Hello folks. im so glad i found this forumn. i was wondering. since i love doing my own diy projects. i would like to perform a complete tune-up on my car.

1- what are all the parts needed.
2-is their a cheapers parts store that i could get all items listed; instead of going to the stealers.
3-or should i have a shop do the work; in which i dont trust.

thanks a lot.

Dude, a tune-up is a snap. I'm partial to Autohausaz.com and oembimmerparts.com for parts, though there are a bunch of good places listed on www.e38.org.

The parts are different for the 740 than for the 750, so I'll let someone else take that one.

well a tune up should include preventative maintenance IMO.....

Has the radiator been changed?
Is the Viscous fan in good condition (check for stiffness)?
When was the water pump last changed?
You may consider changing the tranny fluid, however it is not a straightforward or cheap job.

You may consider changing your spark plugs too.

Basic stuff like an oil change is easy, the filter is in an incredibly easy-to-access place.

okay thanks. i know how to do the oil change. and the spark plugs.

2:are their any calibration to the spark plugs or do they come already pregap at the parts store. as for the fan and the radiator. i am the third owner and dont have that info. however i am doing this to start my own maintenece log. i have changed both cabin and filter under hood. and air filter as well.

transmission tune-up i know how to do that. my car has onkly 87,000 miles. and i would love to get a history log started for the heatlh of the car. anymore info would be appreciated.

p.s and i did not see any info about tune-ups on 38.org






well a tune up should include preventative maintenance IMO.....

Has the radiator been changed?
Is the Viscous fan in good condition (check for stiffness)?
When was the water pump last changed?
You may consider changing the tranny fluid, however it is not a straightforward or cheap job.

You may consider changing your spark plugs too.

Basic stuff like an oil change is easy, the filter is in an incredibly easy-to-access place.

After reading your post above, I have to ask what exactly you mean by a tune up?

To me it would mean a basic service so oil, filters, plugs and perhaps coolant.

IIRC autohaus have pregapped plugs for your car.

Check the build date on the radiator. There should be a sticker on the passenger side. If its around the original build date, id change it. Its not worth the terminal issues it could cause. 87K is probably a bit early for plugs and tranny fluid, but I dont think id risk it on the rad if its 10 years old.

The intensity of the "tune up" to me depends on the milage on the car. A tune up could include brakes and plugs, or just oil and filter. How many miles on you E38?

their is no such thing as a tune-up any more, they use to call tune-up for older cars like a miner carb adj or timing, now days they call it sceduald maintnance, you should not need many things replaced because most of it is computer controled.

ditto...a "tune up" is like what Rome2001 stated...adjust carb, adjust timing, change points, etc...you either don't have some of these components or the adjustment is done by your car's ECU. :) If you have all of the supplemental books in the binder that has you owners manual...there is a Service Booklet that contains the info on when and what maintenance should be performed on your car.

IF you do NOT have this booklet...click this link for a description of what is performed in the Oil Service & Inpsections I & II: http://www.savagebmw.com/Service/content_service_Intervals.htm

The owners manual refers to the SERVICE INTERVAL lights (those 5 green lights on your instrument cluster) which alert you when service maintenance needs to be performed:
http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/service_normal.gif - Normal Condition
http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/service_oil.gif - Oil Service Alert
http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/service_inspection.gif - Inspection Service Alert
http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/service_overdue.gif - Overdue Inspection Alert