partof
the
A/Csystem
to
high
temperatures
machinery,
or
be
crushed
by
heavy
parts
.



suchas
open
flame
.
Excessiveheat
will
increase
system
pressure

"
Tie
long
hair
behind
your
head
.
Do
not
wear
a
necktie,
a
scarf,



and
may
cause
the
system
to
burst
.

loose
clothing,
or
a
necklace
when
you
work
near
machine
tools
or



"
Some
aerosol
tire
inflators
are
highly
flammable
.
Be
extremely
running
engines
.
If
your
hair,
clothing,
or
jewelry
were
to
get
caught



cautious
when
repairing
a
tire
that
may
havebeen
inflated
using
in
the
machinery,
severe
injury
could
result
.



an
aerosol
tire
inflator
.
Keep
sparks,
open
flame
or
other
sources

"
Do
not
attempt
to
work
onyourcar
if
you
do
not
feel
well
.
You



of
ignition
away
from
the
tire
repair
area
.
Inflate
and
deflate
the
tire

increase
the
danger
of
injury
toyourself
and
others
if
you
are
tired,



at
least
four
times
before
breaking
the
bead
from
therim
.
Com-

upset
or
have
takenmedication
or
any
other
substance
that
may



Pletely
remove
the
tire
from
the
rim
beforeattempting
any
repair
.

keep
you
from
being
fully
alert
.

"
Illuminate
your
work
areaadequately
but
safety
.
Use
a
portable

safety
light
for
working
inside
or
under
thecar
.
Make
surethe
bulb

is
enclosedbya
wire
cage
.
The
hot
filament
of
an
accidentally
bro-

ken
bulb
can
ignite
spilled
fuel
or
oil
.

"
Catch
draining
fuel,
oil,
orbrake
fluid
in
suitable
containers
.
Do

not
use
food
or
beverage
containers
that
mightmislead
someone

into
drínking
from
them
.
Store
flammable
fluids
away
from
fire
haz-

ards
.
Wipe
up
spills
at
once,
but
do
not
store
the
oily
rags,
which

can
ignite
and
burn
spontaneously
.

"
Always
observe
good
workshop
practices
.
Wear
goggles
when

youoperate
machine
tools
or
work
with
battery
acid
.
Gloves
or

other
protectioeclothing
should
be
worn
whenever
thejob
requires

working
with
harmful
substances
.

"
Greases,
lubricants
and
other
automotive
chemicals
contain

toxic
substances,
many
of
which
are
absorbed
directly
through
the

skin
.
Read
the
manufacturer's
instructions
and
warnings
carefully
.

Use
hand
andeye
protection
.
Avoid
direct
skin
contact

"
Cars
covered
by
this
manual
are
equipped
with
a
supplemental

restraint
system
(SRS),
that
automatically
deploys
an
airbag(s)
in

theevent
of
a
frontal
ímpact
.
The
airbag(s)
is
inflated
byan
explo-

sive
device
.
Handled
improperly
or
without
adequate
safeguards,

can
be
accidently
activated
and
cause
serious
injury
.

"
The
ignition
system
produces
high
voltages
that
can
be
fatal
.

Avoid
contact
with
exposed
terminals
and
use
extreme
care
when

working
ona
car
with
the
engine
running
or
the
ígnition
switched
on
.

"
Place
jack
stands
only
at
locations
specified
bymanufacturer
.

The
vehicle
lifting
jacksupplied
with
the
vehicle
is
intended
for
tire

changes
only
.
A
heavy
duty
floor
jack
shouldbe
used
to
lift
vehicle

before
installing
jack
stands
.
See
010
Fundamentals
for
theDo-
.

it-Yourself
Owner
.

"
Battery
acid
(electrolyte)
can
cause
severeburns
.
Flush
contact

area
with
water,
seek
medical
attention
.

"
Aerosolcleaners
and
solvents
may
contain
hazardous
ordeadly
vapors
and
are
highly
flammable
.
Use
only
in
a
wellventilated

area
.
Do
not
use
on
hot
surfaces
(engines,
brakes,
etc
.)
.

"
Disconnect
the
battery
negative
(-)
terminal
(Ground
strap)



"
Do
not
remove
coolant
reservoir
or
radiator
cap
with
theengine

whenever
you
work
on
the
fuel
system
orthe
electrical
system
.
Do



hot
.
Danger
of
bums
and
engine
damage
.

not
smoke
or
work
near
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
.
Keep
an

approved
fire
extinguisher
handy
.



continued
on
next
page
vii

GENERAL

FUNDAMENTALS
FORTHE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER



010-1

010
Fundamentals
for
the

Do-lt-Yourself
Owner

GENERAL
.......
.
.
.
......
.
.........
.
.
.010-1



TOOLS
.
.
...
.
............
.
............
010-8

Basic
Tool
Requirements
......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-8
HOW
TO
USE
THIS
MANUAL
.
...
.
...
.
.
.
010-2



JackStands
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.



