**kpeng's Guide To Proper E46 Maintenance**

Daddy MO, You will be fine with the Mann or Mahle oil filters, they are basically OEM.

What if your engine has been treated with the 15k mile oil change for the first 45k miles of it life? Is there any thing u can do to clean up the gunk inside the motor? I am planning on changing to Mobil 1 0w-40 every 5k.

Thanks
Anthony

Have you tried Seafoam? Use some before each oil change.

Nice Ken,

Just to add that if you're doing your own maintenance there's plenty more you should check, some frequently, some less often, a quick browse through the Inspection 1 and 2 schedules will probably highlight some items that may otherwise have been ignored by the DIYer. Don't be too daunted, mostly it just involves visual inspection, that is, just looking at things.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...check_list.htm

A load more useful info here:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php/BMW_E46

Not forgetting our very own superb stickied (all newbs should read before asking questions):
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=320965

Great references for finding part numbers here:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/
http://bmwfans.info/original/

Originally Posted by kpeng

Have you tried Seafoam? Use some before each oil change.

Just dump it in the crankcase right?

hahhaa, Ken that looks a lot like Mike Millers write up.

you left out the radiator and expansion tank, and thermostat. VERY IMPORTANT
i got 155k mile sout of my oe radiator, i just changed it last saturday. im not sure if i had the oe expansion tank
i have 155k miles + on my oem vlve cover gasket and not one leak.
i do have a leaking ps hose that runs from the res to the pump.
ps pumps do go bad, but with flushes like you say, you should last.
clutches tend to go at around 15k, mine has a slight slip right now, has had it since around 140k.
control arms, look for about 60-70k out of the stock ones, before the call joints go to sh1t. then then CAB.
diff bushings on aggressively driven stick shifts are usually good for about 130k

BMWs 1st wp update was to a metal, alu alloy looking pump, they have now switched back to a plastic type pump.
i have a alu wp that i took out last saturday and it is in immaculate condition, no play no rust except on the pulley side, hard to believe i got almost 80k miles out of it. the one i replaced it with was a heavier one, much bigger impellers about twice the OEs width, bavauto sells it for about $45

Originally Posted by kpeng

Daddy MO, You will be fine with the Mann or Mahle oil filters, they are basically OEM.

wrong, they are not OE. but approved OE suppliers.
mann filters come from 2 places mexico and germany, ive heard quality control on the mexican ones are not as good.
i just bought a box of 10 mahle filters and called it a day. mahle filters are 100% germany
i believe i payed like $60 shipped for the box.

Originally Posted by TrippinBimmer

What if your engine has been treated with the 15k mile oil change for the first 45k miles of it life? Is there any thing u can do to clean up the gunk inside the motor? I am planning on changing to Mobil 1 0w-40 every 5k.

Thanks
Anthony

you shouldnt have that much gunk at 45k miles, just doing 6-7k oil changes from hear on out run good gas, and air filters, and you will be fine.

the link to replacing the power steering fluid also shows how to clean maf sensor.
how often does the maf sensor have to be cleaned?

Originally Posted by kpeng

Do it as soon as possible. You should still be ok. Any significant amount of time longer, and you run the risk.

In regards to changing the ATF; it I am lets say at 70,000mi and I haven't changed the ATF, and I can't risk changing it now.. what happens? Just hard shifting?

I'm no where near 70,000mi but I'm just wondering..

Originally Posted by snikwad

wrong, they are not OE. but approved OE suppliers.
mann filters come from 2 places mexico and germany, ive heard quality control on the mexican ones are not as good.
i just bought a box of 10 mahle filters and called it a day. mahle filters are 100% germany
i believe i payed like $60 shipped for the box.

I didn't say they were OEM, I said they were like OEM. I'd recommend buying the packs from Tischer.

how much seafoam should i use to treat before each oil change and where do you dump it in at...ive done it for the fuel system through the gas tank....??? TrippinBimmer mentioned putting it in the crankcase???

comin through as always!!!
good Shi7 boy

kpeng,

i always though we should use Mobil One 0W40 European Cars for our cars. It is the only mobil one oil approved by bmw on the back of the container. it is what I have been using.

Originally Posted by brodaiga

oil approved by bmw on the back of the container.

Nothing wrong with that. That's exactly what BMW say you should be using.

Originally Posted by CJeansonne

how much seafoam should i use to treat before each oil change and where do you dump it in at...ive done it for the fuel system through the gas tank....??? TrippinBimmer mentioned putting it in the crankcase???

I would put a 1/2 in the crank, and 1/2 through a vacuum line (usually the brake booster line)

Originally Posted by kpeng

Power Steering Fluid - Every 50,000 miles
Very neglected, most people wouldn't even bother. In fact, I know people who have ran on the same fluid for over 100,000 miles. It may or may not make a difference, but it's very inexpensive to do, and why not give your baby some fresh fluid? Our cars take ATF fluid instead of Power Steering Fluid. I used the Royal Purple ATF, but Mobil 1 will do too. Don't get the cheap stuff, make sure it's Dextron III approved. I've read instances where people have gone over 200,000 miles on the original rack & pinion/power steering pump by changing their fluid on a regular basis. You can bleed it by opening up a line, but I just use the turkey baster technique

Quick tip, when doing this jack front wheels up off the ground to make steering easier to turn, ease strain on PS components and save tyre "scrub".

nice kpeng - the mods should be so happy to have such a stellar and upstanding forum member on the board

Originally Posted by TrippinBimmer

What if your engine has been treated with the 15k mile oil change for the first 45k miles of it life? Is there any thing u can do to clean up the gunk inside the motor? I am planning on changing to Mobil 1 0w-40 every 5k.

Thanks
Anthony

You should be fine. Look at this guy's after 92K on 15K+ change intervals.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...980&highlight=

Save your $$$ on the Seafoam, you probably won't need it. If you do decide to use it, be careful, it's a very aggressive cleaner. Change your oil soon after it's use. Aggressive cleaners can do more harm than good if used too much.