1998 BMW M3 warning

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THEDO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER



010-
5

WARNING
-

Avoid
getting
tools
or
clothing
near
the
battery
.
Bat-tery
electrolyte
is
a
corrosive
acid
.
Be
careful
with

brake
fluid,
as
it
can
damage
the
cars
paint
Finally,
keep
rubber
parts
such
as
hoses
and
bolts
free
from
oil
orgasoline,
as
they
will
cause
the
material
to
soften
and
fail
prematurely
.

Non-reusable
Fasteners

Many
fasteners
usedon
the
cars
coveredby
this
manual

mustbe
replaced
with
new
osesonce
they
are
removed
.
These



Fig
.
4
.
General
sequence
for
alternately
tightening
multiple
fasten-

include
butarenot
limited
to
:
bolts,
nuts
(self-locking,
nylock,



ers
.

etc
.),
cotterpins,
studs,
brake
fittings,
rol¡
pins,clips
and
wash-

ers
.
Genuine
BMW
parts
should
be
the
only
replacement
parts



NOTE-

used
for
this
purpose
.



"
Metric
bolt
classes
or
grades
are
markedon
the
bolt'

head
.

Some
bolts
are
designed
to
stretch
during
assembly
and
are

permanently
altered
rendering
them
unreliable
once
removed
.

These
are
known
as
torque-to-yield
fasteners
.
Always
replace
fasteners
where
instructed
to
doso
.
Failure
to
replace
these

fasteners
could
cause
vehicle
damage
and
personal
injury
.

See
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
for
applications
and
ordering

information
.

Tightening
Fasteners

When
tighteningthe
bolts
ornuts
that
attach
acomponent,
it

is
always
good
practice
to
tighten
the
bolts
gradually
and
evenly

to
avoid
misalignment
or
over
stressing
anyone
portion
of
the

component
.
For
components
sealed
with
gaskets,
this
method

helps
to
ensure
that
thegasket
will
seal
properly
and
complete-

ly
.

Where
there
are
severa¡
fasteners,
tighten
them
in
a
se-

quence
alternating
between
opposite
sides
of
the
component
.

Fig
.
4
shows
such
a
sequence
for
tightening
six
bolts
attaching

a
typical
component
.
Repeat
the
sequence
until
al¡
the
bolts
are
evenly
tightened
to
theproper
specification
.

"
Do
not
confuse
wrench
sizewithbolt
diameter
size
.
Fora
listing
of
the
common
wrenches
used
on
vari-
ous
bolt
diameters,
see
Basic
Tool
Requirements
.

Table
a
.
General
Bolt
Tightening
Torques
in
Nm

(max
.
permissible)

Bolt
Class
(according
to
DIN
267)
Bolt
diameter
5
.6
5
.8
6
.8
8
.8
10
.9
12
.9

M5
2
.5
3
.5
4
.5
6810

M6



4
.5



6



7
.5



10



14
`
17

M8



11



15
-



18



24



34



40

M10
233036476679

M12
3952
62
82115140

M14
6282
98
130
180220

M16
9426150
200280340

M18
130174210280
390
470

For
some
repairs
a
specific
tightening
sequence
is
neces-

sary,
or
a
particular
order
of
assembly
is
required
.
Such
special



Gaskets
and
Seals

conditions
are
noted
in
the
text,
and
the
necessary
sequence
is

described
or
illustrated
.
Where
no
specific
torque
is
listed,
Ta-



The
smoothest
metal
mating
surfaces
still
have
imperfec

blea
can
be
used
as
a
general
guide
for
tightening
fasteners
.



tions
that
can
allow
leakage
.
To
prevent
leakage
atcritica¡

joints,
gaskets
of
soft,
form-fitting
material
are
used
to
fill
in
the

WARNING
-



imperfections
.
Table
ais
a
general
reference
only
.
The
values
list-

ed
in
the
table
are
not
intended
to
be
used
asa
sub-



To
be
most
effective,
gaskets
are
designed
to
crush
and
be-
stitutefor
torques
specifically
called
out
in
the
text



come
thinner
as
the
mating
parts
are
bolted
together
.
Once
a
throughout
this
manual
.