.
...
.
.
010-9

Warnings,
Cautions
and
Notes
.........
.
.
.
010-2



Oil
Change
Equipment
.
....
.
......
.
...
.
.
010-9

GETTING
STARTED
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
......
.010-2



Torque
Wrench
....
.
.
.
....
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
010-10

Feeler
Gauges
.
...
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-10
Safety



....
.
.....



.....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-2



Digital
Multimeter



.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-10
Lífting
the
Car
...........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
010-3



gMW
Special
Tools
...
.
....
..
.....
.
...
.
010-11
Raising
car
safely
...
..
...
.



...
.
.....
.
...
010-3

Working
under
car
safely
...
..
....
.
.....
.
...
010-4



EMERGENCIES
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
010-11

ADVICE
FOR
THE
BEGINNER
.......
.
.
.
010-4



Changing
a
Tire
.
.
.
.
.
.
....
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.010-11
Car
Will
Not
Start
....
.
....
.
.
.
........
.010-11
Planning
Ahead
....
.
...........
.
....
.
.
.
010-4



Jump
Starting
Car
..
.
.
.
....
.
...........
010-12
Cleanliness
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-4



Overheating



.
.....
.
.
.
.........
.
.
.
...
.
010-12
Non-reusable
Fasteners
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-5



Low
Oil
Pressure
...
...
.
.
...
.
.
.
..
...
....
010-13
Tightening
Fasteners
.....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
010-5



Brake
Fluid
Level



.
.
.....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.....
010-13
Gaskets
and
Seals
.......
.
.
.
...
.
.....
.
.
.
010-5



Check
Engine
Warning
Light
.
.
.
...
.
.....
010-13
Electrical
Testing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
010-6



pim
Lights
.....
.
..
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.........
010-13Wire
Repairs



.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
010-6



Towíng



.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.010-13

BUYINGPARTS



.
.
.
.....
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
010-6



Spare
Parts
Kit
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.....
010-14

Genuine
BMW
Parts
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
010-6

Non-returnable
Parts
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
010-7



TABLES

Information
You
Need
to
Know
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
010-7



a
.
General
Bolt
Tightening
Torques

SERVICE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
..........
010-7

Although
the
BMW
is
a
sophisticated
and
complex
machine,

basic
maintenance
can
be
accomplished
byan
interested
own-

er
with
mechanical
skills
and
the
right
information
.
Most
of
the

preventive
maintenance
that
is
required
in
the
lifetime
of
theav-

erage
BMW
is
weil
within
the
capabilitiesof
the
do-it-yourseifer
.

WARNING
-

Do
not
use
this
manual
unless
you
are
familiar
with

basicautomotive
repair
procedures
and
sale
work-
shop
practices
.
This
manual
illustrates
the
work-
shop
procedures
required
for
most
service
work
;it

is
not
a
substitute
for
full
and
up-to-date
information

from
the
vehicle
manufacturer
or
for
proper
training

asan
automotive
technician
.
Note
that
it
is
not
pos-

sible
for
us
to
anticipate
al¡
of
the
ways
orconditions
underwhich
vehicles
may
be
serviced
or
to
provide

cautions
as
to
all
of
the
possible
hazards
that
may

result
'

in
Nm
(max
.
permissible)
.
..
.
...
............
.
010-5

WARNING
-

Your
common
sense
and
good
judgment
are
crucial
tosale
and
successful
service
work
.
Read
proce-
dures
through
before
starting
them
.
Thinkabout
whether
the
condition
ofyour
car,
your
leve¡
of
me-

chanical
skill,
or
your
leve¡
of
reading
comprehen-
sion
might
result
in
orcontribute
in
some
way
to
an
occurrence
that
might
cause
you
injury
damage
your
car,
or
result
in
an
unsafe
repair
.
lf
you
havedoubts
for
these
or
other
reasonsaboutyour
abilíty
to
perform
sale
repair
work
onyour
car,
have
the

work
done
at
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
or
other
qualified
shop
.

This
section
of
the
manual
is
intended
to
helpthe
beginner

get
started
.
To
begin
with
there
is
a
discussion
on
How
To
Use

This
Manual
.
Tips
on
mechanicas
skills
and
workshop
practic-

es
that
can
help
the
beginner
do
a
faster
and
more
thorough
job

can
be
foundunderGettingStarted
.
The
basic
tools
needed

to
do
most
of
the
procedures
in
this
manual
are
foundunder
Tools
.
The
section
ends
with
a
quick
reference
guide
to
Emer-
gencies,
including
basictroubleshooting
and
information
on
how
to
gauge
the
seriousness
of
a
problem
.

