changing the transmission and diff oils
 

Hi,
Wanted to see if you have any tips related to changing the trans and diff oils. My '91 318is last had these oils changed at 125k miles, it now has 202,600 miles.

Can it be done without jacking up the car? If not, would it be best to jack up just the front or is lifting the whole car the way to do it?

Second, I bought these oils several years ago and wonder if it's still ok to use them or if because of the milage I should get stock oils?

I have 2 qts of
RedLine MTL 70W80 GL4 for the tranny

RedLine 75W90 GL5 + Hypoid Gear Oil for the diff.

**Added
Also while I asking, the entire timing chain mechanism was changed at 125k, I don't hear any strange sounds but does the tensioner need to be changed?

Thanks for your opinions.

Diff oil can be changed without jacking car up, although if you are big or tall, it may be too much of a squeeze. However, when I changed my tranny oil, I did have to raise the car.

Your new oil should be fine even though its been sitting up for 2 years. And its gotta be better than the stuff that's in the tranny & diff now, right?

I would think the timing chain set up is good to go also. I'm unfamiliar with that setup as my 325i has a belt.

Dane
'88 325i

I have done the e30 and e36 many times over the years.
I found the easyest way is to drive the car front onto ramps and jack the rear up and place on jack stands. Make sure the car is reasonably level.

I use a funnel fitted into a 4 ft piece of clear vynyl hose and feed it through the engine compartment for the trany, and through the rear wheel well for the diff.

I get someone to pour while I'm under the car watching the level. If you take your time and keep an eye on the amount in the clear hose, you won't waste any.

Always make sure the car is warm before you drain the oil, so it will all come out. If you turn the rear wheels by hand while the diff is draining, you will get alot more old oil to drain out.

Also turn the rear wheels by hand when filling to make sure the diff is full.

I always recheck after a short road trip, but thats just me. I've never had to add any.