Routine maintenance (BMW 3 Series E36)

The scheduled maintenance corresponds to BMW Inspection I. It should be carried out when the Inspection message lights up together with the yellow LED.

If you do not adhere to the service interval indication, then scheduled maintenance is performed every 20,000 km, or at least once every 2 years. Maintenance work that should be performed less frequently (complies with BMW Inspection II) are provided at the end of the scheduled maintenance plan.

Note: To ensure normal engine operation, it is recommended to visit a BMW service station as part of the maintenance to interrogate the diagnostic system fault memory there. If any electronic component fails, the electronic engine management system switches to emergency operation mode without the driver noticing. The consequence of this is that the engine does not operate optimally (increased fuel consumption).

Engine and exhaust system

• Querying the diagnostic system fault memory.
• Changing engine oil and oil filter.
• Replacing the air filter element (In conditions of increased dustiness, replace more often, but not less than every 2 years).
• V-belts: Check the condition and tension of all belts.
• Cooling and Heating System: Checking Coolant Concentration (every 2 years), external inspection with control of tightness and absence of contamination.
• Exhaust system Check for damage.
• Engine: External inspection of leak areas.
• Fuel line and fuel tank: Check the gasket, tightness and condition of hoses and tubes.
• Diesel engines: Removing water from the fuel filter.

Clutch, gearbox, transmission

• Clutch: Checking the tightness of hoses, pipes, joints; checking the brake fluid level.
• Gearbox and rear axle: Check for leaks, check oil level.
• Automatic transmission: Check fluid level, top up if necessary, ATF.
• Half shafts: Checking the integrity and tightness of the joint cuffs.
• Cardan shaft: Checking the wear of the cardan discs.

Front axle and steering

• Steering tips: Checking for play and fastening, checking dust boots.
• Ball joints: checking the dust boots.
• Steering: Check for play, check for tightness of cuffs, tighten mounting bolts to the required tightening torques.
• Power steering. Check the fluid level, top up if necessary. Check the tightness of the steering gear, power steering pump and all hoses and connections.

Body

• Door hinges and locks: Lubrication.
• Hood hinges, upper and lower parts of hood locks: Lubricate with universal grease.
• Bottom protection and cavity preservation: Check.
• Seat belts: Checking integrity.
• Sliding roof panel: Clean guides and lubricate with silicone spray.
• Cooling system and heater: Replacing the microfilter (if any).

Brake system, tires, wheels

• Wheels: Removal, checking the condition of wheel disks (also from the inside), cleaning of wheels and installation with the prescribed tightening torque of wheel bolts.
• Tires: Checking tread depth and tire pressure; checking the integrity and wear of tires (including spare tire).
• Brake system: Checking the brake fluid level and thickness of the brake pads. Checking the condition of the outer surfaces of the brake discs.
• Brake system: Brake fluid replacement (once every two years). Checking the integrity and tightness of hoses, tubes, brake cylinders and connection points.

Electrical equipment

• Lighting system: Check and, if necessary, adjust headlights, check rear lights and direction indicators. Check horn.
• Sound signal: Test the sound signal.
• Windscreen wiper: Checking the wear of the blades.
• Glass and headlight washers: Checking operation, adjusting jets, adding fluid, checking operation of headlight washers.
• Battery: Checking voltage and electrolyte level.

Additionally, every 40,000 km:

• Models 316i/318i produced before August 1993. (m40 engine): Checking the timing belt tension.
• Automatic transmission: Oil change.
• Rear axle gearbox: Oil change.
• Gasoline engines: Replacing spark plugs.
• Diesel engines: Replacing the fuel filter.

Additionally, every 80,000 km:

• Automatic transmission: Oil change.
• Gasoline engines: Replacing the fuel filter.
• Handbrake: Check the thickness of the brake pads, replace if necessary.
• Front wheel bearings: Checking for play.
• Engine Compression: Checking.
• Exhaust system: Tighten the nuts on the exhaust manifold and front exhaust pipe flanges to the specified tightening torque.
• Models 316i/318i produced before August 1993. (m40 engine): Replacing the timing belt (at least once every 4 years).

(The original article is available on the website: bmwman.ru)