GENERAL

020-2



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

GENERAL

The
information
given
in
this
repair
group
includes
the
routine

checks
and
maintenance
steps
that
are
both
required
by
BMW

under
the
terms
of
the
vehicle
warranty
protection
and
recom-

mended
by
BMW
to
ensure
long
and
reliable
vehicle
operation
.

GENERAL

NOTE-

Aside
from
keeping
yourcar
in
the
bestpossible
condi-
tion,
proper
maintenance
plays
a
role
in
maintaining
full
protection
under
BMWs
new-car
warranty
coverage
.
If
in
doubtabout
the
terms
and
conditions
of
yourcark
warranty,
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
should
be
able
to
explain
them
.

NOTE-

BMW
is
constantly
updating
their
recommended
main-
tenance
procedures
and
requirements
.
The
informa-
tion
contained
here
is
as
accurate
as
possible
at
the
time
of
publication
.
If
hhere
is
any
doubt
aboutwhat
pro-
cedures
apply
to
a
specific
model
or
model
year,
or
what
intervals
should
be
followed,
remember
that
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
has
the
latest
information
on
factory-recommended
maintenance
.

BMW
Service
Indicator

The
BMW
Service
Indicator
notifies
the
driver
when
mainte-
nance
is
required
.
The
service
indicator
consístsof
multiple
light
emitting
diodes
(lEDs)-typically
five
green,
one
yellow,
andone
red-as
well
as
OIL
SERVICE
and
INSPECTION
indi-
cators
.

When
the
ignition
is
tumed
on,the
green
LEDs
come
on
.
They
go
out
when
the
engine
is
started
.
After
the
Service
Indi-
cator
is
reset,
al¡
green
LEDs
will
be
illuminatedwith
the
keyon
.
As
thecar
is
driven
in
normal
use,
fewer
and
fewer
green
LEDs
will
be
illuminated
before
start-up,indicating
that
the
next
main-
tenance
interval
is
approaching
.

When
thecar
has
accumulated
sufficient
use
to
require
the
next
maintenance
interval,
the
yellow
LED
will
come
on
along
with
either
the
OIL
SERVICE
indicator
or
the
INSPECTION
in-
dicator
.
These
LEDs
will
stay
on
after
the
engine
is
started
.
If
maintenance
service
is
delayed,
thered
LED
will
also
illuminate
as
a
reminder
that
maintenance
service
is
overdue
.

An
OIL
SERVICE
interval
will
alwaysbe
followed
by
an
IN-
SPECTION
interval,
which
will
then
be
followed
byan
OIL
SER-VICE
interval,
andsoon
.
See
Fig
.
1
.

'
80
100/

60
II

"
1

,



ló
1
,
4
`20
140s



#
X120
100
leo
A
O
,



80



km/h`F



*101
200
,
,
~60

BMW
has
taken
a
unique
approach
to
establishing
mainte-

nance
intervals
.
BMW's
Service
Indicator
System
computes

maintenance
intervais
based
not
only
on
elapsed
mileage,
but



Fig
.
1
.



Service
indicator
display
in
lower
section
of
speedometer
.
also
on
such
inputs
as
enginespeed,engine
temperature,
number
of
starts,
and
length
oftrips
.
At
the
appropriate
time,
the
system
indicates,
through
lights
in
the
instrument
cluster,
when



Oil
Service

the
next
routine
maintenance
is
due
.

The
Oil
Service
indicator
signals
the
need
for
the
most
basic
levelof
routine
maintenance
.
BMW's
required
oil
service
speci-
fies
changing
the
engine
lubricating
oil
and
the
engine
oil
filter

after
the
engine
has
been
warmed
up
.
BMW-recommended
ad-

ditional
maintenance
for
this
service
is
listed
in
Table
a
.

NOTE-

For
reference,
the
BMW
Oil
Service
requirements
are
approximately
equivalent
to
the
maintenance
that
other
European
manufacturers
specify
at
intervals
with
a
maximum
of
every
7,500
miles
or6
months
.

CAUTION-

Be
sure
to
follow
the
ínstructions
forresetting
the
Oil
Service
indicator
fight
.
The
Inspection
indica-
tor
can
be
accidentally
reset
rendering
its
function
inaccurate
.

Inspection
l
and
Inspection
II

The
Inspection
indicator
signals
the
need
for
more
compre-
hensive
maintenance
and
Inspection
.
There
are
two
sets
of
in-
spection
requirements,
Inspection
I
and
Inspection
ll
.
These
inspections
alternate
throughout
a
car's
maintenance
history
.
If
the
last
Inspection
interval
was
Inspection
I,
the
next
Inspection
interval
(following
an
Oil
Service)
will
be
Inspection
ll,
the
next
after
that
will
be
Inspection
I,
and
so
on
.

