check oil BMW 318i 1997 E36 Workshop Manual

Please
read
these
warnings
and
cautions

before
proceeding
with
maintenance
and
repair
work
.

CAUTION-

"
See
also
Warnings
onpage
vi¡



"
Beforedoing
any
electrical
welding
on
cars
equipped
with
ABS,
disconnect
the
battery
negative
(-)
terminal
(ground
strap)
and
the
"
If
you
lack
the
skills,
tools
and
equipment,
ora
suitable
work-



ABS
control
unit
connector
.
shop
for
any
procedure
described
in
this
manual,
we
suggest
you
leave
such
repairs
to
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
or
other
qualified



"
On
cars
equipped
with
anti-theft
radios,
make
sureyou
know
the
shop
.



correct
radio
activation
code
before
disconnecting
the
battery
or
removing
the
radio
.
lf
the
wrong
code
is
entered
into
the
radio
"
BMW
is
constantly
improving
its
cars
and
sometimes
these



when
power
is
restored,
that
radio
may
lock
up
and
be
renderedchanges,
both
in
parts
and
specifications,
are
made
applicable
to



inoperable,
even
if
the
correct
code
is
thenentered
.
earlier
models
.
Therefore,
part
numbers
listed
in
this
manual
are
for
reference
only
.
Always
check
with
your
authorized
BMW
dealer



"
Always
make
sure
ignition
is
off
before
disconnecting
battery
.
parts
department
for
the
latest
information
.
"
Label
battery
cablesbefore
disconnecting
.
Onsome
models,
"
Before
starting
a
job,
make
certain
that
you
have
all
the
neces-



battery
cablesarenot
color
coded
.
sary
tools
and
parts
on
hand
.
Read
al¡
the
instructions
thoroughly,
do
not
attempt
shortcuts
.
Use
tools
appropriate
to
the
work
and



"
Disconnecting
the
battery
may
erase
fault
code(s)
stored
in
con-

use
only
replacement
parts
meeting
BMW
specifications
.
Make-



trol
module
memory
Using
special
BMW
diagnostíc
equipment,
shift
tools,
parts
and
procedures
will
not
make
good
repairs
.



check
forfault
codes
prior
to
disconnecting
the
battery
cables
.If
the
Check
Engine
light
is
illuminated,
see100
Engine-General
for
"
Use
pneumatic
and
electric
tools
only
to
loosenthreaded
parts



On-Board
Diagnostics
(OBD)
fault
code
information
.
lf
any
other
and
fasteners
.
Never
use
these
tools
to
tighten
fasteners,
espe-



system
faults
have
been
detected
(indicated
by
an
ílluminated
cially
on
light
alloy
parts
.
Always
use
a
torque
wrench
to
tighten



warning
light),
see
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
.
fasteners
to
the
tightening
torque
specification
listed
.
"
If
a
normal
or
rapid
charger
is
used
to
charge
battery,
the
battery
"Be
mindful
of
the
environment
and
ecology
.
Before
you
drain
the



mustbe
disconnected
and
removed
fromthe
vehicle
in
order
to
crankcase,
find
outthe
proper
way
to
dispose
of
the
oil
.
Do
not



avoid
damaging
paint
and
upholstery
pour
oil
onto
the
ground,
down
a
drain,
or
into
a
stream,
pond
orlake
.
Dispose
of
in
accordance
withFederal,
State
and
Local
laws
.



"Do
not
quick-chargethe
battery
(for
boost
starting)
for
longer
than
one
minute
.
Wait
at
least
one
minute
before
boosting
the
bat-
e
If
battery
power
is
lost
or
the
battery
has
been
disconnected,
the



tery
a
second
time
.
powerwindows
must
be
re-initialized
.
Both
one
touch
up/down
and
pinch-protection
will
be
inactive
until
windows
are
re-initial-



"
Connect
and
disconnect
a
battery
charger
only
with
the
battery
ized
.
See
512
Door
Windows
.



charger
switched
off
.

