CDV on '01 M3 (usa)?

Doesn't look like it:

I didn't think so. So it's me, right?:)

When was the tranny oil last changed? You may want to try Redline or Royal Purple synthetic, good stuff that in most cases, helps smooth out the shifting.

Hmmm...just bought the car but never asked that question. What kind of service is recommended for the 6-speed? Mileage, frequency, product brand and name? That sort of thing. How 'bout the clutch? This is all new to me (M3) so I appreciate your understanding my sometimes lengthy message body. TIA!

Despite BMW's insistance on "lifetime" fluids, at a minimum, you should follow the old service intervals:

- brake fluid flush every 2 years (unless tracked, then every year)

- coolant flushed every 2 years

- transmission and differential fluids changed every 30,000 miles

Sounds like good advice to me. Thanks!

Are you saying they claim to have 'lifetime' brake fluid?

Dave asks:

Not yet, but it is interesting that when BMW went to its *free* maintenance program, the fluid intervals for the tranny and differential changed from every 30,000 miles to "lifetime". Nothing else appeared to changed. Further, its my understanding that BMW coolant is now recommended to be changed every 3 or 4 years, instead of

1. I wouldn't be surprised to see BMW come out with "lifetime" brake fluid in the future....

'99 E46 - Coolant change called for every 4 years. '03 Z4 - "Lifetime" coolant. Curious about other 2003 & newer models.

Tom

As per pervious posts but M3 has different brake fluid changes (24K I think?). I get mine done every year. If you drive hard I'd do the safe just to be on the safe side.

Its interesting that BMW has *extended* the time to change its coolant from every 2 year to 4 years for the E46 and apparently "lifetime" for the Z4.. It shouldn't be a surprise that BMW has not changed the formula of its coolant, its still Valvoline Zerex G48 (at least in the US):

I wonder if BMW still uses plastic radiators in these newer cars?

You may be on to something there. The coolant will not effect how the plastic parts age one iota. Perhaps BMW realizes that these same plastic parts will disintegrate long before the coolant does? Hence, "lifetime" of the system...

Correct, coolant will not affect plastic parts. However, the continual use of plastic radiators and expansion tanks tells me that people need to realize BMW considers 100,000 miles to be lifetime. After that, you need to get rid of it and buy a new one.

If you're the type that keeps cars beyond 100,000 miles, then you ought to following the old service intervals for fluids, i.e., flush brake fluid every year or two; flush coolant every 2 years; and change tranny and differential fluid every 30,000 miles. Further, plastic radiators and other bits should be replaced every 60,000-80,000 miles. Do these simple things and your car should *easily* last past 200,000 or more!