Inside Line: Comma

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A few notes about the BMW 5-series (up to 2011):

Engine Oil

For this particularly 5 Series, BMW list only one or two specifications for engine oil which should be covered by Comma Syner Z 5W30. However, always use Comma’s application guide to make sure you get the right product for the vehicle you are servicing.

With service intervals varying according to the use of the car, oil top up between services can be critical. Supplying the customer with a top up pack and reminding them that they should be checking the engine oil regularly might also be prudent here particularly if you have noticed that the oil needed topping up when it was brought in. A quick check before you change might be a good way of reinforcing the importance of top up to the customer. With longer service intervals and the increased use of sensitive components like turbochargers this makes checking your oil more critical than ever before.

Brake Fluid

BMW use one or two specifications for brake fluid for this era of 5-series and again you can rely on Comma’s online application guide to identify which product is suitable for the vehicle you are servicing.

Most people don’t think of brake fluid as a service item however, as with many manufacturers, BMW specify a change interval of 24 months for this 5 series. Brake fluid degrades over time by absorbing water from the atmosphere, which lowers its boiling point. Boiling point is a critical factor in brake fluid performance because of the amount of heat generated during braking. If the boiling point of the fluid is too low then continuous or hard braking may cause the brake fluid to vaporise which in turn can result in a loss of hydraulic pressure within the system. The message here is that brake fluid is a safety critical item so check and change when specified.

Power Steering Fluid

BMW use one or two specifications for power steering fluid for this 5 Series and again you can use on Comma’s online application guide to identify which product is suitable for the vehicle you are servicing.

Coolant

Xstream G48 is the recommended product for this 5 Series, as it is for most of the recent BMW vehicles.

Transmission

For this particular 5 Series, BMW uses a range of transmissions that includes mostly manuals but also some automatic alternatives. As well as different fluid requirements, change intervals and capacities will vary depending on the type of transmission so we would advise you to either consult the handbook to ensure that you get the right product for the vehicle you are servicing.

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