1998 BMW 750IL SEDAN service

144n
Engine oilEngine oil specificationsThe quality of the engine oil selected
has critical significance for the opera-
tion and service life of an engine. Based
on extensive testing, BMW has ap-
proved only certain engine oils.
Use approved "longlife oils" only.
If it should ever occur that it is impossi-
ble to purchase an approved "longlife
oil," you may use small volumes of the
"special oils" approved by BMW for
topping up between oil changes.
You may use oils with the specification
API SH only if the special oils are also
not available.
Call 1-800-831-1117, or ask your
authorized BMW center for de-
tails concerning the specific "longlife
oils" or "special oils" which have been
approved.<
Viscosity ratingsViscosity is the oil flow rating as estab-
lished in SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in
the area where you drive your BMW.
BMW recommends the use of oils in
SAE classes SAE 0W-X or SAE 5W-X,
where "X" stands for a specification
such as 30, 40 or 50.
These oils may be used for driving in all
ambient temperatures.
If you are using SAE class 10W-X, you
may continue to drive for short periods
at temperatures below this limit. How-
ever, the engine's cold-starting charac-
teristics may be impaired.
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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Brake fluidBrake fluid level
Brake hydraulic system warning
lamp comes on, "Check brake
fluid" appears in the Check Con-
trol display: The brake fluid level
is too low in the reservoir.
Fill up to upper mark ("MAX" level visi-
ble through the transparent reservoir).
Any BMW center can provide you with
information on factory-approved brake
fluids (DOT 4).
Brake fluid loss results in extended
pedal travel. Refer to the information on
page 128.
380de080
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the operating safety
of the brake system, have the brake
fluid changed every two years by your
BMW center. Refer also to the Service
Warranty Information Booklet (US mod-
els) or to the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet (Canadian models).
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the ve-
hicle's paint. Always store brake fluid in
the original containers. Keep the con-
tainers tightly closed and out of reach
of children. Do not spill brake fluid. Do
not fill beyond the "MAX" level in the
reservoir. The brake fluid could ignite
upon contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the dis-
posal of brake fluid.<

149n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
The BMW Maintenance SystemThe BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and operat-
ing safety – and as cost-effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining the resale
value of the vehicle.380us008
Service Interval DisplayAdvanced technology is employed to
calculate the optimal maintenance in-
tervals, which are then indicated in the
Service Interval Display. While conven-
tional systems rely on distance traveled
alone to determine when service is due,
the BMW Maintenance System has for
years considered the actual conditions
under which the vehicle operates.
From the point of view of maintenance,
62,000 miles (100,000 km) accumulated
in short-distance urban driving are not
the equivalent of the same distance
covered at moderate speeds in long-
distance highway travel. In response to
this fact, the BMW Maintenance System
monitors operating conditions as the
basis for determining the optimum ser-
vice intervals for your individual vehicle.
The BMW Maintenance System in-
cludes the Engine Oil Service and In-
spections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the car
covers every kind of operating situation.
However, even those who drive only
short distances – significantly less than
6,200 miles (10,000 km) annually –
should have the engine oil changed at
least every 2 years since oil deteriorates
over time, regardless of use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models)/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models)Please refer to the Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet (US models)
or to the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet (Canadian models) for addi-
tional information on maintenance inter-
vals and procedures.
Depending upon operating conditions,
as a precaution against rust it may be a
good idea to have the body checked for
stone damage and chips at the same
time.
Have your BMW center do the
maintenance and repair. Your BMW
center is always informed on the latest
maintenance work and repair tech-
niques and equipped with the required
special tools. In addition, checking
parts known from experience to be sub-
ject to wear is a permanent part of the
maintenance specifications. Be sure
that all maintenance work is confirmed
in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet (US models) or in the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet (Canadian
models). These entries will constitute
your proof that the vehicle has received
regular maintenance. They are also re-
quired in the event of a warranty claim.<