gasket
has
been
used,
it
is
no
longer
capable
of
makingas

good
a
sea¡
as
when
new,
and
is
muchmore
likely
toleak
.
For

this
reason,
gaskets
should
not
be
reused
.
Always
plan
to
use

new
gaskets
for
any
reassembly
.
Some
gaskets-such
as
head
gaskets-are
directional
.
Make
sure
that
these
are
in-

stalled
correctly
.
This
same
logic
applies
to
any
part
used
for

sealing,
including
rubber
O-rings
and
copper
sealing
washers
.

ADVICE
FOR
THE
BEGINNER

Solt
Diameter
and
Wrench
Size
"
M5
.
...
............
....
......
.
.......
8
mm

"
M6
.
.
..............
.
.
...
...........
.10
mm

"
M8
.
.
..............
.
.
..
.....
12mmor13mm

"
M10
..
.............
.
.
...
...........
.17
mm

"
M12
...
...........
..
.
..
............
.19
mm

"
M14
.
..:
.
.........
..
.
..
.............
22
mm

Spark
Plug
Socket
.
A
special
socket
for
spark
plugs
is
the

correct
size,
is
deep
enough
to
accommodate
a
spark
plug's

length,
and
includes
a
rubber
insertto
both
protect
the
spark

plug
from
damage
and
grip
it
for
easier
removal
.
See
Fig
.
9
.

Fig
.
9
.



Spark
plug
socket
.

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THEDO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER
010-
9

B003FNG

Pliers
.
A
few
of
the
many
types
ofpliers
are
shown
in
Fig
.
10
.

Mostare
used
for
holding
irregularobjects,
bending,or
crimp-

ing
.
Some
have
special
applications
.

A
needlenose
plier
is
used
for
gripping
small
and
poorly
ac-

cessible
objects,
and
is
useful
for
wiring
and
other
electrical

work
.
A
locking
plier
suchas
theVise-Grip
®
is
useful
because

of
its
tightgrip
.

Snap-ring
and
circlip
pliers
withspecial
tipped
jacas
areused
lo
remove
and
install
snap-ringsor
circlips
.
A
Channel-lock®
or
water
pump
plier
has
adjustable
jacas
that
can
be
quickly

changed
to
match
the
size
of
the
object
being
held
to
give
great-
erleverage
.

An
adjustable
wrench
canbea
useful
addition
to
a
small
tool

kit
.
See
Fig
.
11
.
It
can
substitute
in
a
pinch,
if
two
wrenches
of

the
same
size
are
needed
lo
remove
a
nut
and
bolt
.
Use
extra
care
with
adjustable
wrenches,
as
they
tend
to
loosen,
slip,
and
damage
fasteners
.

Fig
.
11
.
Adjustable
wrench
.

B008FNG

Compared
to
a
wrench
of
the
correct
size,
an
adjustable

wrench
is
always
second
best
.
They
shouldonly
beused
when

the
correct
size
wrench
is
not
available
.
Choose
one
of
average

size
range,
about
6
to
8
inches
in
length
.

Jack
Stands

Strong
jack
stands
are
extremely
important
for
any
work
that

is
done
under
thecar
.
Use
onlyjack
stands
that
are
designed

for
the
purpose
.
Blocks
of
wood,
concrete,
bricks,
etc
.
arenot

safeor
suitable
substitutes
.

WARNING
-

A
jack
should
be
used
only
to
raise
the
vehicle
and
shouldnot
beused
to
support
the
car
for
a
long
pe-
riod
.
Always
use
jack
stands
to
support
a
raised
ve-
hicle
.