Inspection
I
tasks
are
listed
in
Table
b
.
Inspection
II
in-
cludes
most
of
the
tasks
from
Inspection
I
with
additional
In-
spection
11
tasks
.
A
complete
listing
of
Inspection
II
tasks
are
listed
in
Table
c
.

020-
4



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

L



~



~
c
.c
a



a>
mL



~



~L



L
w



a



£
'S



d
E

Maintenance
ítem



z



3



c

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Change
oil
and
oil
filter

Check
fluid
levels
(coolant,steering,
brake/clutch,
ATF)

Under
car
maintenance

Check
steeringrack
and
steeringlinkages
for
leaks
andexcess
play
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
.
Check
brake
calipers,
rotors,
and
brake
pad
thíckness
.
Inspect
for
dam-
aged
hoses
and
lines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Check
hand
brake,adjust
cable
if
necessary
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
and
adjust
tire
pressures,
including
spare

Body
and
interior
maintenance

Check
operation
of
exterior
and
interior
lights,
including
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
horns,
headlight
flasher
anddimmer
switch
.
Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
.
6
Electrical
System

Check
function/condition
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
level
and
concentration,
add
as
necessary
.
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiper
blades
.
Repair
Group
611

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
heating
and
ventilation,
manual
or
automatic
transmis-
sion,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

MAINTENANCE
TABLES

Table
a
.
Oil
Service

Table
b
.
Inspection
I
Service

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-5

ad

d
d
ID

a



r



c



d
a~
;v
a
:
Q~
wE
y
a
r
E
R
:
L-



0
Maintenance
ítem



1



z



3
~



c
d

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Change
oil
and
oil
filter
.

Check
brake/clutch
fluid
leve¡

Check
battery
acid
leve¡
and
correct
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
121

Check
engine
coolant
level
and
anti-freeze
protection
and
addasnecessary
.
Inspect
for
cooling
system
leaks
.
Repair
Group
170

Lubricate
throttie
linkage

Under
car
maintenance

Check
transmission
for
externa¡
leaks
.

Check
manual
transmission
oil
leve¡
andadd
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
230

Check
final
drive
lubricant
and
addasnecessary
.

Check
fue¡
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
all
connections
for
leaks
.

Inspect
exhaust
system
.
Repair
Group
180

Check
steeringrack
and
steeringlinkages
.
Check
power
steering
system
for
leaks
.
Check
(luid
leve¡
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
for
damaged
hoses
and
fines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Remove
calipers
and
check
brake
pad
wear
.
Check
brake
rotors
for
scoring
damage
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
parking
brake
operation,
adjust
cable
if
necessary
Repair
Group
340

Inspect
front
and
rear
suspension,
including
wheel
bearings,
for
play
.
Repair
Group
320/330

Inspect
wheelsand
tires,
including
spare,
check
tire
pressure
and
condition

Body
and
Interior
Maintenance

Lubricate
door
hinges
and
hood
latch,
hood
hinges

Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
and
adjust
as
necessary
.

Check
operation
of
headlights,
parking
lights,
back-up
fights,
licenseplate
lights,
interior
lights,
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
turnsignals,
emer-gency
flashers,
stop
fights,
horas,
headlight
flasher
and
dimmer
switch

Replace
ventilation/A/C
micro-filter
.
Check
functionof
air
conditioning
.
Repair
Group
640

Check
function
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
tightness
of
mountfng
screws
on
airbag
front
crash
sensors
(Airbag
I)
.
Repair
Group
721

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
leve¡
and
concentration,
add
as
necessary
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiperblades
.
Repair
Group
611

Tighten
nuts
and
bolts
for
door
locks
and
striker
plates

Replace
batteries
for
alarm/remote
control
in
masterkey(where
applicable)
.

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
HVAC,
manual
or
automatic
transmission,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

MAINTENANCE
TALES

Final
Drive
Gear
Oil

BMW
recommends
using
only
a
specially
formulatedsyn-
thetic
gear
oil
that
is
available
through
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
parts
department
.
For
additional
information
on
this
¡u-
bricant
andany
other
lubricants
that
may
be
compatible,
con-
tact
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
senrice
department
.
See
331
Final
Drive
.

Brake
Fluid

Brake
fluid
absorbs
moisture
easily,
and
moisture
in
the
fluid
affects
brake
performance
and
reliability
.
This
is
why
brake
fluid
should
be
flushed
from
the
system
every
two
years
.
When
re-
placing
or
adding
brake
fluid,
use
only
new
(luid
from
previously
unopened
containers
.
Do
not
use
brake
fluid
that
has
been
bled
from
the
system,
even
ifit
is
brand
new
.
Use
only
DOT
4
brake
fluid
.
See340
Brakes
for
more
information
.

