Forgive me, for I have sinned...

[billb]

Indeed you have my child. For this I'm afraid I shall have to remove your pants and play with your squirel, but remember it must remain our little secret!!

5.5 quarts is what it took (with just a little spillage). Put 2.5 in as Bill suggested, then backed it down off my ramps and up 35 feet to the top of my driveway, where I could straddle the gutter and have the car level with enough room underneath for me to continue to service the transmission. Borrowed a Raytek IR thermometer from work (used to check bearings and switchgear), and when the main pan got to about 95F, started getting the level close to right.

Of course, the filter kit does not include new crush washers, so I've got a slight leak in the fill plug. I had a spare washer for the drain plug (same size as the oil drain plug), but no spare for the fill. Didn't want to overtighten, so I'll pick one up from the dealer Thursday. I'll add just a touch back when I make the swap.

Shifts seem smoother, both up and down. 2nd gear seems quieter than it was (could hear it in the cabin before). Ran across a TSB about lengthening the A/C condensate hoses away from the transmission housing to lower noise; might try that in the near future.

So, the clock is ticking. Last serviced at 92k. Now serviced at 140k. We'll see if it'll go to 170k, and I'll do this again.

[billb]

The original fill plug crush washer was aluminum, and rather than drive 25 miles to the dealer for a $1.44 washer, I thought I'd try locally. Does anyone know the original specs for this washer? It's not listed in the ETK.

Edit: Here are the dimensions. My buddy that works at the dealer brought them to me, $2.71 delivered for two of each. He must get a great deal!!

fill plug washer: copper, 24mm OD, 18mm ID, 1.5mm thick, p/n 24 11 1 219 750
drain plug washer: aluminum, 20mm OD, 14mm ID, 1.5mm thick, p/n 24 11 1 218 851

Hope that helps someone down the road...

[billb]

Quieter through the gears. Seems to grab up a little tighter in each gear. Shifts are noticeably smoother. Upshifts under mild throttle are smoother, not as much KA-CHUNG shift. No leaks yet, especially with the new crush washers

Unrelated: Thanks Ryan for the Castrol rebate note. Picked up enough to put 5W50 in the 318is for the winter. I usually run M1 15W50, but decided to try 0W40 in it earlier this year. The timing chain started making some noise with that; put the 15W50 back in and it went away. So, thought I'd try the 5W50 as a compromise, plus the rebate makes it $4.31/quart from Advance Auto...

[ryan roopnarine]

plus the rebate makes it $4.31/quart from Advance Auto...

wow, i had no idea it was that expensive... i just go without until they have sales, and then stock up.

[Russell]

0w30 castrol syntec-made in germany (only at auto-zone) engine oil will be put in my car over the holidays. Heard it is great oil. Closer to 40 weight than 30 and does not shear down like mobil 1 0w40 is reputed to do.