Wondering when to change the oil or what type to use in a 2004-2011 BMW 1-series petrol or diesel engine? Perhaps you're trying to find out how often to change the fluids, what the service intervals are or check the brakes and perform other common jobs? Haynes has all the routine maintenance answers for your BMW 1-series.
Modern cars like the BMW 1-series need much less maintenance than the vehicles of 25 years ago, but they still have needs. You no longer have to do a service every 6 months or change the oil every 3 months, but regular fluid changes are still essential to your Peugeot's longevity.
What follows is our quick reference guide to many of the recommended routine maintenance tasks for the 2004-2011 BMW 1-series, most of which you can do yourself at home. If you need more guidance or step-by-step instructions, check out the video tutorials in our online manual or get our traditional printed manual.
Oil Change
| Engine Oil Type | BMW Long-life 01 or 04 SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-30 fully synthetic (petrol engines) |
| BMW Long-life 04* (preferable) or 01 SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-30 fully synthetic. The lower viscosity oil is recommended in countries where the outside temperature frequently falls below -20° C (M47 engines) | |
| BMW Long-life 04* SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-30 (N47 engines) | |
| Engine Oil Capacity (including oil filter) | 4.25 litres (petrol engines) |
| 5.5 litres (diesel engines) | |
| Oil Drain Plug Torque | 25 Nm (petrol engines and M12 thread) |
| 35 Nm (M18 thread) | |
| 60 Nm (M22 thread) | |
| Oil Filter Cover Torque | 25 Nm (all engines) |
*This low-ash oil is essential for engines with a particulate filter
Transmission Fluid Change
| Manual Transmission Fluid Type | BMW Lifetime transmission oil MTF-LT-2 (yellow or green label adjacent to the filler plug) |
| BMW Lifetime transmission oil MTF-LT-3 (blue label adjacent to the filler plug) | |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Type | BMW Lifetime transmission oil. BMW 83 22 0 142 516 |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity | 1.5 litres |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.0 litres |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Filler/Level Plug Torque | 45 Nm (GS6-17 transmission) |
| 25 Nm (GS6-37 transmission, M12 thread) | |
| 35 Nm (GS6-37 transmission, M18 thread) | |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Drain Plug Torque | 45 Nm (GS6-17 transmission) |
| 25 Nm (GS6-37 transmission, M12 thread) | |
| 35 Nm (GS6-37 transmission, M18 thread) | |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Filler Plug Torque | 19 Nm (GA6L45R transmission) |
| 35 Nm (GA6HP19Z transmission) | |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Drain Plug Torque | 14 Nm (GA6L45R transmission) |
| 8 Nm (GA6HP19Z transmission with plastic plug) | |
| 12 Nm (GA6HP19Z transmission with metal plug) |
Coolant Replacement
| Coolant Type | 50/50 mixture of Long-life ethylene glycol based antifreeze. BMW 83 51 2 355 290 |
| Coolant System Capacity | 7.0 litres (petrol engines with manual transmission) |
| 7.6 litres (petrol engines with automatic transmission) | |
| 7.8 litres (diesel engines with manual transmission) | |
| 8.0 litres (diesel engines with automatic transmission) |
Other Miscellaneous Fluid Types
| Brake And Clutch Fluid Type | DOT 4 brake fluid |
| Final Drive Fluid Type | SAE 75W/90 API GL-5 |
| Power Steering Fluid Type | Dexron II or Pentosin CHF11S (marked as ATF or CHF on the reservoir filler cap) |
Other Miscellaneous Torque Specs
| Roadwheel Bolts | 120 Nm |
| Front Caliper Guide Pins | 30 Nm |
| Front Caliper Mounting Bracket Bolts | 110 Nm* |
| Rear Caliper Guide Pins | 35 Nm |
| Rear Caliper Mounting Bracket Bolts | 65 Nm* |
| ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Bolts | 8 Nm |
| Spark Plugs | 23 Nm (M12 thread) |
| 30 Nm (M14 thread) |
*Do not re-use
BMW 1-Series Maintenance Schedule
The maintenance intervals from our BMW 1-series 2004-11 manual are provided with the assumption that you, not the dealer, will be carrying out the work. These are the minimum intervals recommended by us for vehicles driven daily. If you wish to keep your vehicle in peak condition at all times, you may wish to perform some of these procedures more often. We encourage frequent maintenance since it enhances the efficiency, performance and resale value of your vehicle.
If the vehicle is driven in dusty areas, used to tow a trailer, or driven frequently at slow speeds (idling in traffic) or on short journeys, more frequent maintenance intervals are recommended.
Condition-based service
The service intervals are tailored according to the operating conditions, driving style, the time elapsed and mileage covered, instead of set distance/time limits. These factors are taken into account, and the maintenance requirements are calculated by the vehicles on-board systems, and a symbol representing the item requiring attention is displayed in the instrument cluster. Consequently, the intervals listed below are guidelines, starting values/interval forecasts, or our recommendations. For more details, refer to the Owners Handbook supplied with the vehicle.
Remote control battery
The remote control battery is recharged every time the key is inserted into the ignition switch. Battery renewal is therefore not necessary. Should the battery fail, the complete key will require renewing. Refer to a BMW dealer or specialist.
Petrol engine models
Every 250 miles
- Check the engine oil level
- Check the coolant level
- Check the screenwash fluid level
- Check the brake/clutch fluid level
- Check the power steering fluid level*
- Check the tyres and tyre pressures
- Check the condition of the battery
- Check the condition of the wiper blades
*Petrol engined models after 03/2007 are fitted with an electrically-powered steering rack, so there’s no need to check the steering fluid level.
Every 15,000 miles or 2 years (whichever comes first)
- Oil service*
- Reset the service interval display
*This includes handbrake check, and air filter and pollen filter renewal. On vehicles from 03/2007 this also includes spark plug renewal, see text.
Every 25,000 miles
- Front brake service
- Reset the service interval display
Every 30,000 miles or 4 years (whichever comes first)
- Vehicle check
- Reset the service interval display
Every 60,000 miles
- Renew the spark plugs (vehicles up to 02/2007)
- Reset the service interval display
Every 2 years
- Renew the brake fluid
- Reset the service interval display
Every 4 years
The following items have no specific recommendation concerning their inspection or renewal. However, we consider it prudent to carry out these tasks at least every 4 years.
- Check the condition of the auxiliary drivebelt(s), and adjust/renew if necessary
- Renew the fuel filter
- Coolant renewal
Diesel engine models
Every 250 miles
- Check the engine oil level
- Check the coolant level
- Check the screenwash fluid level
- Check the brake/clutch fluid level
- Check the power steering fluid level*
- Check the tyres and tyre pressures
- Check the condition of the battery
- Check the condition of the wiper blades
*Most diesel-engined models after 03/2007 are fitted with an electrically-powered steering rack, so there’s no need to check the steering fluid level.
Every 15,000 miles or 2 years (whichever comes first)
- Oil service*
- Reset the service interval display
*This includes handbrake check, and air filter, main fuel filter and pollen filter renewal.
Every 25,000 miles
- Front brake service
- Reset the service interval display
Every 30,000 miles or 4 years (whichever comes first)
- Vehicle check
- Reset the service interval display
Every 2 years
- Renew the brake fluid
- Reset the service interval display
Every 125,000 miles
- Renew the diesel particulate filter
- Reset the service interval display
Every 4 years
The following items have no specific recommendation concerning their inspection or renewal. However, we consider it prudent to carry out these tasks at least every 4 years.
- Check the condition of the auxiliary drivebelt(s), and adjust/renew if necessary
- Coolant renewal