Engine
Coolant
(Anti-freeze)

BMW
recommends
coolant
that
is
a
50/50
mixture
of
distilled
water
and
phosphate/nítrate
freeanti-freeze
containing
ethyl-
ene
glycol
.
Anti-freezeraises
the
boiling
point
and
lowersthe
freezingpoint
of
the
coolant
.
It
alsocontains
additives
that
help
prevent
cooling
system
corrosion
.

Power
Steering
Fluid

The
power
steering
fluid
is
Dexron
II]®
ATF,
or
equivalent
.

The
system
is
permanently
filled
and
does
not
have
a
drain
.
Routinely
adding
ATF
is
not
required
unlessthe
system
is
leak-
i
n
g,

WARNING
-

Be
sure
to
check
the
fluid
specifications
on
the
pow-
er
steering
reservoir
to
confirm
the
fluid
type
in-
stalled
in
the
system
.
In
some
instances,
the
power
steering
system
may
be
filled
with
an
alternative
hy-
draulic
fluid
designated
CHF
7
.1
.

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE



Engine
oil
and
fiiter,
changing

Fig
.
3
.



Engine
oil
level
dipsticklocation
on
4-cylinder
engine
(arrow)
.
Dipsfck
is
marked
with
mínimum
and
maximum
level
marks
.

Fig
.
4
.



Oil
filler
cap
(arrow)
.
6-cylinder
engine
shown
.
0012202

Engine
oii,
checking
leve¡



A
complete
oil
change
requires
new
oil
(see
Table
e),
a
new
oil
filter
insert
kit,
and
a
new
drain
plug
sealing
washer
.
The

The
engine
oil
leve]
is
checked
with
a
dipstick
in
the
engine



tools
needed,
a
drain
plug
socket
or
box
wrench
(17
mm
or19

block
.
Check
the
oii
leve¡
with
the
canon
a
level
surface,
after



mm)
and
a
drain
pan
(8-10
US
qt
.
capacity),
are
described
in

the
engine
has
been
stopped
for
atleast
a
few
minutes
.
Check



010
Fundamentals
for
the
Do-It-Yourself
Owner
.

the
leve¡
by
pulling
outthe
dipstick
and
wiping
it
clean
.
Reinsert

it
all
the
way
and
withdraw
it
again
.
The
oil
leve¡
is
correct
if
it
is



NOTE-
between
the
two
marks
near
the
end
of
the
stick
.
See
Fig
.
3
.



If
using
a
"fast-lube"
service
facility
for
oil
changes,
make
sure
the
technician
hand-starts
and
torques
the
Add
oil
through
the
filler
cap
on
thetop
of
the
cylinder
head
.



engine
oil
drain
plug
using
hand-tools
.
Power
tools
can
See
Fig
.
4
.
Add
only
the
amount
needed
to
bring
the
oil
leve¡to



strip
the
threads
of
the
plug
and
the
oil
pan
.

the
MAX
mark
on
the
dipstick,
using
an
oil
of
the
correctviscos-
ity
andgrade
.
Too
much
oil
canbe
just
as
harmful
as
too
little
.

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE

020-
1
0



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

1.
Run
engine
for
afewminutes
to
warm
engine
oil
.
Shut



5
.
When
oil
flow
has
diminished
to
an
occasional
drip,
re-

engine
off
.



install
drain
plugwith
a
new
metal
sealing
washerand

torque
plug
.

2
.
With
car
on
level
ground,
place
drain
pan
under
oil
drain

plug
.
See
Fig
.
5
.



Tightening
Torques

"
Engine
oil
drain
plug

M12
bolt
(17mm
wrench)
.
...
.
..
.
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)



-

M22
bolt
(19mm
.
wrench)
...
.
...
.
60
Nm
(44
ft-Ib)

Fig
.
5
.



Engine
oil
drain
plug(arrow)
in
oil
pan
.

3
.
Remove
filter
housingcover
.
Remove
filter
cartridge

and
discard
any
O-rings
.
See
Fig
.
6
.

CAUTION-

Pulí
the
loose
plug
away
from
the
hole
quickly
to
avoidbeing
bumed
by
hot
oil
.
It
wíll
runout
quickly
when
the
plug
ís
removed
.
If
possible,
use
gloves
to
protect
your
hands
.

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

0012460

Fig
.
6
.



Engine
oil
filter
cartridge
.
Note
O-ring
locations
when
removing
cover
and
filter
.

4
.
Using
a
socket
or
box
wrench,
loosen
drain
plug
at
oil

drain
pan
.
By
hand,
remove
plug
and
letoil
drain
into

pan
.

