1998 740i oil change

[Marz740il]

Can anyone give me a pretty good desciption on how to change the oil on a 98' 740i? Or does anyone have a link that shows how?

Thanks,
Mike

[lincolnmaster80]

Before I go off with the rest, in this link the dude mentioned a 740, so this might be of more use to you than the rest of everything else...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/205279/16
-OR-
http://home.comcast.net/~vicent/trannye38.html

And on with the rest...

If I'm not mistaken, the tranny's on the E38's were 'sealed for life.' I don't believe their is even a dipstick for the oil, as far as I've been told, on some of the E38's at least. I even recall reading that there is no drain plug, like you'd see/expect on a Ford, for instance. Not too sure what model tranny.

Based on that, here's one process that I've heard. To change the oil, you have to have a lot of patience. If I remember correctly, you have to drain the oil through the tranny oil cooler pipes. I'd also highly recommend that you change the tranny oil filter as well. The filter you will want to get is a genuine "FILTRAN", as these seem to be the only one's that are specially reinforced to stand high pressures and won't collapse and restrict oil flow as opposed to filter the oil...you'll save money getting the FILTRAN one. To refill, you basically fill it back through the pipes...it seems that it can be tedious process on the E38's...

I found this for a 1996 750iL:
http://www.e38.org/zf-5hp30-service.html
Check the magnet just to see how much metal shavings are on there...maybe clean off where nessesary/just because.

Another link for an unknown modeled E38:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/206524/3

Save/favorite this site in a BMW folder...it will can come in very handy and there's a lot of info for you to look at...a little unorganized but it's still usefull:
http://www.e38.org/

[Marz740il]

Thanks for that reply, very helpful. Another thing I have been reading alot about and am kindof confused is what gas is most recommended for the 98 740? Also deffinitly use synthetic oil correct?

Mike

[lincolnmaster80]

That info is in the manual...

If you don't have it, you can obtain a PDF version at the very bottom of the e38.org I gave ya.

BMW recommends a MINIMUM octane of 91 AKI (Anti Knock Index), of course, UNLEADED FUEL ONLY! (Page 25 of the 1999 version) This is what my 1990 manual says for my E32.

For the engine oil, there is usually a preference for individual car owners. Personally, I'd NEVER use a synthetic for the simple reason that 10W-30 I researched and found it to have the best lubricating properties, even above synthetics. If I remembered that rating rightly, it's also called "DEISEL ENGINE OIL" usually labeled on the bottle, but you may want to use synthetic. This is what page 144 of 1999 manual says:

----------
Engine oil specifications:

The quality of the engine oil selected has critical significance for the operation and service life of an engine. Based on extensive testing, BMW has approved only certain engine oils.

Use approved "longlife oils" only.

If it should ever occur that it is impossible to purchase an approved "longlife oil," you may use small volumes of the "special oils" approved by BMW for topping up between oil changes. You may use oils with the specificaiton API SH only if the special oils are also not avaliable.

>Call 1-800-831-1117, or ask your authorized BMW center for details concering the specific "longlife oils" or "special oils" which have been approved<

Viscosity ratings

Viscosity is the oil flow rating as established in SAE classes.

The selection of the correct SAE class depends on the climatic conditions in the area where you drive your BMW.

BMW recommends the use of oils in the SAE classes SAE 0W-X or SAE 5W-x, where 'X' stands for a specification such as 30, 40, or 50.

These oils may be used for driving in all ambient temperatures.

If you are using SAE class 10W-X, you may continue to drive for short periods at temperatures below this limit. However, the engine's cold-starting characteristics may be impaired.
----------

The diagram on that page shows basically the temperature ratings the oils can "survive" at. Longlife oils 0W-X/5W-X has a minimum temperature rating of -30C/-20F. Longlife oils 10W-X have a min temp rating of about -15C/5F.

I can vouch for the cold weather start. It's very sluggish turning over at -20C/0F on my E32 V12. I hope I'm not bombarding you with redundant info...is this your first 7?

[Marz740il]

haha your not it's all helping. and yes this is my first 7.

Thanks

[lincolnmaster80]

Well, I think you'll find it's a bittersweet relationship...well, more sweet than bitter, but when it comes to repairing and maintenance, it can be bitter on the wallet...

BUT, if you keep on top of the maintenance, you'll be able to keep ahead of the game on some things and it'll end up saving you money in the end.

Also, thought it was interesting that the manual never mentioned/recommended the use of synthetic oils. Only "longlife" or "special oils"...unless, "special oils" is refering to synthetic, but then it said about "special oils" that only use it where normal oil is not readily avaliable. Synthetic oils were around in 1999 and BMW seems to recommend 'normal' oils over synthetic...

In Jaguar's, for instance, synthetic oils will actually cause problems instead of cure them. An example was when after my dad sold his 89 XJ6 Sovereign, the next owner put synthetic differential oil in his car and it caused a mad whining noise...and the Jag manual said, in BOLD lettering, DO NOT USE SYNTHETIC OILS!

Thought this was worth pointing out...

[Chris V]

Originally Posted by lincolnmaster80

That info is in the manual...

BMW recommends a MINIMUM octane of 91 AKI (Anti Knock Index), of course, UNLEADED FUEL ONLY! (Page 25 of the 1999 version) This is what my 1990 manual says for my E32.

My 1998 740iL manual calls for a minimum of 89. It will run fine for quite a while on 87, however, but I would only recommend that in emergencies.

[lincolnmaster80]

Originally Posted by Chris V

My 1998 740iL manual calls for a minimum of 89. It will run fine for quite a while on 87, however, but I would only recommend that in emergencies.

Thanks for that Chris V, I didn't know that! I'll file that info away for future reference!