156n
Airbags Vehicle storage1 Front airbags for driver and
front passenger
2 Side impact head protection system
(front and rear
*)
3 Side airbags (front and rear
*)
Important safety notices
Do not attempt to remove the gas
generators of the airbag restraint
system from the vehicle. Have testing
and service procedures performed by
specially-qualified technicians only. In
the event of a malfunction, deactivation,
or triggered actuation (as a response to
an accident) of the airbag restraint sys-
tem, consult your authorized BMW cen-
ter for repairs or service operations.
380de643
Modifications may not be made on ei-
ther the wiring or the individual compo-
nents in the airbag system. These in-
clude the padded steering wheel hub,
the instrument panel, the side trim pan-
els of the front or rear doors and the
roof pillars or the sides of the headliner.
Never apply adhesive materials to these
components or cover or modify them in
any way. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, entrust disposal of
airbag generators to an authorized
BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emer-
gency or undesired airbag activation,
either of which could result in personal
injury.< Consult your BMW center regarding the
required special procedures if you in-
tend to store the vehicle for longer than
three months.

158n
OBD connectorThe interface socket for the onboard di-
agnosis system is located beneath a
cover on the center console front panel
(arrow).
A sticker with the text "OBD" is at-
tached to the cover.
The purpose of the OBD (Onboard
Diagnostic) system is to assure proper
emission control system operation for
the vehicle’s lifetime by monitoring
emission-related components and
systems for deterioration and malfunc-
tion.380de617
An Illuminated indicator informs
you of the need for service, not
of the need to stop the vehicle.
However, the systems should be
checked by your BMW center at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Under certain conditions, the indicator
will blink or flash. This indicates a rather
severe level of engine misfire. When
this occurs, you should reduce speed
and consult the nearest BMW center as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfire
over only a short period of time can se-
riously damage emission control com-
ponents, especially the catalytic con-
verter.
When the filler cap is not properly
tightened, the OBD system can
detect the vapor leak and the indicator
will light up. If the filler cap is subse-
quently tightened, the indicator should
extinguish within a few days.<

Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
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RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit162
Windshield wiper blades162
Lamps and bulbs163
Remote control168
Changing tires170
Battery173
Fuses176
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door178
Sliding/Tilt sunroof178
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting179
Towing the vehicle180

163n
RepairsIndexOverview Controls Car care Technology Data
Lamps and bulbsThe lamps and bulbs make essential
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Observe the following instructions
during bulb replacement carefully. If
you are not familiar with any of the pro-
cedures, consult your authorized BMW
center.
Do not touch the glass portion of a
new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn in to the surface, thus reducing the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
Whenever working on the electri-
cal system, switch off the electri-
cal accessory you are working on or
disconnect the cable from the negative
terminal of the battery. Failure to do this
could result in short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage, comply
with any instructions provided by the
bulb manufacturer.<
The illustration shows the left-hand side
of the engine compartment.Release the lamp cover.1 Low beam headlamps
Press the tabs together (arrows).
2 Highbeams/side lamps and parking
lamps
Insert the screwdriver (from the on-
board tool kit) and press in the direction
of the arrow.380de656

164n
Lamps and bulbs
For checking and adjusting head-
lamp aim, please contact your
BMW center.<
1 Low beam headlampsH1 bulb, 55 watt 2 High beamsH7 bulb, 55 watt
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to observe this
precaution could lead to injury if the
bulb is accidentally damaged during re-
placement.< 380de099
1 Remove the cover
2 Pull off the connector at the bulb
3 Detach the wire clamp
4 Replace the bulb
5 Install in the opposite order of work.3 Parking lamp5 watt bulb
1 Pull the bulb holder out
2 Remove and replace the bulb.
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following:
>Do not clean by wiping with a dry
cloth (scratches). Never use abra-
sives or strong solvents to clean the
covers
>Remove dirt and contamination
(such as insects) by soaking with
BMW Car Shampoo and then rinsing
with plenty of water
>Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never
use a scraper.<
Xenon lamps
*
The service life of these bulbs is very
long and the probability of a failure is
very low, provided that they are not
switched on and off an unusual number
of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in
your area do not prohibit this.
Because of the extremely high
voltages involved, any work on the
lighting system should be carried out by
technically-qualified personnel only.
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal injury.<