6
.
Lubricate
and
install
new
O-rings
.
Install
a
new
filter

cartridge
and
housingcover
.
Tighten
cover
.
See
Fig
.
7
.

7



«
a~
.~~
fT~

iII~IIIi~
.

Fig
.
7
.



Oil
flter
housing
on
6-cylínder
engine
.
4-cylinder
engine
is

similar
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Engine
oil
filter
cover
to
oil

filter
housing
...................
25
Nm
(18
ft-Ib)

7
.
Refill
crankcase
with
oil
.'Approximate
oil
capacity
is
list-

ed
in
Tablee
.
Use
dipstick
to
check
correct
oil
level
.

8
.
Start
engine
and
check
that
oil
pressure
warning
light

immediately
goes
out
.

9
.
Allow
engine
to
run
for
a
few
minutes
to
círculate
new

oil,
then
check
for
leaks
at
drain
plug
and
oil
filter
.
Stop

engine
and
reclieck
oil
level
.

ENGINE
COMPAR



ENT
MAINTENANCE

The
information
underthis
heading
describes
routine
mainte-

nance-other
than
oil
change-done
in
the
engine
compart-

ment
.
It
is
not
necessary
for
the
car
to
be
raised
and
supported
off
the
ground
.
Information
on
oil
change
is
given
earlier
under

Engine
Oil
Change
.

020-
1
2



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

6-cylinder
engines
use
a
coil-on-plug
configuration,
and
re-



Battery
cablesshould
be
tight
.
The
terminals,
the
cable
moval
of
thetop
engine
cover
(between
the
camshafts)
and
ig-



clamps,
and
the
battery
case
should
be
freeof
the
white
deposits
nition
cofs
are
necessary
.
See
Fig
.
12
.
Blow
away
any
dust
or



that
indicate
corrosion
and
acid
salts
.
Even
a
thin
¡ayer
of
dust
dirt
around
the
ignition
coils,
and
then
remove
the
coils
.
Blow



containing
conductive
acid
salts
can
cause
battery
discharge
.
away
any
dustor
dirt
around
the
sparkplugs
.
Remove
the
spark

plugs
.



To
remove
battery
corrosion,
begin
by
disconnecting
theca-

bles
.
Disconnect
the
negative
(-)
cable
first
.
Clean
the
terminal

posts
and
the
cable
clamps
with
a
wire
brush
.
Clean
the
main
chassis
ground
terminal
next
to
the
battery
.
Corrosion
can
be
washedaway
with
a
baking
soda
and
water
solution
that
will
neutralize
the
acid
.
Apply
the
solution
carefully,
though,since
ít
will
also
neutralize
the
acid
inside
the
battery
.
Reconnect
the
ca-
ble
clamps,
positive
(+)
cable
first
.
Lightly
coat
the
outside
of
the

terminals,
hold
down
screws,
and
clamps
with
petroleum
jelly,
grease,
or
a
commercial
battery
terminal
corrosion
inhibitor
.

Fig
.
12
.
Ignition
coil
being
removed
from
spark
plug
on
M52
engine
.

NOTE-

If
necessary,
see
120
Ignition
System
for
more
details
on
coil
removal
.

B11004

Lightlylubricate
the
new
spark
plug
threads
with
a
small
amount
of
anti-seize
compound
.
Thread
the
plugs
into
the
cyl-
inder
head
byhand
to
prevent
cross-threading
.

Tightening
Torque

"
Spark
plug
to
cylinder
head
.......
25
Nm
(18
ft-ib)

Idie
Speed

Engine
¡dle
speed
canchange
due
to
a
number
of
factors,
in-
cluding
normal
wear
.
The
idle
speed
is
electronically
adaptive
and
non-adjustable
.
See
130
Fuel
Injection
for
more
information
.

Battery,
checking
and
cleaning

The
battery
is
located
in
the
right
side
of
the
luggage
com-
partment
.
Simple
maintenance
of
the
battery
and
its
terminal
connections
will
ensure
maximum
starting
performance,
espe-
cially
in
winter
when
colder
temperaturesreduce
battery
power
.

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

WARNING
-

"
Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manualonpage
viii
.

"
Battery
acid
is
extremely
dangerous
.
Take
care
to
keep
it
from
contacting
eyes,
skin,
or
clothing
.
Wear
eye
protection
.
Extinguish
all
smoking
ma-
terials
and
do
not
worknear
any
oyen
flames
.

Battery
electrolyte
should
be
maintained
at
the
correct
level
just
above
the
battery
plates
and
their
separators
.
The
correct
leve¡
is
approximately
5
mm
(
1
/4
in
.)
above
thetop
of
battery
plates
orto
thetop
of
the
indicator
marks
(if
applicable)
.
The
battery
plates
and
the
indicator
marks
can
beseen
once
the
fill-
er
caps
are
removed
.
If
the
electrolyte
level
is
low,
replenish
it
by
adding
distilled
water
only
.