Jack
standsare
available
1n
severa¡
styles
.
A
typical
jack

stand
is
shown
in
Fig
.
12
.
The
best
ones
are
made
of
heavy
ma-

terial
for
strength,
have
a
wide
base
for
stability,
and
are

equipped
lo
positively
lock
in
their
raised
positions
.
Get
the
best

ones
available
.

Oil
Change
Equipment

Changing
engine
oil
requires
a
17mm
socket
or
wrench
to

BOO6FNG-



loosen
and
tighten
the
drain
plug
and
a
drain
pan
(at
least
8
qt
.

capacity)
.
An
oil
filter
wrench
is
not
required
.
These
items
are
Fig
.
10
.
Pliers
.
From
left,
snap-ring,



needlenose,
adjustable-joint



shown
in
Fig
.
13
.
A
wide,
loca
drain
pan
wíll
fit
more
easily
under

(Channellock©),
slip-joint,
and
locking(Vise-Grip®)
.



the
car
.
Use
a
funnel
lo
pour
the
new
oil
into
theengine
.

TOOLS

Fig
.
16
.
Multimeter
or
Digital
Volt/Ohmmeter
(DVOM)
.

BMW
Special
Tools

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-ITYOURSELF
OWNER
010-11

0012223

Some
of
the
more
challenging
repairs
covered
in
this
manual

cal¡
for
the
use
of
BMW
special
tools
.
This,
however,
does
not

automatically
mean
that
thejob
is
too
complicated
or
out
of

reach
of
thenovice
.

Many
of
the
BMW
special
tools
mentioned
in
this
manual
are
simplythe
best
thing
to
use
to
do
thejob
correctly
.
In
these
cas-

es,
the
tool
is
identified
with
a
BMW
part
number
.
See
your
au-

thorized
BMW
dealer
parts
department
for
information
on
how

to
order
special
tools
.

There
are
some
jobs
for
which
expensive
special
tools
are

essential,
and
not
a
cost-effective
purchase
for
one-time
repair

by
the
do-it-yourself
owner
.
This
manual
includes
such
repairs

for
the
benefit
of
these
with
the
necessary
experience
and
ac-

cess
to
tools
.
For
the
do-it-yourselfer,
the
need
for
special
tools

is
noted
in
the
text,
and
whether
or
not
BMW
dealer
service
is

recommended
.

EMERGENCIES

Changing
a
Tire

Stop
thecar
onas
flat
a
surface
as
possible,
in
a
place
where

you
canbe
easily
seen
by
other
drivers
.
Avoid
stopping
just

over
the
crest
of
a
hill
.
Turnon
the
emergency
flashers,
and
set

out
(lares
or
emergency
markers
well
behindthecar
.
Chock
the

wheel
(wheel
chock
located
in
trunk)
diagonally
opposite
to
the
one
being
changed
.
Passengers
shouldgetout
of
thecar
and

stand
well
away
from
the
road
.
Remove
the
spare
tire
from
the
spare
tire
storage
tray,
as
described
later
.

WARNING
-

If
a
tire
goes
fíat
while
drtving,
pull
well
off
the
road
.
Changing
a
tire
ona
busy
street
or
highway
is
very
dangerous
.
If
necessary,
drive
a
short
distance
on
the
fíat
tire
to
get
to
a
sale
place
.
tt
is
much
better
to
ruin
a
tire
or
rim
than
to
risk
being
hit
.

Take
the
jack
and
tools
from
the
tool
area
beneath
the
trunk

mat
.
Remove
the
spare
tire
from
the
tire
storage
tray
.

Loosen
the
wheel
bolts
while
the
car
is
on
the
ground,
but

leave
them
a
little
snug
.
Placethe
jack
in
the
lifting
point
nearest

the
wheel
beingchanged,
lifting
points
are
shown
in
Fig
.
1
and

Fig
.
2)
.
Use
a
board
to
provide
a
firm
footing
for
the
jack
if
the

ground
is
soft
.
Raise
the
car
only
lar
enough
so
that
the
wheel
is

fully
off
the
ground
and
then
remove
the
wheel
nuts
and
the

wheel
.

