Service & repair
E36 & E46 Oil Service
Oil 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.
An oil service on an E36 or E46 is the oil, the cartridge filter in its housing on top of the engine, and the drain plug washer. The right oil depends on the engine — the M50 and M52 sixes, the M54, the four-cylinders and the M3’s S50, S52 and S54 are not all the same.
While the car is up we look for the usual leaks: the oil filter housing gasket, the valve cover and the oil pan. If we see one, it goes on the estimate; nothing is done without your yes.
Signs it needs doing
- The service indicator shows Oil Service
- The oil light flickers at idle when hot
- It has been a year since the last change
What the job covers
- Engine oil to your engine’s specification
- Oil filter and drain plug washer
- Leak check underneath
- Service indicator reset
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
What oil do you use?
Oil that meets BMW’s specification for your engine. If you have a brand you prefer, say so in the booking and we’ll quote it.
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
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.
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.