Battery,
repiacing

Batteries
are
rated
by
ampere
hours
(Ah),
the
number
of
hoursa
specific
current
draín
can
be
sustained
before
complete
discharge,
or
by
cold
cranking
amps
(CCA),
the
number
of
amps
available
to
crank
the
engine
in
cold
weather
conditions
.
In
general,
replacement
batteries
should
alwaysbe
rated
equal
or
higherthan
the
original
battery
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
thls
manual
on
page
viii
.

The
battery
is
held
in
place
bya
single
hand
screw
and
píate
.
A
secure
battery
hold-down
is
important
in
order
to
prevent
vi-
brations
and
road
shock
from
damaging
the
battery
.

NOTE-
NOTE-
"
Always
disconnect
the
negative
()
cable
first,
and
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
vi-



connect
ft
last
While
changing
batteries,
clean
away
brations
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
E36
convertibles



any
corrosion
in
or
around
the
battery
tray
.
require
a
specialbattery
designed
for
constant
vibra-
tion
.
When
repiacing
the
battery,
be
sure
the
replace-



"
Design
characteristics
of
the
convertible
body
cause
ment
is
designed
specffically
for
the
convertible
.



vibrations
to
oscillate
in
the
trunk
area
.
Therefore,
the
convertible
model
uses
a
specialbattery
designed
for
this
constant
vibration
.

020-
1
4



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

uu11989

Fig
.
14
.
Engine
drive
belt
tensíoner
being
released
on
late
4-cylinder
engine
.
Pry
off
tensioner
cover
and
then
lever
tensioner
in
clockwise
direction
(as
facing
engine)
and
slip
beltoff
pulleys
.



Fig
.
17
.
Engine
drive
belt
routing
for
late
4-cylinder
engine
with
poly-
ribbed
drivebelts
.

CA
UTION-

Use
only
BMW
approved
phosphate-free
anti-
freeze
when
filling
the
cooling
system
.
Use
of
anti-

B11177



freeze
containing
phosphates
!s
considerad
to
be

Fig
.
15
.
Engine
drive
belt
tensioner
being
released
on
6-cylinder
en-



harmful
to
the
cooling
system
.

gine
.
Pry
off
tensioner
cover
and
then
lever
tensioner
in
clock-
wise
direction
(as
facing
engine)
and
slipbelt
off
pulleys
.



A
translucent
expansion
tank,
or
overflow
resenroir,
providesmonitóring
of
coolant
leve¡
.
Because
the
expansion
tank
is
translucent,
thecoolant
level
can
be
checked
visually
without
opening
the
system
.
Always
check
thecoolant
leve¡
with
theen-gine
cold
.
The
coolant
leve¡
should
be
at
the
maximum
mark
on
O



o
'~
I



the
expansion
tank,
as
shown
in
Fig
.
18
.

OO



Hose
connectionhld
b
tiht
s
soueg



an
ddry
.
Coolánt
seepage
indicates
either
that
the
hose
clamp
is
loose,
that
the
pose
is

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
MAINTENANCE

0012470

Fig
.
16
.
Engine
drive
belt
routing
for
6-cylinder
engine
.
A/C
compres-
sor
drive
belt
not
shown
.

'92

irá
Alternator
belt

Coolant~
0
pp



o0o



Belt
tensioner

Cooling
System
Service

0013000

Cooling
system
maintenance
consists
of
maíntaining
thecoolant
leve¡,
inspecting
hoses
.
Because
the
coolant's
anti-cor-

rosion
and
anti-freeze
additives
gradually
lose
their
effective-
ness,
replacement
of
thecoolant
every
two
years
up
to
1996
models,
and
every
three
years
from
1996
is
recommended
.
Asa
preventive
measure,
replacement
of
the
cooling
system
hos-
es
every
four
years
is
also
recommended
.

damaged,
or
that
the
connection
is
dirty
or
corroded
.
Dried
cool-
ant
has
a
chalky
appearance
.
Hoses
should
be
firm
and
springy
.
Replace
any
hose
that
is
cracked,
that
has
become
soft
and
limp,
or
has
been
contaminated
by
oil
.
See
Fig
.
19
.

Power
steering
fluid,
checking
leve¡

Check
the
power
steering
fluid
level
in
the
fluid
reservoir
.
Park
thecar
on
leve¡
ground
with
the
engine
off
.
The
level
is
cor-
rect
if
it
is
between
the
MIN
and
MAX
marks
on
the
dipstick
.
See
Fig
.
20
.
If
the
leve¡
is
below
the
MIN
mark,
start
the
engine
andadd
fluid
to
the
reservoir
to
bríng
the
leve¡
up
.
Stop
the
engine
and
recheck
the
leve¡
.
Hand-tighten
the
reservoir
cap
.