Insta¡¡
the
spare
wheel
.
Install
the
wheel
nuts
and
tighten

them
by
hand,
then
lower
the
car
.
With
all
wheelson
the

ground,
fully
tighten
the
nuts
in
a
crisscross
pattern
.
Torque
the

wheel
nuts
when
installing
the
wheel
.
Check
the
inflation
pres-

sure
of
the
spare
tire
.

Tightening
torques

"
Wheel
to
wheel
hub
.....
100
t
10
Nm
(74
t
7
ft-Ib)

Car
Will
Not
Start

If
the
engine
tucos
over
slowly
or
not
at
all,
especially
on
cold

mornings,
the
battery
may
not
be
sufficiently
charged
.
Jump-

starting
the
battery
from
another
car
may
help
.

WARNING
-

On
carswith
manual
transmisston,
push
starting
(or

tow
starting)
acar
ts
not
recommended
by
BMW
.

NOTE-

Be
sure
to
read
the
cautions
underJump
Starting
Car
prior
boosting
a
low
battery
.
Fatlure
to
followthe
cau-

tions
may
result
in
damage
to
the
electronic
compo-
nents
in
the
car
.

If
the
engine
is
turning
over
at
normal
speed
with
the
starter

motor,
the
battery
and
starter
are
fine
.
Check
to
make
sure
that

there
is
fuel
in
the
tank
.
Do
not
rely
on
the
fuel
gauge,
it
may
be

faulty
.
Instead,
remove
the
gas
filler
cap
and
rock
thecar
.
If

there
is
gas
in
the
tank,
you
should
hear
a
sloshing
sound
at
the

filler
neck
.
lf
there
is
plenty
offuel
in
the
tank,
see100
Engine-

General
for
in-depth
diagnostics
and
troubleshootingproce-

dures
.

EMERGENCIES

010-12



FUNDAMENTALSFOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER

Jump
Starting
Car

Cars
with
discharged
or
dead
batteries
can
be
jump-started
using
the
good
battery
from
another
car
.
When
jump-starting

the
engine,
always
note
the
following
warnings
.

WARNING
-

"
Battery
acid
(electrolyte)
can
cause
severe
burns,
and
will
damage
the
car
and
clothing
.
lf
electrolyte
is
spilled,
wash
the
surface
with
large
quantities
of
water
.
lfit
gets
finto
eyes,
flush
them
with
water
for
severa¡
minutes
and
cal¡
a
doctor
.

"
Batteries
produce
explosive
and
noxious
gas-
ses
.
Keep
sparks
and
flames
away
.
Do
not
smoke
near
batteries
.

"
Do
not
jump-start
the
engine
if
you
suspect
that
the
battery
is
frozen
.
Trapped
gas
may
explode
.
Allow
the
battery
to
thaw
first
.

"
Do
not
quick-charge
the
battery
(for
boost
start-
ing)for
longer
than
one
minute,
and
donot
ex-
ceed
15
volts
at
the
battery
with
the
boosting
cables
attached
.
Wait
at
least
one
minutebefore
boosting
the
battery
a
second
time
.

"
Some
electrical
system
'comfort"
features
may
not
function
correctly
once
battery
power
is
restored
.
For
example,
the
front
window
one-touch-up
func-
tion
may
be
disabled
.
Some
electrical
systems
will
need
to
be
reinitialized
Consult
the
appropriate
re-
pairgroup
formore
specific
information
.

1
.
Place
cars
close
together,
but
do
not
allow
them
to'touch
each
other
.
Turn
off
the
engine
of
thecar
with
the
good
battery
.

2
.
Connect
oneend
of
the
positive
(+)
cable
to
the
positive
(+)
post
of
the
good
battery
.
Remove
the
coverfromthe

positive
(B+)
junction
post
in
the
engine
compartment
of
the
dead
car
and
connect
the
other
end
of
the
posi-
tive
(+)
cable
to
the
junction
post
.
See
Fig
.
17
.

