Service Tips?

Getting my 90 000km Service done tomorrow.

It's not an inspection I or II.

It's pretty much an in between service. I do my servicing every 10k's.

I've decided while it's there to do everything and freshen it up.

Does anyone have any tips on what else to do and if i've missed something.

This is what i'll be doing:

*Change Oil, Filter etc
*Check if car is running at full potential
*Full inspection (susp/engine/tranny/diff etc)
*Check engine codes
*Check tranny and diff mounts
*Valve adjustment?
*Tranny fluid/service
*Diff fluid/service
*Compression test
*Check subframe for cracks (even though its a convertible)

Sounds pretty comprehensive. Brake fluid and coolant flush whilst you're at it depending on when they were last done.

Awesome, i'll make a note of that. Anything else... ? What's involved in a SMG service?

Originally Posted by M3N7AL

Awesome, i'll make a note of that. Anything else... ? What's involved in a SMG service?

DSC off, S6, hold the shifter forwards, put your foot down on the throttle (the quicker the better), release shifter, counter-steer.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Is an SMG Service just a transmission fluid drain/change?

Originally Posted by M3N7AL

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Is an SMG Service just a transmission fluid drain/change?

I believe so.

Awesome.. If anyone else has any other tips or things to look out for/check it'd be great to hear them.

Some people have been mentioning Fuel Filter change..

Originally Posted by M3N7AL

Awesome.. If anyone else has any other tips or things to look out for/check it'd be great to hear them.

Some people have been mentioning Fuel Filter change..

You can go nuts if you really want to. I did the fuel filter in my 325 at 140,000kms and it was still perfect but because I did it myself it was fun (besides fuel in my eye) and only cost ~$100. Are you DIY'ing or paying to have someone do all the work for you?

If you are DIY'ing then you could do things like belts, pulleys, fuel filter and a couple of other things if you really wanted to as the parts are relatively cheap. Probably under $300 for everything I just mentioned.

If you're paying someone else to do it for you then it might not be worth it. You'll probably get stung 2 hours labour for a fuel filter alone so there's no point if it's in perfect condition.

A workshop is doing it for me, not charging me full price, mate's rates. But if what you're saying is true then i'll prob leave it.

Any other critical/important things i need to do that you've done?

How can you tell if a fuel filter is due for changing though?

Hey man, might as well change the Power Steering fluid whilst ur at it changing the other fluids. It's easy n cheap to do and is quite often overlooked. Use ATF fluid.

I'd also change the Vanos filter as well but its a easy DIY job.

Get ur Valve clearances checked if you haven't done Inspection II, other than that everything else u listed or mentioned is spot on.

Sent from my GT-I9305T using Bimmer App

Is checking valve clearances the same as a valve adjustment?

Originally Posted by M3N7AL

Is checking valve clearances the same as a valve adjustment?

Pretty sure checking the clearances is the process to check whether an adjustment is required. Could be wrong, I'm sure someone will confirm / deny.

Ok sweet. I'll just tell them tomorrow to see if it needs a valve adjustment.

Originally Posted by M3N7AL

Is checking valve clearances the same as a valve adjustment?

Same thing. If they check your clearances and they're out, they willl hopefully adjust them! As said previously, definitiely check your vanos filter, simple 5 min DIY...

Ok thanks.

This kit at ECS includes O-rings as well, $21. I change it out every service, I have vanos paranoia Already had my vanos intake bolts swapped over to the newer style ones.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-M3-...ter/ES1892454/

How much does it cost to have the Vanos bolts replaced to new ones?

I had a stack of other work done at the time, so not sure. Make sure you get the new bolts, BMW have changed them from what was installed originally. These are the ones

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-M3-...05536/ES16140/

Massive DIY write up here on it, but unless you are mechanically minded, its a dealer job. This poor poster had bothe exhaust hub tabs sheared off as well... My tabs were both good fortunately

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=411224

I was just told today that the tranny oil doesnt need changing as it's long life oil... Hmmm, the mechanic i spoke to at my mates workshop said not to change the SMG oil.

He also told me not to change the Vanos filter as that's something that is more for E36's. And he said the Valves don't need adjustment.

Can someone help?