Service & repair
E36 & E46 Scheduled Maintenance (Inspection I & II)
BMW’s Inspection I and Inspection II maintenance for the E36 and E46 — fluids, filters, plugs, brakes and a full look-over, on our estimate first.
BMW split the E36’s and E46’s routine maintenance into an Oil Service, Inspection I and Inspection II, with the service indicator in the cluster counting down to each. Inspection II is the bigger one and adds items like spark plugs, the cabin filter and a closer look at the brakes and chassis.
These cars are now 20 to 35 years old, so we treat the factory list as the minimum: rubber, plastic and fluid age matters as much as mileage. Anything we find beyond the list goes on the estimate for you to decide.
Signs it needs doing
- The service indicator is at or past Inspection
- You’ve just bought the car and have no service history
- It’s been a year or more since the last service, whatever the mileage
What the job covers
- Engine oil and filter
- Air filter, cabin (microfilter), and spark plugs at Inspection II
- Brake pads, discs and fluid checked; fluid condition tested
- Coolant level and condition, hoses and expansion tank checked
- Suspension, steering and exhaust looked over on the lift
- Lights, wipers and tire condition
- A written list of what we found, by how soon it needs doing
What it costs
Every car is different at this age, so we price it once we have seen yours. Yes. You get a written estimate by email with a private link, and you approve it job by job — or decline what you don’t want. We won’t go over the estimate you approved by more than Colorado allows (10% or 25 dollars, whichever is less) without asking you first.
Questions
Will I know the price before you start?
Yes. You get a written estimate by email with a private link, and you approve it job by job — or decline what you don’t want. We won’t go over the estimate you approved by more than Colorado allows (10% or 25 dollars, whichever is less) without asking you first.
Can you reset the service indicator?
Yes — it is reset as part of the service once the work is done.
Where to find us
Where to bring it
Book ahead so the car has a bay and the right person when it arrives. We get back to you to agree a time.
Book an appointment3 Series Parts Service
The service shop
More of what we do
Oil serviceOil and filter change for the BMW E36 and E46 with the right oil for your engine, plus a quick look underneath while it is on the lift.
Cooling system overhaulRadiator, expansion tank, water pump, thermostat and hoses for the E36 and E46 — the plastic cooling parts these cars are known to crack.
VANOS repairDiagnosis and repair of the VANOS variable valve timing on E36 and E46 sixes — seals, solenoids and the M3’s high-pressure VANOS.
E46 rear subframe reinforcementInspection and repair of the E46’s rear subframe mounts — the known floor-cracking problem — with reinforcement plates welded in.
Book an appointment
Bring your E36 or E46 in
Nothing is booked or charged until we have talked, and any price comes as a written estimate you approve first.
Body damage, paint or rust? See our body shop. Parts for your own work: shop used E36 and E46 parts. Both shops.
Independent repair shop; not affiliated with or endorsed by BMW AG or BMW of North America. BMW is a registered trademark of BMW AG.