Service Maintainance Query

[f1racer_82]

Hi all,
I recently bought a 98 318 ti with 120 k miles on it.I am going to get it serviced(Not by a BMW dealer but a German Car Specialist).oil change,trasmission flush,radiator flush, air filter, oil filter, fuel filter changes and timing belt check are the things I am planning to do.Does this sound ok or do I need to do something else.

Please also advice me on the make of the oils and filters I should use.

Thanks

[cali-ti]

what transmission (auto/manual)? from what i've read, you don't much want to touch the fluid in an automatic after that many miles (seems to go against logic, but i've read that everywhere).

we have a timing chain not a belt. have the belts checked though (there are two). i would have the diff fluid changed as well. i use synthentic oils pretty much everywhere i can (engine, manual trans, diff). i like lubro moly. others will say redline or others i'm sure. without going and actually looking in the garage, i believe all the filters i use are mahle. unless you know they've been done within the last two years, i would get both the cooling system and brake fluid flushed/filled. ate blue/gold brake fluid is very good. may also want to have the steering fluid changed (uses AT trans fluid if memory serves). that should be changed every so often as well (probably every couple years like the cooling/brake system) to keep things operating well. mine had never been changed and it got very sluggish in the winter. my shop had to flush it numerous times and luckily salvaged it so i didn't have to replace the rack or anything. keep it changed to avoid problems.

[f1racer_82]

Thanks a lot for the reply..

Mine is an A/T.Whats the diff fuild you were referring to?Sorry I am not sure abt this.

Thanks again

[cali-ti]

sorry, get into the shorthand mode

diff = differential. drive shaft comes into the differential and then the halfshafts come out which drive the rear wheels. there are two types, open and limited slip. they take slightly different fluids. the limited slip diff (LSD) fluid has a friction modifier (otherwise it will make a nice chattering noise).

[pdxmotorhead]

Originally Posted by cali-ti

what transmission (auto/manual)? from what i've read, you don't much want to touch the fluid in an automatic after that many miles (seems to go against logic, but i've read that everywhere).

If the fluid is bright colored and not coudy change it
and keep changing it an a regular schedule.
If its lightly cloudy(Sort of a brown tint) Leave it and
get ready to rebuild the tranny eventually.
If its hard to see through and has the smell of burnt toast.
Just rebuild it ASAP cause it just costs more to wait.

Dave

[cali-ti]

here is what someone on the yahoo mailing list had to say about the auto trans:

Regarding "Life time automatic transmission fluid": "lifetime" means 100,000 miles in the eyes of BMW! Change it at that interval or you will need another transmission soon after that! The special ATF is made by ESSO in Germany and sells for about $35-40 per quart. Still, do it! I have spent hours on the phone and Internet trying to find something that will work as well but less expensive than the ESSO stuff. All to no avail. Red Line said their stuff will work, but when I ask them to put it in writing, no dice. Amsoil - same thing.

EDIT: and some further info he provided:

Supposedly it's a VERY special formulation, silicon based and patented by ESSO. BMW usus it in ALL their "life time" automatic transmissions. Life time being 100,000 miles. If you are brave, use whatever but if you want, to stick with the factory stuff, use ESSO. ESSO only comes in 20 liter plastic containers, which retail for $520 or in quarts. Jaguar uses the same fluid, but they charge even more.

[stormos]

$520 !!!!!!!

[stormos]

how many quarts are needed?

[cali-ti]

i would check the manual that came with the car, not sure on how many quarts the auto trans takes. do you keep your manual in your car? if so, just check it next time you're in there

[stormos]

5 apparently. can it be bought in 5 quart quantities? or per quart.... i don't wanna by 20 and only use 25%!!!!

[f1racer_82]

Yeah but the manual doesnt mention about changing the a/t fluid at all.Everything else engine oil,brake fluid,coolant etc r mentioned but nothing is mentioned abt the a/t fluid.Has anyone whos car has a mileage in excess of 100,000 miles changed the a/t fluid?

[stormos]

i am coming upto 100,000 so want to get it changed. its finding the replacement fluid thats the worrying bit.... or should say the fluid cost!

[cali-ti]

Originally Posted by f1racer_82

Yeah but the manual doesnt mention about changing the a/t fluid at all.Everything else engine oil,brake fluid,coolant etc r mentioned but nothing is mentioned abt the a/t fluid.Has anyone whos car has a mileage in excess of 100,000 miles changed the a/t fluid?

doesn't it at least list the capacity? it should also specify the fluid type to be used.

[f1racer_82]

Nope if I am not wrong,it doesnt say anything about the a/t fluid at all.

[cali-ti]

ok, in the technical data section of the manual for my 96 ti, i see this for a/t fluid:

3.2 quarts (3.0 liter)

Use only brand name automatic transmission fluids of Dextron II. To avoid overfilling, oil levels should only be checked at maintenance intervals. Contact your BMW dealer for more information.

another point made by someone on the yahoo mailing list was that the issue was compatibility of fluids (even ones that meet the same standards!) used in the transmission (ie, they are NOT compatible and bad things happen after you make the change). thus my thought if i understand it all correctly, it would be most important to put in the SAME thing as you have in there now. the question is, how does one know for sure?

anyone? is it possible to call BMWUSA and find this out?