BMWM Coupe1998Overview/bmw/m-coupe/1998/base/
E36 platform

1998 BMW M Coupe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 M Coupe.

The 1998 BMW M Coupe, built on the E36 platform, is a distinctive two-door sports coupe that requires 5.3 quarts of oil with a viscosity of 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 meeting API SJ standards. While the model’s recorded complaint history begins with the 1999 model year—which saw 12 complaints, the highest in the 1999–2001 range—the 1998 edition precedes this data, placing it before the earliest documented reliability concerns and suggesting a period of relative stability before the model’s complaint trend declined to just one by 2001.

Model year200820072006200520022001200019991998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJOEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11421716192. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11421716192 alt 11421709800
Engine air filter13721247404 alt 13721730449
Fuel filter13321740985
Spark plug12129064617 alt 12129063428
Battery61217586960 alt 61218381738
Front wiper blades61611387678 alt 61619070581
Serpentine belt11281437449 alt 11281743193
Thermostat11537511083 alt 11537511580

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length158.7 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height50 in
Wheelbase96.5 in
Curb weight3086 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.3 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts86 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 89 ft-lbs, MT: 78 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs16 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.4-0.8 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerBMW

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75-2.26 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-17 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature203 °F
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-17 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum51.0-58.0 @ idle psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum65.0-97.0 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket81 ft-lbs / 18-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle81-96 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket18-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle49 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket81 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle81-96 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 1: 4 ft. lbs., Step 3: 704 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 14 ft. lbs., Step 3: 704 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Cast Iron Engine Block:

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees; Aluminum Engine Block:90 degrees
129.5 ft. lbs.29.5 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5014.5 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 100,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
8
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B3407142023-10-13Service Brakes, HydraulicFunctional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a…
SIB-34-04-142014-12-01Service BrakesBMW: RUNNING NOISES HEARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WITH HIGH BRAKE LOADS; THROUGH WHEEL…
1202991999-02-01Engine And Engine CoolingCUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. *TT
7101991999-02-01EquipmentPROCEDURES ON REPLACING M-MOBILITY SYSTEM. *TT
6516981999-02-01EquipmentPROCEDURES ON INSTALLING I-BUS WIRE FOR THE CD CHANGER. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific M Coupe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 M Coupe take?

5.3 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 M Coupe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.