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diff and gear oil

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  • 06-11-2007 11:17pm
    #1
    Captain Slow IRL
    Registered Users Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,
    Does anyone know what oil goes into the gearbox and diff in a '98 318is? (BMW) I know it's supposed to be sealed for life, but I'd like to change it anyway.
    Thanks,


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    #2
    JohnCleary
    Registered Users Posts: 10,210 ✭✭✭✭JohnCleary


    'life' generally means 100k miles.

    BMW generally change these oils in Inspection 2 *I THINK*


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    #3
    Andrewf20
    Registered Users Posts: 3,193 ✭✭✭Andrewf20


    As far as I remember SAE90W hypoid gear oil was recommended when I refered to the BMW manual my brother has at home for the E36 for the diff. No shops I went into had it including Joe Duffys. In the end I got a bottle of standard Castrol diff oil that you can pick up in most motor factors with no issues since. Thats what I used to top mine up last year (E36 coupe also). If you are having problems getting the diff drain and fill plugs out, let us know as I had to resort to a few techniques to get them out.

    In terms of the gearbox oil, there should be a coloured sticker on the side of the gearbox, which tells you which oil to put in it. Theres 3 or 4 different types. Or even easier, go to realoem.com, type in your VIN number (should be EPxxxxx, x = number) in the "serial number" box, then select manual transmission (if yours is manual of course), then click on the picture of the gearbox and it will tell you there what oil you need. See pic attached for a June 1998 318is from that site as an example. The site shows a sticker on the diff saying no oil change required as attached, but like yourself, I choose to ignore this.

    For the diff, just keep an eye out for the word "Hypoid" on any bottle. This oil type is usually used in diffs where the teeth of the gears appear twisted(http://www.greatbasinrovers.com/imgbin/catimgs/spiralbvlgears.jpg), and "non-hypoid" oils is usually used in the transmissions with straight teeth.


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    #4
    MercMad
    Registered Users Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭MercMad


    You should also ensure the diff oil is an "EP" type for Extreme Pressure. eg EP90.

    AFAIK all BMW use auto trans fluid (ATF) in their gearboxes, even the manual transmission cars !


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    #5
    Captain Slow IRL
    Registered Users Posts: 3,651 ✭✭✭Captain Slow IRL


    thanks for the answers - atf in a manual box?!?


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    #6
    Andrewf20
    Registered Users Posts: 3,193 ✭✭✭Andrewf20


    It does seem strange alright. I got my Gear box oil done by Robert Furley in Kells when the car was up getting other things done, so Im not sure exactly what he put in it. If a bit nervous, call into a main dealer and confirm it takes ATF if you want. TBH I reckon they will give you same answer because they use this realoem.com website as well. I see them on it all the time at the parts desk. When I asked them about the oil change for the diff they looked at realoem.com and said it doesnt need changing, read exactly from the website!


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