"
The
control
module
for
the
anti-lock
brake
system
(ABS)
cannot
withstand
temperatures
from
a
paint-drying
booth
or
aheat
lamp
in
excess
of
203°F
(95°C)
and
should
not
be
subjected
to
temper-
atures
in
excess
of
185°F
(85°C)
for
more
than
twohours
.

"
Sealed
or
"maintenance
free"
batteries
shouldbeslow-charged
only,
at
anamperage
ratethat
is
approximately
10%
of
the
bat-
tery's
ampere-hour
(Ah)
rating
.

"
Do
not
allow
battery
chargingvoltage
to
exceed
16
.5
volts
.
If
the
battery
begins
producing
gas
or
boiling
violently,
reduce
the
charg-
ing
rate
.
Boosting
a
sulfated
battery
at
a
high
charging
rate
can
cause
an
explosion
.

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

WARNING
-

"
Never
work
under
a
lifted
car
unless
it
is
solidly
supported
on
jack
stands
that
are
intended
for
that
purpose
.
Do
not
support
a
car
on
cinder
blocks,
bricks,
or
other
objects
that
may
shift
orcrumble
under
continuous
load
.
Never
work
un-
dera
car
that
is
supported
only
by
the
lifting
jack
.

"
Fuel
is
highly
flammable
.
When
working
around
fuel,
do
not
smoke
or
worknear
heaters
or
other
fire
hazards
.
Keepan
approved
fire
extinguisher
handy
.

"
llluminate
the
work
area
adequately
and
safely
.
Use
a
portable
safety
light
for
working
inside
or
under
thecar
.
A
fluorescent
type
lightis
best
be-
cause
it
gives
off
less
heat
.
If
using
a
light
with
anormal
incandescent
butb,
use
rough
service
bulbs
to
avoid
breakage
.
The
hot
filamentof
an
accidentallybroken
bulb
can
ignite
spilled
fuel
or
oil
"
Keep
sparks,
lighted
matches,
and
any
open
llame
away
from
thetop
of
the
battery
.
Hydrogen
gas
emitted
by
the
battery
is
highly
flammable
.
Any
nearby
source
of
ignition
may
cause
the
battery
to
explode
.

"
Never
¡ay
tools
or
parts
in
the
engine
compart-
ment
or
on
top
of
the
battery
.
They
may
fall
into
confined
spaces
and
be
difficult
toretrieve,
be-
come
caught
in
beits
or
other
rotating
parts
when
the
engine
is
started,
or
cause
electrical
shorts
anddamage
to
the
electrical
system
.

"
The
fuel
system
is
designed
to
retain
pressure
even
when
the
ignition
is
off
.
When
working
with
the
fuel
system,
loosen
the
fuel
fines
slowly
to
al-

low
the
residual
pressure
to
dissipate
gradually
.

Take
precautions
to
avoid
spraying
fuel
.

Lifting
the
Car

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER
010-
3

For
those
repairs
that
require
raising
the
car,
theproper
jack-

ing
points
should
beused
to
raise
thecar
safely
and
avoid
dam-

age
.
There
are
four
jacking
points
from
which
thecar
can
be

safely
raised
.
The
jacksupplied
with
thecar
by
BMW
can
only

be
used
at
the
fourside
points
just
behindthe
front
wheel
or

just
in
frontof
the
rear
wheel
.
See
Fig
.
1.

WARNING
-

"
When
raising
the
car
using
a
floor
jack
ora
hy-

draulic
lift,
carefully
position
the
jack
pad
topre-

vent
damaging
the
car
body
.
A
suitable
liner

(wood,
rubber,
etc
.)
should
be
placed
between
the
jack
and
the
car
to
prevent
body
damage
.

"
Watch
the
jack
closely
.
Make
sure
ft
stays
stable

and
does
not
shift
or
tilt
.
As
the
car
is
raised,
the
car
may
rol¡
slightly
and
the
jack
may
shift
.

Fig
.
1
.



3-Seriesjacking
points
(arrows)
.

Raising
car
safely

1
.
Park
car
on
flat,
leve¡
su
rface
.

2
.
Remove
the
round
cover
from
jack
mount
using
a

screwdriver
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

0013126

Fig
.
2
.



Jack
mount
cover
being
removed
from
rocker
panel
.

