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Alternative oils
If these grades of oil are unobtainable
on occasion, you can top up the oil
level in between oil changes, if only a
small amount of oil is needed, with
other oils. One of the following catego-
ries must be printed on the container of
the oil you use:
Petrol engines:
>Preferred: BMW Longlife-01;
or, for 316i, 318i, also
BMW Longlife-01 FE
>Alternatively: BMW Longlife-98,
BMW Longlife or ACEA A3.
Diesel engines:
>Preferred: BMW Longlife-01
>Alternatively: BMW Longlife-98,
BMW Longlife, ACEA A3/B3 or
ACEA A3/B4.
Coolant
Do not top up the cooling system
while the engine is hot, otherwise
you may scald yourself on the resultant
coolant steam.
Antifreezes and corrosion inhibitors are
hazardous to health. Store it in sealed
original containers, inaccessible to chil-
dren. Antifreezes and corrosion inhibi-
tors are flammable. For this reason,
take care not to spill these liquids on
hot parts of the engine; the liquids
could ignite and cause burns. Comply
with the instructions on the contain-
ers.<
When disposing of used antifreeze
and corrosion inhibitor, comply
with the relevant environmental protec-
tion laws.<
Checking coolant level and
topping up
Check the coolant level with the engine
cold, approx. 206 (687):
1. Turn the cap of the expansion tank
slightly counter-clockwise until it
starts to open, then allow the pres-
sure to escape before opening it fully
2. The coolant level is correct when the
upper end of the red float rod is at
least level with the edge of the filler
pipe, see arrow. The end of the rod
can also protrude by no more than
2 cm (3/4 in), in other words as far as
the second mark on the float rod, see
diagram beside filler neck
3. Top up the coolant if necessary. Top
up slowly until the correct level is
reached – do not overfill.
Engine oil
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