New old ride

[SEBZX79]

Picked up a 1998 m3 convertible in Dakar yellow. It has 70k miles on it and looks extremely clean.
Looking to change all the fluids, what do you recommend? Would a m1 0w40 work?

 

[MCompact]

M1 0W-40 would work fine. Information on other appropriate fluid types can be found here.
The E36 M3 is an absolutely wonderful car- and a tremendous value(for now anyway).

 

[Georgiey22]

If you can, would love to see a photo? May we ask what you paid?

 

[daves87rs]

Cool....

 

[JHZR2]

Awesome! Post pictures - always loved those.

M1 0w-40 is a great oil for that car. You could also consider pennzoil platinum euro 5w-40, as well as the HDEO 5w-40 oils. That is not an engine that needs a crazy 60wt as I recall.

I really am a fan of the Amsoil manual transmission fluid for BMW gearboxes. While many claim that redline is the way to go, I always found that the amsoil fluid held great shifting characteristics longer.

Im not sure there's really a best diff fluid, but if you have an LSD, Castrol XJ, which is a 75w-140 LSD lube is the right stuff. Im not sure there's a real issue with going 75w-90 in that car, you might consider 75w-110 though if youll be driving it hard. Amsoil SVG is my favorite.

Also get some G-48 blue coolant and do a flush of the radiator at minimum. Make sure there's no plastic parts in there that need to be replaced (water pump impellers, etc).

Pictures!!

 

[OVERKILL]

I echo the above. Pics!!!

 

[SEBZX79]

 

[SEBZX79]

 

[SEBZX79]

 

[SEBZX79]

 

[SLCraig]

Oh my god that is such an awesome score.
Enjoy that car, one of my all time favs. Gorgeous ride man.

 

[SEBZX79]

I work for the dealer so I did not pay retail at 5500 plus tax tags.

 

[MCompact]

Cue the practicality nerds chanting in lockstep that you should have bought an anodyne appliance...

 

[SEBZX79]

Yeah I have not bought an appliance in years life is too short and you can always make more $$$

 

[Jarlaxle]

In Jersey, you can actually lower the top, what...five weeks out of the year?

 

[RhondaHonda]

Nice score! I've always loved those cars and from the pics yours looks great. Enjoy!

 

[SEBZX79]

Cleaned up with the top down. Car is in great shape no rust anywhere no dings no scratches and the paint is 8 out of 10 needs nothing.

 

[GenaFishbeck]

Originally Posted By: SEBZX79
Picked up a 1998 m3 convertible in Dakar yellow. It has 70k miles on it and looks extremely clean.
Looking to change all the fluids, what do you recommend? Would a m1 0w40 work?


Wow, what a goodlooking ride! Of course, we're partial to yellow.

So you know, your 1998 BMW M3 does not require a full synthetic 10W-60 like the newer M3s, but Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40 Full Synthetic with PurePlus Technology would be a great choice for this vehicle. PurePlus Technology is our patented, revolutionary gas-to-liquid process which converts natural gas into high quality full synthetic base oil with fewer impurities than traditional base oils made from crude oil. Hope this helps! - The Pennzoil Team

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: GenaFishbeck
Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40 Full Synthetic with PurePlus Technology would be a great choice for this vehicle. PurePlus Technology is our patented, revolutionary gas-to-liquid process which converts natural gas into high quality full synthetic base oil with fewer impurities than traditional base oils made from crude oil. Hope this helps! - The Pennzoil Team

[off-topic]
GenaFishbeck,
couple years ago i met a young guy with a new 2012 Kia Optima. Your oil impressed the guy that much that he was doing 30k miles oil changes with your oil, with 2 filter changes during that interval....
[/off-topic]