Quick Guide to Oil in Your E36

changing your oil will not help with an overheating problem. you will need to look at your cooling system.

I just changed my oil

165,568 miles

just a marker

Have you guys seen this yet:

Bav Auto E36 Maintenance Schedule PDF

A PDF document to help you track your oil changes and maintenance history. Great for keeping track.

Here are the ones for the other series:
Bav Auto Maintenance Schedule - All Series

Annual fuel filter replacement??? Um, no. I feel like they created that list by considering a ton of different cars, old and new, and then came up with average intervals for everything. The net result is a schedule that doesn't apply as well as it should.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Annual fuel filter replacement??? Um, no. I feel like they created that list by considering a ton of different cars, old and new, and then came up with average intervals for everything. The net result is a schedule that doesn't apply as well as it should.

im with this...


btw karl since we are in the oil thread have you tried the shell rotella yet?

I've just been topping off with whatever dino oil I can get at the gas station. I've put two different brands of random quarts in. That's not bad right?

Originally Posted by Mr Gusta

btw karl since we are in the oil thread have you tried the shell rotella yet?

No, I wanted to last time, but I couldn't find any stores in my area which sold it in the individual quarts, so I threw in the towel and just used Mobil 1 again. I'd still like to try Rotella T6, however, so I'll probably try harder to find some next time around.

Also, I sent some oil to Blackstone Labs for a full analysis, so it will be interesting to see what they report back with. That was with Mobil 1 0W40 with 3,760 miles & 8.5 months on it.

Originally Posted by cj.surr

I've just been topping off with whatever dino oil I can get at the gas station. I've put two different brands of random quarts in. That's not bad right?

Totally fine.

Its fine cj but my car was burning oil with dino 5w-30

synthetic 5w-40 has been much better.


usually only smokes a little on startup after I was running the car hard.


Karl you can usually find it at walmart in quarts, most other places has it in jugs (you would need two anyway)

and advance auto parts had it on sale two days ago (22 a jug and mann filter was 4 bucks)

just a few things to remember; first extended oil changes using synthetic oil. Even though synthetic oil will not break down as soon as 'dino' oil and it will provide better lubrication over a longer period your engine will still produce acid, varnish, soot etc that will collect in the oil. No matter how good the oil is it will not rid the engine of these contaminants. By extending the oil changes to say 9000 miles instead of 5000 miles, you will have a larger build up of contaminants in your oil over time causing increased wear. Changing at 5000 mile intervals keeps the contaminant levels down. Personally I change my oil at 5000km or 3000 miles
even though I drive 200km/day with most of it being on the highway.

second: Rotella oil is made specifically for diesel engines which use a different fuel and usually run at higher temperatures. The newer diesel oils (API CJ-4 classification) are made for Tier III and IV emissionized engines which do run at higher temps than older engines. This oil is also made to be used with a low sulfur content fuel. Although I do not know what using API CJ-4 classified oil in your car will do I would worry about what it may not do since this oil is made for hotter operating temps and a different fuel.

Just something to think about.

I didn't wanna be that butt and ask " what should I use' but I kinda have to, I haven't owned this car for even a year yet. I live in Arkansas and its hot in the summer (85+, 90s avg) so I use 20-50 and I haven't driven this car in the winter but anywho. I'm about to drive this car to Moreno Valley, California from Arkansas next month so two questions. Should I drive there using 20-50 or should I use something else? Also, What should I use in Moreno Valley, California?

Driving style: I don't go slow... ever, I heard I can't do that in cali. In Arkansas go 80+ or MOVE!!!

Yes its a daily driver and maybe one day I will track it but its going to be a while.

1995 BMW 325iC

I've own my E36 for about a year and half. I did my oil change sometime last year and I'm due for another right now. I've used Castrol GTX 20w-50 High Mileage and Mahle filter last time. The original post said to stick to OEM filters. Is there anything bad about using FRAM or STP filters? They look the same as the Mahle's. Any thoughts?

Generally speaking, they are not as high of quality as the Mahle filters, but if you change your oil and filters regularly, it shouldn't pose a problem.

With that said, you stated that the last time you changed your oil was sometime last year. Even if you don't drive your car very many miles per year, it should have the oil changed at least twice per year. How many miles and how many months are you putting on your oil before changing it?

+1 to what ZeGerman said. I used Fram filters for my last 2 changes and didn't see any negative effects. I change my oil religiously every 3000mi though. And when it comes to weights I'd recommend sticking with what the owners manual says: 15W-40. I personally use Rotella but everyone has their preferences.

Sent from my DROID4 using Bimmer App

I stick to what the manual says. It lists temp ranges for each recommended oil weight. Brand is a personal preference but im sure you know to not get the generic "store brand".

Sent from my DROID4 using Bimmer App

I've always used 10w 40 castrol magnetex, go into my local parts store, and by a miracle they are selling it for £17.50 per 4 litres!!!! Cheap quality oil! Thumbs up!! And she runs so sweet with new oil.

this may be a dumb question to you bimmer guys but i just bought my first bmw and its also my first non american vehicle, on all my other builds i have always used fram oil filters. is it a bad idea to use on my e36? or does it not matter?

Originally Posted by jarrowood

this may be a dumb question to you bimmer guys but i just bought my first bmw and its also my first non american vehicle, on all my other builds i have always used fram oil filters. is it a bad idea to use on my e36? or does it not matter?

A good question but honesty Fram are not of the best quality.

I personally buy my Mann or Bosch filters from http://www.rockauto.com when they're on sale. I buy a case at a time.

thanks for the help

so I should be running 20w 50. Im in seattle area. It never gets down to zero here. Rarely does it reach 100 but I do travel to nevada and Idaho where it often goes over 100

Has anyone ever added Militec-1 to their vehicle?
I have yet to try it in my M50 engine, but on nearly all my other vehicles and power equipment, and especially my guns.
http://www.militec-1.com/

Originally Posted by Naptown Pete

Has anyone ever added Militec-1 to their vehicle?
I have yet to try it in my M50 engine, but on nearly all my other vehicles and power equipment, and especially my guns.
http://www.militec-1.com/

I make it a habit to never trust the claims of people whose websites look like that. If they can't take the time to put together a site in more than what? 16 bit with a 32 color palette? Then I sure as hell don't trust them to put time and money into R & D for what they're foisting off on an unsuspecting public.


My $0.02.


Ed

Originally Posted by jonesin

I make it a habit to never trust the claims of people whose websites look like that. If they can't take the time to put together a site in more than what? 16 bit with a 32 color palette? Then I sure as hell don't trust them to put time and money into R & D for what they're foisting off on an unsuspecting public.


My $0.02.


Ed

I usually don't tell many people about Militec 1.
Ask any special forces types...
Or M-1 Tank mechanics.
Or snipers.

Yeah, look at my avatar. This isn't my first rodeo. I've been at least affiliated with the military for 22 years now. And for my weapons, I use either CLP, or Hoppe's No. 9. Always have, never an issue. But they still aren't cars.

Originally Posted by jonesin

Yeah, look at my avatar. This isn't my first rodeo. I've been at least affiliated with the military for 22 years now. And for my weapons, I use either CLP, or Hoppe's No. 9. Always have, never an issue. But they still aren't cars.

Wait wut??

How old are you?

I'm 34. I joined Army Cadets in 1991.