3
.
Place
jack
fully
into
position
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
Make
sure
jack

is
resting
on
flat,
solid
ground
.
Use
a
board
or
other
sup-

port
to
provide
a
firm
surface
for
the
jack,
if
necessary
.

4
.
Raisecar
slowly
while
constantly
checking
position
of

jack
and
car
.

5
.
Once
car
is
raised,
block
the
wheel
that
is
opposite
and

farthest
from
jackto
prevent
car
fromunexpectedly
roll-

ing
.

GET77NG
STARTER

If
steam
is
coming
from
the
engine
compartment
thenthere
is



With
the
engine
and
ignition
off,
check
for
loose
or
corroded
most
likely
a
burst
coolant
hose
or
a
large
leak
in
the
cooling



battery
cables
or
wires
at
the
battery
or
thealtemator
.
Discon-
system
.
To
find
the
leak,
look
for
signs
of
coolant
leakage
on



necting,
cleaning,
and
reinstalling
corroded
wires
and
connec-
hoses,
at
hose
connections,
or
on
the
radiator
.
Let
theengine



tors
may
solve
the
problem
.
Also
check
drive
belt
tension
as
cool
thoroughly,
then
add
coolant
or
water
to
fill
the
system
and



described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
start
the
engine
.
If
a
great
deal
of
water
or
coolant
flows
out
of
the
hole,
then
thecarshouldnot
be
driven
until
repairs
are
made
.
lf
there
is
slight
seepage,
then
it
may
be
possible
to
drive



TOWi
ng

a
short
distance,
adding
coolant
as
needed
.
The
cars
covered
by
this
manual
should
be
towed
witha
tow
truck
using
wheel
lift
or
flat
bed
equipment
.
Do
not
tow
thecar
on
all
four
wheels
except
for
very
short
distances
to
move
it
to
a
safe
place
.
If
thered
engine
oil
pressure
warning
light
illuminates,
imme-
diately
stop
thecar
and
turn
off
the
engine
.
Have
the
vehicle



A
towing
eye
is
provided
in
the
luggage
compartment
tool
kit
.
flat-bedded
or
towed
to
an
authorized
service
center
and
have



The
towing
eye
can
be
screwed
into
the
front
or
rear
bumper
.
the
engine
oil
pressure
checked
.



See
Fig
.
18
and
Fig
.
19
.

Low
Oil
Pressure

NOTE-

Detafed
information
on
checking
the
oil
pressure
is
covered
ín
119
Lubrication
System
.

Brake
Fluid
Leve¡

The
brake
fluid
leve¡
warning
light
may
bean
indicator
of
brake
fluid
loss
.
Problems
with
the
brakesystem
should
be
checked
and
repaired
immediately
.
See
340Brakes
for
more

information
.

Check
Engine
Warning
Light

Dim
Lights

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER



010-13

If
the
"CHECK
ENGI
NE"
warning
light
comes
on
or
flashes,
it
indicates
that
an
emissions-related
fault
has
occurred
.
Faults
suchas
a
failed
oxygen
sensor
or
a
faultyfuelinjector
can
tum

the
light
on,
causing
the
exhaust
or
evaporative
emissions
to

exceed
a
specified
limit
.
The
engine
can
be
safely
driven
with

the
light
on,
although
the
emission
systems
should
be
checked

assoonas
possible
.
See
100
Engine-General
for
more
infor-

mation
on
the
Check
Engine
Light
and
the
On-board
diagnostic

system
.

Headlights
and
instrument
panel
illuminationthat
are
dim
or

gradually
getting
dimmer
generally
indicate
a
problem
with
the

battery
or
charging
system
.
The
battery
charge
indicator
light

may
come
on
as
the
lights
are
dimming
.
In
either
case,
theen-

gine
and
accessories
are
running
off
of
the
battery
alone,
and

will
soon
discharge
it
altogether
.

If
possible,
do
not
stop
the
engine
unless
you
have
the
capa-

bility
to
jump
start
¡t
.
There
may
not
be
enough
power
in
the

starting
system
torestart
the
engine
.
Instead,turn
off
as
many

electrical
consumers
as
possible
.
This
will
reduce
the
current

drain
and
will
allow
thecar
to
be
driven
farther
before
you
lose

all
battery
power
.

