This might be a dumb question, but I have my car off the ground trying to check the tranny fluid and from the location of the only plug I can find I can't see how to check it or even add fluid to it.

Question #2: I pulled the plug at the top of the pan and about a half a quart of fluid gushed out. Was it overfilled? I have all four wheels off the ground and the car fairly level.

Assume auto trans? Very specfic procedure for checking level. Check this DIY for the procedure (towards bottom of writeup). Note that the car must be level, running, trans fluid at a certain temperature. If checked with engine off, it will appear overfilled. unfortunately, it is now underfilled.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Tranny_Fluid_Auto/E36-Tranny_Fluid_Auto.htm

Thanks