Oil change procedure + Manual

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   So the car's going on the dyno Saturday and I'm doing an oil change first.  I have no idea what the dealer put in for the oil service just before I picked it up 500 miles ago so I'm replacing it.
I'm assuming (without a manual) that it'll just be a matter of draining the old and pouring in the new just like every other car.  But am I right?
Also, are there any workshop manuals for this car (E36 3.2 M3)?
Andy

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__Andy__ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 03-December-2004 Status: Offline Points: 123	Topic: Oil change procedure + Manual Posted: 09-December-2004 at 02:14
	So the car's going on the dyno Saturday and I'm doing an oil change first. I have no idea what the dealer put in for the oil service just before I picked it up 500 miles ago so I'm replacing it. I'm assuming (without a manual) that it'll just be a matter of draining the old and pouring in the new just like every other car. But am I right? Also, are there any workshop manuals for this car (E36 3.2 M3)? Andy

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stevesingo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 03-January-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 795	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 02:50
	If I were you I'd cange the oil after the dyno run. The logic being if the oil in new (500miles) even if it is a mineral oil it still should offer adequete protection under the extreme stresses of the dyno run as it is of a reletivly short duration. The oil will degrade though so it will need changing afterwards. I think this is a better option than putting in fresh oil, having the dyno run and degrading the new oil then running with the degraded oil for the next 6/12 months. Just a thought Steve

__Andy__ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 03-December-2004 Status: Offline Points: 123	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 04:20
	That's something I didn't think of. But surely a quality oil (Silkolene pro s 5W40) would be more than capable of holding its own during a couple of squirts up to the redline. After all the reason I'm spending so much on decent oil is because this engine will be no stranger to the redline for the next 9000 miles :) Andy

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 04:26
	I really can't imagine one or two dyno runs is going to have any significant impact on the oil quality. Do you change your oil after a couple of hours out blatting around the b-roads? Or after every track day? Having unknown quality/viscosity of oil in prior is a greater risk IMO.

Lancastrian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 10-July-2004 Location: Lancashire, UK Status: Offline Points: 760	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 04:38
	Was the oil service done by a proper franchised dealer? If so they will have used proper oil. Ask them what they use and then you will know. Unless it is of a type you just don't trust why not leave it until you would normally change your oil - 6,000 miles +. I agree with Tim that the dyno should be no more demanding on the engine than an enthusiastic drive.
	E30 M3 Project - Specification TBC

__Andy__ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 03-December-2004 Status: Offline Points: 123	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 05:19
	Well I bought from a "specialist" BMW dealer. I was happy with the deal and the car, but I have no idea if their servicing department (or agent) has any credibility. I asked the salesman about the oil and he just didn't know or seem to want to find out. To my mind the 40 quid or so it's going to cost me to know exactly what's in there pays back tremendously in peace of mind. I can treat his "free" oil change as a kind of luxury system flush :) I've always used engines the way they were intended (I do a bit of track work with the bikes, and will also with the M3) and I'm sure that 90% of the time any old dinosaur oil will do an admirable job, but for the 10% of the time I'm near the rev limiter I really need to know I've got the best protection available, and I simply won't be able to relax until I know about the oil. Andy

rr_ww Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 04-May-2003 Location: Location Location Status: Offline Points: 971	Posted: 09-December-2004 at 14:18
	Has the E36 got a thermostat controlled Oil Cooler? Might be worth running it for a longer time, 10 mile drive even, just so you know the coolers open and the oil "trapped" in it will get changed as well. Opie get my recommendation for Oil. Order at 12:30 one day on your doorstep before 10 the next. THATS service
	Rich.

__Andy__ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 03-December-2004 Status: Offline Points: 123	Posted: 10-December-2004 at 05:20
	And that's just what I did. 20 litres the next morning. Ace and good price too. I'll be changing it after a 130 mile rip to Norfolk from Surrey lunchtime today, so I'm hoping it'll be up to temperature.... Andy