BMW E36 Forum

Just bought a BMW 1996 318i.

Problems:

1. A light won't work at on the cluster the rest of the illumination cluster is fine, what do l have to do to make it illuminate just on the right hand side where the temp gauge is?

2. I have inspection coming up on the cluster with orange and red light, what does that mean and how do l remove it?

3. Want to change the oil and oil filter, what oil do people recommend and how hard is it to change the oil filter?

your help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance.

anyone? could someone please tell me how to remove the inspection sign on the dashboard.

thanks in advance.

Hi and welcome.

1. That is more than likely to be just a bulb thats blown, the hard part is getting to it, you have to remove the top 2 screws the hold the plastic part holding the cluster in. They are located at the top of the glass/plastic that protects the cluster. Then you have to fiddle around to get the cluster to pop out from behind the steering wheel. Tehn its just a matter of replacing the bulb.

2. What does the inspection light look and where on the cluster is it, if the service reminder light then here is a link to resetting it
http://www.bmwe36blog.com/2007/02/24/re ... ice-light/

3. I've used a 0w 40 on mine and i find it very good, the only thing though is if your car tends to burn oil this will burn a hell-of-alot quicker as its a very thin viscousity. The oil filter is very easy, i dunno about the 318 but on my 323 its very easily located. Its just behind the neck at the top of the radiator outlet hose. It sticks up quite high and there is a black plastic cap over it so you cant actually see the filter. You just twist off the black cap with a filter wrench or belt wrench and your filter will be under it and just pulls out.

Hope any of this helps!!

Hi 96-323,
thanks alot for your help, very much appreciated, l also just noticed my rear left turning signal indicator light is not flashing. all other work fine except for that one, l checked the relay and it goes tick tick tick real fast, when l put the right signal on its goes tick tick tick real slow and works fine, what should l be looking at?

thanks bud.

Thats the rear indicator on the left needing changing. Change the bulb and you will fix the fast ticking/flashing.
No problem at all, let me know how you get on with the rest of the problems and if they dont fix them ill point you in the right direction to the cause.

magnificent, you were 100% right changed the globe and it was brilliant. Will let you know if l have any other problems, while l was at it l put rear LED ligts looks so much better will get a pic when l have the chance.

cheers