EMERGENCIES

3
.
Connect
one
end
of
the
negative
(-)
cable
to
the
nega-

tive
(-)
battery
post
of
the
good
battery
.
Connect
oppo-

site
end
of
the
negative
cable
(-)
to
the
engine
block
of

thecar
with
the
dead
battery
.

4
.
Start
thecar
with
the
good
battery
and
runthe
engine

at
about2,000
rpm,
then
start
the
car
with
the
dead
bat-
tery
.

5
.
With
the
engine
at
¡dle,
switch
on
the
headlights,
blower

motor
and
rear
window
defogger
to
avoid
damaging
the

cars
electrical
system
.
Carefully
disconnect
the
jumper

cables,
starting
with
the
negative
cable
on
the
engine

block
.
Turn
all
electrical
consumers
off
.

NOTE-

The
engineshould
be
run
for
at
least
an
hour
to
re-
charge
the
battery
.

Overheating

lf
the
temperature
gauge
needle
goes
into
the
red
band
on
the
gauge
face,
the
coolant
temperature
is
too
high
.
Find
a
safe
place
to
stop
and
turn
the
engine
off
.
Open
the
hood
and
allow

the
engine
to
cool
until
the
temperature
gauge
needle
is
at
the

lower
thirdof
the
scale
.
Continuing
to
drive
an
overheated
car

can
cause
extensive
engine
damage
.

WARNING
-

Do
not
remove
the
coolant
reservoir
or
radíator
cap
with
the
engine
hot
.
Undoing
either
couldspray
hot
coolant
and
cause
burns
or
damage
the
engine
.

CAUTION-

Do
not
add
cold
water
or
coolant
to
a
hot
engine
.
Engine
damage
could
result
from
the
sudden
tem-
perature
change
.

NOTE-

If
the
enginecannot
be
safely
tumed
off,
make
sure
the
air
condifioner
isoff
and
turn
the
heater
to
high
.
This
will
helo
cool
the
engine
until
a
salestopping
place
canbe
reached
.

Overheating
may
be
caused
bylow
coolant
leve¡
or
a
dam-aged
engine
drive
belt
.
Visually
check
the
coolant
leve¡
and
en-
gine
belts
as
described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
lf
the
coolant
leve¡
is
low,
check
the
filler
cap,hoses,
clamps
and
ra-
diator
for
signs
of
leakage
.
Check
for
leaks
at
the
water
pump
on
the
frontof
theengine
.

lf
no
leaks
are
found,
add
coolant
after
the
engine
has
cooled
.
The
carcan
be
driven,
but
have
the
cooling
system
thoroughly
checked
assoonas
possible
.
lf
replacement
cool
0013245



-



ant
is
not
available,
then
plain
water
canbe
used,
butthe
cool-
antshould
later
be
drained
and
refilled
with
theproper
mixture
Fig
.
17
.
Battery
jump
starting
posts
(arrows)
behind
right
frontstrut



of
anti-freeze
and
water
.
tower
.
Lift
cover
to
access
positive
post
.

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-
8



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

FLUID
AND
LUBRICANT
SPECIFICATIONS
The
fluids
and
lubricante
specified
by
BMW
are
listed
in
Ta-

ble
e
.
Shown
below
is
engine
oil
viscosity
(SAE
grade)
vs
.
oper-

ating
temperature
range
for
the
BMW
enginescovered
in
this

manual
.

Engine
Oil
Viscosity
Requirements

vs
.
Temperature

`S
EAVic
P
Q
SAE
swao

YCO

0

N

M42
engine



1
.1
I
(1
.2
US
qt
.)
M44
engine



1
.1
l(1.2
US
qt
.)
M50
engine



1
.1
1(1.2
US
qt
.)
M52
engine



1
.21(1.3
US
qt
.)
S50US
engine



1
.21(1.3
US
qt
.)
S52US
engine



1
.21(1.3
US
qt
.)

