XSeries-forum

As the car has now been sat for pretty much two years with only occasional engine starts (regular battery charging though) I think I really ought to change the oil and filters.  I'd like to do the brake fluid to, but I'm told from reading this forum that really should be done with the proper kit attached to make sure all the valves cycle.  With no MOT or Tax on it to take it in for a couple of days I'll have to leave it unless I can find a safe way to do it.  I don't expect my good old easy bleed is the right kit these days.....

Any preferences in terms of which filters etc I should be looking at?  More importantly, any to avoid. There do seem to a few manufacturers covering the Air/Oil/Pollen filters etc.  Eurocarparts (are BMW Service Line cheaper?) seem to have most of the bits I'll need to do the oil as well and that will probably be the usual Castrol 0w30 or 5W30 Edge.  It's the same engine as the E53 (tuned to 204bhp) so most of the bits should be the same.

Richard

Hey Richard, we usually look to you for information like this. I serviced the E53 when I first got her, I don't believe in the 20k oil change intervals, unless they are a daily motorway mile muncher.
I got the parts from ECP, I didn't order on line but called in to the  nearest depot to me. The guy behind the counter advised me that their was good and bad oil filters, as I've heard from other sites, some can break up after a while and cause problems, he pointed me to a certain make and said they were equal to OEM. Sorry only got their part number : 501110280, list 17.02 net £7.11
Pollen filters were £14.20 net.
Castrol Edge, Turbo diesel,  £37.99 per 4 ltr. X2

This was over the counter no discount codes.
As for the brake fluid, I just had mine boil tested. It's only done 10 k in the last 2 years, since last change at BMW.

Oil you know which and where - Asda and ECP's have it cheap.

Filter, phone BMW ask which one (unless you know already) and get the equivalent form whoever's cheaper.

Brake fluid - unless it's boiled should be ok but if worried, get Jason to do it after the car is able to be driven.

Teaching you to suck eggs here mate - put it down to lack of sleep!

Cheers guys, it's been a few years since I actually wielded a spanner to do a 'proper' service.......my 1991 Mk3 Cavalier to be precise.

Ramps will be here tomorrow and I'll have a word with BMW Parts to see what the service line costs are.  It only looks like £100 all in with the oil being the lion's share.  Decent synthetic is getting expensive!!  I found a 25% disc code for parts but not for oil.  We don't have a decent ASDA nearby - 25 miles away!!

Amazon are doing the oil for under £28 delivered.....

After that it's just a case of reset the service distance (doesn't use countdown lights) and the orange 'clock' symbol, and I know there's a how to here somewhere...... :type:

As it's HRH's car I need to get this one right, or the Brownie Point count will get zeroed!!  :'(

Richard

Oil and filter for now then.

Is the breather done?

Go ECP online - there must be an oil discount somewhere...

[quote="Sanj"]
Oil and filter for now then.

Is the breather done?

Go ECP online - there must be an oil discount somewhere...
[/quote]

Spheroids......forgot the blasted breather.....no idea which one it has.  July '05 build so it could be either..... :wall: :wall:  get that wrong and the only brownie points will be    and I'm seeing enough of that at present :puke:

ECP have the 'monthend25' discount at the mo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

oem filters are very cheap, ramps? you will be lucky if it will go up ramps i have a set and even the transit needs a block of wood to get up them!

Bought a set of extenders to even the slope, but I'll adapt further if I need to.....even if I have to use a couple of trolley jacks to raise the car and then slide the ramps into place - securely chocking the rear wheels so no roll back, and inserting something behind the front wheels to keep everything steady.  I don't like working under these supports but a 2 or 4-post ramp is out of my budget.....

Got all the covers off the top of the engine now - easier than the E53 - and now need to confirm the part number of the vortex breather to see if I can leave it in place as it is one, or change it if it isn't.  Annoyingly it only has a 10-digit part number which doesn't match any BMW Part!!  1 928 403 998 which doesn't match anything. >:(

UPDATE:  That's the old 10-digit number for the 'bog roll' so I'll have get a new one from BMW tomorrow plus it's gasket.  So much for the old type going in late 2004!  New number are all 7 or 11 digits.

I'm sure the air filter has dinosaur fossils on it and has never been changed.......

Richard

OK, Air, pollen and vortex done.  Oil to do over the weekend.

The power steering fluid (ATF) looks a little cloudy so that could do with replacing.  Have any of the assembled host with E46 cars in their past ever done this?  I'm assuming there's no bleed nipple as such and so one of the hoses to the pump has to be undone?  Either that or some fluid is removed from the reservoir, topped up with new, run for a minute and repeated until it looks clean.

I can't find any E46 diesel service manuals - petrol yes, but not diesels so just wondered.  I expect it's probably not a lot different from the E53 in terms of process, but just in case.....and I will search t'internet for how tos.....preferably one that doesn't need half the bottom of the car removing as I suspect it might if not using a 'turkey baster' type change.

Richard