Fig
.
18
.
Pry
open
rear
tow
lúg
access
panel
.

When
towingthecar
from
the
front
with
the
rear
wheelson

the
ground,
a
maximum
distance
of
20
miles
is
acceptable
.
If

thecar
needs
to
be
towed
further,
have
the
rear
wheels
placed
on
dollies
.

CA
UTION-

"
Do
not
tow
with
sling-type
equipment
The
front
spoilers
andbumper
covers
may
sustain
dam-
age
.

"
Towínga
BMW
with
an
automatic
transmission
with
the
rear
wheelson
the
ground
can
resuft
in
transmission
damage
due
to
lackof
lubrication
and
should
be
avoided
.

0013128

EMERGENCIES

020
Maintenance
Program

GENERAL
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
..
020-2

BMW
Service
Indicator
......
..
....
..
...
..
.
020-2

Oil
Service
.....
.
..........
..
...
...
...
..
.
020-2

Inspection
I
and
Inspection
II
.
..
....
..
...
..
.
020-2

Resetting
Service
Indicator
....
.
....
..
...
..
.
020-3

MAINTENANCE
TABLES
..
.
.
.
.
.
........
020-3

FLUID
AND
LUBRICANT

SPECIFICATIONS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
....
.
...
020-8

Manual
Transmission
Fluid
..
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-8

Automatic
Transmission
Fluid
.
.
.
.
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-8

Final
Drive
Gear
Oil
................
.
.
.
.
020-9
Brake
Fluid
.
.
.
.
.
................
.
.
.
.
020-9
Engine
Coolant
(Anti-freeze)
.
.
...
.
....
.
.
.
.
020-9

Power
Steering
Fluid
........
..
......
.
.
.
.
020-9

ENGINE
OIL
SERVICE
.
.
...
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
020-9

Engine
oil,
checking
leve¡
..
...
...
..
........
020-9
Engine
oil
and
filter,
changing
....
.
......
.
..
020-9

ENGINE
COMPARTMENT

MAINTENANCE
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
......
020-10

Air
filter,
replacing
.
...
...
.
.....
.
.....
.
...
020-11

Spark
plugs,
replacing
...
.
......
.
...
..
...
020-11

¡dle
Speed
.
..
...
...
....
.
......
.
...
..
...
020-12

Battery,
checking
and
cleaning
.......
..
...
020-12

Battery,
replacing
.
.....
.
.....
.
.....
..
...
020-12

Accelerator
and
Throttle
Linkage
.
.....
..
...
020-13

Engine
DriveBelts
.....
.
....
..
...
...
...
.
020-13

V-belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
built
up
to
1/94)
..
....
.
020-13

Poly-ribbed
belt,
replacing

(4-cylinder
engines
built
from
1194

and
all
6-cylinder
engines)
.
.
....
..
......
020-13

Cooling
System
Service
.
...
..
....
..
....
..
020-14

Power
steering
fluid,
checking
leve¡
.
..
....
.
.
020-14

Oxygen
Sensors
....
...
..
..
....



.
.....
.
.
020-15

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM



020-1

UNDER-CAR
MAINTENANCE
.
..
.
...
.
.
.020-16
'

Fuel
filter,
replacing
...
.
.....
..
.....
..
..
.020-16

Tires,
checking
inflation
pressure
.
.....
.
....
020-17

Tires,
rotating
...
..
.....
..
....
..
....
.
....
020-17

Wheels,
aligning
..
.....
.
...........
.
....
'020-17

Brake
system,
inspecting
.
.
....
.
.....
..
...
020-17

Brake
pad/rotor
wear,checking
.
......
.
....
020-17

Brake
fluid,
replacing
.........
..
.



..
..



.
020-17

Parking
brake,
checking
......
.
.....
..
....
020-17

Exhaust
system,
inspecting
....
..
.....
.
...
.020-18

Manual
Transmission
Senrice
..
..
.....
.
....
020-18

Manual
transmission
fluida

checking
and
filling
..
.
....
..