020-
1
8



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

Fig
.
25
.
Inspect
brake
pads
with
the
caliper
removed
.
Minimum
brake
pad
thickness
shown
by
dimension
(A)
.

NOTE-

The
parking
brake
may
lose
some
of
its
effectiveness
if
it
is
not
used
frequently
.
This
is
due
to
corrosion
build-
up
on
the
parking
brake
drum
.
To
remove
corrosion,
ap-
plythe
parking
brake
just
until
it
begins
togrip,
then
pulí
the
lever
up
one
more
stop
(click)
.
Drive
thecar
approx-
imately
400
meters
(1,300
ft
.)
and
release
the
brake
.
To
recheck
the
adjustment
of
the
parking
brake
see340
Brakes
.

UNDER-CAR
MAINTENANCE

0011920

Manual
transmission
fluid,

checking
and
filling

The
manual
transmission
fluid
leve¡
should
be
checked
at

specified
intervals
.
Check
and
fill
the
transmission
with
the
car

ona
leve¡
surface
.
Transmission
(luid
leve¡
checking
and
re-

placement
procedures
are
covered
in
230
Manual
Transmis-

sion
.

Automatic
Transmission
Service

The
automatic
transmission
is
not
equipped
with
a
dipstíck
.

Therefore,
checking
the
ATF
level
is
an
ínvolved
procedure,

which
includes
measuring
and
maintaining
a
specified
ATF

temperature
during
the
checking
procedure
.

For
more
complete
ATF
service,
including
checking
ATF
lev-

e¡
and
ATF
filter
replacement
procedures,
see
240
Automatic
Transmission
.

Front
suspension
and
steering
linkages,

inspecting

Inspection
of
the
front
suspension'and
steering
includes
a
check
of
all
moving
parts
for
wear
and
excessive
play
.
Also
in-

spect
the
rubber
seals
and
boots
for
cracks
or
tears
that
could

allow
the
entry
of
dirt,
water,
and
other
contaminants
.
See
310

Front
Suspension
.

Exhaust
system,
inspecting



Rear
suspension,
inspecting
Exhaust
system
life
varies
widely
according
to
driving
habits



Final
drive
and
rear
drive
axle
service
consists
of
checking

and
environmental
conditions
.
If
short-distance
driving
pre-



and
changing
the
gear
oil,
inspecting
for
leaks,
and
checking
dominates,
the
moisture
and
condensation
in
the
system
will



the
rear
drive
axle
rubber
boots
for
damage
.
not
fully
dryout
.
This
will
lead
to
early
corrosion
damage
and
more
frequent
replacement
.
The
areas
where
leaks
are
most
likely
to
occur
are
around
the
driveshaft
and
drive
axle
mounting
flanges
.
For
more
infor

Scheduled
maintenance
of
the
exhaust
system
is
limitedlo



mation
on
ídentifying
oil
leaks
and
their
causes,
see330
Rear
inspection
.
Check
for
restrictions
due
to
dents
or
kinks
.
Check



Suspension
.
for
weakness
or
perforation
due
to
rust
.
Check
lo
see
that
all
the
hangers
are
in
place
and
properly
supporting
the
system
and
that
the
system
does
not
strike
the
body
.
Alignment
of
the
sys-



Final
drive
oil
leve¡,
checking

temand
the
location
of
the
hangers
aredescribed
in
180
Ex-
haust
System
.



Check
the
lubricant
leve¡
with
thecar
level
.
Remove
the
oil
filler
plug
.
The
leve¡
is
correct
when
the
fluidjust
reaches
the

edge
of
the
filler
hole
.
Install
and
tighten
the
oil
filler
plug
when
Manual
Transmission
Service



the
oil
level
is
correct
.
See
Fig
.
26
.

Manual
transmissionservice
consists
of
inspectingfor
leaks



The
final
drive
should
be
filled
with
a
special
BMW
lubricant
and
checking
and
changing
the
fluid
.



available
through
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.
In
addition,
the
lubricant
type
varies
depending
onwhether
or
nota
limited-slip
Evidence
of
transmissionleaks
is
fkely
to
beseenaround
the



differential
is
fitted
.
driveshaft
mounting
flange
and
at
the
bottom
of
the
bellhousing
.
For
more
information
on
identifying
oil
leaks
and
their
causes,
see230ManualTransmissionand210
Clutch
.



Tightening
Torque

"
Finaldrive
filler
plug
to
final
drive
housing
..................
70
Nm
(52
ft-Ib)