°F
80

-

1o-0
-
30
-----20

WARNING
-

The
use
of
fluids
that
do
not
meet
BMWs
specifica-
tions
may
impair
performance
and
refability,
and
may
void
warranty
coverage
.

Tablee
.
Fluids
and
Lubricants

0013227

Fluid
Approximate
Specification
capacity

Engine
oil
with
filter
change

M42
engine



5
.01
(5
.3
US
qt
.)
M44
engine



5
.0
I
(5
.3
US
qt
.)
M50
engine



6
.5
I
(6.9
US
qt
.)



API
service
SH
or
M52
engine



6
.51
(6.9
US
qt
.)



si
S50US
engine



6
.51
(6.9
US
qt
.)
S52US
engine



6.0
I
(6.3
US
qt
.)

Manual
transmission
oil

FLUID
AND
LUBRICANT
SPECIFICATIONS

See
230Manual
Transmission
for



NOTE-
fluid
specification

Tablee
.
Fluids
and
Lubricants
(continued)

Fluid
Approximate
Specification
capacity

Automatic
transmission
fluid
(ATF)
(drain
and
fill)
(additional
fluid
required
when
installing
a
drytorque
converter)

A4S
310R



See240
AutomaticTransmission
for
fluid
A4S
270R



specification
information
A5S
310Z

Final
drive
(drain
and
fill)
(Lifetime
fluid
;
no
fluid
change
required)

4-cylinder



1
.1
I
(1.2
US
qt
.)



BMW
SAF-XO
6-cylinder



1.7
l(1
.8
US
qt
.)



synthetic



oil



(ex
.
limited
slip)
BMW
SAF-X1-S
synthetic
oil
(limit-
ed
slip)

Power
steering
fluid

Al¡
modeis



permanentlysealed



Dexron
IIPATFno
drain
plug

rake
fluid

All
modeis



-
~
S
AE
Dot4

Engine
coolant

M42
engine



6
.51(6
.9
US
qt
.)
M44
engine



6
.51(6
.9
US
qt
.)
M50
engine



10
.51
(11
.1
US
qt
.)



50%
BMW
anti-
M52
engine



10
.5
1
(11
.1
US
qt
.)



freezel
50%
water
S50US
engine



10
.75
1(11
.4
qt
.)
S52US
engine



10
.75
I
(11
.4
qt
.)

CA
UTION-

Multi-viscosity
engine
oils
should
not
beused
in
the
manual
transmission
.
Use
of
such
an
oil
could
shorten
the
service
life
of
thetransmission
.

Manual
Transmission
Fluid

The
manual
transmissions
installed
in
the
E36
modeis
are

normallyfilled
with
automatic
transmission
fluid
(ATF),
although

alternative
synthetic
lubricants
may
havebeen
used
from
-
the

factory,
depending
on
transmission
type
and
model
year
.
Con-

sult
230
Manual
Transmission
for
additional
information
on

identifying
the
type
of
fluid
installed
.

Automatic
Transmission
Fluid

The
automatic
transmissions
installed
in
the
E36
modeis
are
normally
filled
with
Dexron
111
automatic
transmission
fluid

(ATF),
although
alternative
fluids
havebeen
installed
from
the

factory,
depending
on
transmission
type
and
model
year
.
Some
transmission
are
filled
with
a
special
BMW
"life-time"
automatic
transmission
fluid,
whích
does
not
requireperiodic
fluid
changes
.
Consult
240
Automatic
Transmission
for
ad-
ditional
fluid
specification
information
.

information



1



The



11-



11
lubrican
type
canbefound
on
ti
¡e
`Yype
plate"
on
the
side
of
the
transmission
.
Consult
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
foralternate
fluid
use
and
the
Continued



most-up-to-date
information
regarding
transmission
op-
erating
fluids
.

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
.