BMW E36 engine, gearbox and differential oil choice
What oil goes into the E36 manual gearbox and how much?
ATF oil suits the manual gearbox, for example Mobil ATF 220, and the amount is about 1.1 litres. Add the oil through the side filler hole until the level reaches the edge of the hole. The label next to the filler plug tells the type: red or yellow means D4 ATF, green or no label means MTL gearbox oil.
What oil goes into the E36 rear differential?
A limited-slip differential takes 75W-140 oil; suitable ones include Castrol SAF-XJ and Mobil VS-500. Almost all 75W-140 rear axle oils also work in other cases.
How much oil does the E36 differential take?
A large differential with a limited-slip (325) holds about 1.7 litres of oil, a small differential (320 and four-cylinder engines) a little over a litre. The amount alone does not tell whether the differential has a limited-slip.
What engine oil should I use in an E36 M52 engine and how much does it take?
In the M52 engine, 5W-40 oils such as Teboil Diamond and Castrol Magnatec have proven to work. The M52B28 takes 6.5 litres of oil. The S50B30 oil change capacity is 5.5 litres; opinions on viscosity vary, so follow the manufacturer's instructions.