.
.
..
..
....
020-18

AutomaticTransmission
Service
.
....
...
....
020-18

Front
suspension
and
steeringlinkages,
inspecting
..
.
:.....
.
....
..
.....
..
...
.
.020-18

Rear
suspension,
inspecting
.
..
...
...
....
..
020-18

Final
drive
oil
leve¡,
checking
.
.
.
...
....
...
..
020-18

Fuel
tank
and
fuel
lines,
inspecting
.
.....
....
020-19

Clutch
fluid,
checking
...
...
...
...
....
.....
020-19

Drive
axle
joint
boots,
inspecting
...
..
.....
..
020-19

BODY
AND
INTERIOR

MAINTENANCE
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.020-19
Windshield
Wiper
Blade
Maintenance
....
.
.
020-19

Body
and
hinges,
lubricating
.
.....
..
......
.
020-19

Seat
Belts
...
..
...
...
...
..
.....
..
.....
.
.
020-20

Exterior
Washing
..
...
...
..
.
.
...
..
......
.020-20

Waxing
.....
..
...
...
...
..
.....
..
.......
020-20

Polishing
..
...
...
...
....
..
..........
..
.
.'020-20

Washing
Chassis
.
...
....
.
....
..
.....
.
...
020-20

Special
Cleaning
.
.
.....
..



...
.
.....
..
..
.020-20

Interior
Care
.
....
..
....
..
..



.
.
......
.
...
020-20

Leather
Upholstery
and
Trim
...
..
....
...
...
020-20

TABLES

a
.
Oil
Service
......
...
.
..
.............
...
---
020-4

b
.
Inspection
1
Service
..
.
.
.............
....
...
020-5

c
.
Inspection
11
Service
.
.
...
...........
..
.
..
..
020-6

d
.
Scheduled
Maintenance-Time/Mileage
Intervals
..
020-7

e
.
Fluids
and
Lubricants
..
...
...........
.....
..
020-8

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

020-6



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

Group
310/330

Table
c
.
Inspection
II
Service

a
d

d



a



a>



0
d

a



r



.c



mm
L



m
y



L
E

ó
3
E
ó

Maintenance
ítem



l
o-



z



~



c

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Inspect
V-belt
/Poly-ribbeddrive
condition
.
Check
V-belt
tension,
if
applicable
.

Lubricate
throttle
linkage
.

Replace
air
filter
.

Change
oil
and
oil
filter
.

Replacespark
plugs
.
Repair
Group
120

Check
brake/clutch
fluid
leve¡
.

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

Check
engine
coolant
leve¡
and
anti-freeze
protection
and
add
asnecessary
.
Inspect
for
cooling
system
leaks
.
Repair
Group
170

Under
car
maintenance

Change
automatic
transmission
fluid
.
Repair
Group
240

Change
manual
transmission
oil
.
Repair
Group
230

Check
clutch
plate
for
wear
.
Repair
Group
210

Check
drive
axle
boots
for
leaks
.
Repair
Group
330

Change
final
drive
fluid
(1995
and
later
models
:
change
synthetic
oil
every
2nd
Inspection
II)
.

Replace
fuel
filter
.

Check
fuel
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
af
connections
for
leaks
.

Inspect
exhaust
system
.
Repair
Group
180

Check
steering
gear
and
steering
¡inkages
.
Check
power
steering
system
for
leaks
.
Check
fluidleve¡
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
for
damaged
hoses
and
lines,
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
.
Check
thickness
of
parking
brake
lin-
ings
.
Repair
Group
340

Inspect
front
and
rear
suspension,
including
front
and
rear
wheel
bearings,
for
play
.
Repair

Inspect
wheels
and
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
asnecessary
.

Check
operation
of
headlights,
parking
lights,
back-up
lights,
licenseplate
lights,
interior
lights,
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
turn
signals,
emer-gency
flashers,
stop
lights,
horns,
headlight
flasher
anddimmer
switch
.

Check
active
check
control
panel
forfauits
(where
applicable)
.
6
Electrical
System

MAINTENANCE
TABLES

Continued
on
next
page

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