Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 M Roadster.
The 1998 BMW M Roadster is built on the E36 platform, specified exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission and an engine oil capacity of 5.3 quarts requiring 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ viscosity grades, while posting EPA fuel economy figures of 18/26/21 mpg. Within the model’s 1998–2008 production span, this inaugural year registers the highest volume of owner complaints at 19 cases—centered on structural issues—despite carrying zero recalls. This concentration of feedback establishes the 1998 variant as the most documented reliability reference point in the series history, distinguishing it from later model years that trend toward significantly lower complaint rates.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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.
| Engine oil filter | 11421716192 alt 11421709800 |
| Engine air filter | 13721247404 alt 13721730449 |
| Fuel filter | 13321740985 |
| Spark plug | 12129064617 alt 12129063428 |
| Battery | 61217586960 alt 61218381738 |
| Front wiper blades | 61611387678 alt 61619070581 |
| Serpentine belt | 11281437449 alt 11281743193 |
| Thermostat | 11537511083 alt 11537511580 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Manual 5-spd |
| Overall length | 158.7 in |
| Overall width | 68.5 in |
| Overall height | 50 in |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3086 lb |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 50/50 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 18 / 26 / 21 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.3 qt |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 7.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 86 ft-lbs |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | AT: 89 ft-lbs, MT: 78 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 22.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 22.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 16 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 16 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 88 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Ignition Coil Primary Resistance | 0.4-0.8 ohms |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.75-2.26 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 650 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 650 cca |
| Pressure Test | 14.5 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 13-17 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 203 °F |
| Pressure Test | 14.5 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 13-17 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 176 °F |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum | 51.0-58.0 @ idle psi |
| Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum | 65.0-97.0 psi |
| Brake Application | WITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 81 ft-lbs / 18-22 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81-96 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs |
| Brake Application | WITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 18-22 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 49 ft-lbs |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 81 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81-96 ft-lbs |
| 1 | 4 ft. lbs., Step 1: 4 ft. lbs., Step 3: 70 | 4 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 14 ft. lbs., Step 3: 70 | 4 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
Prep Cast Iron Engine Block:
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 degrees; Aluminum Engine Block: | 90 degrees |
| 1 | 29.5 ft. lbs. | 29.5 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 | |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 | |
| 1 | 14.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 50 | 14.5 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1998 BMW M Roadster launched the generation with 19 federal complaints—the highest count in the dataset, tied with 2000—and no recalls or investigations, a pattern that holds across every model year in the record. Complaint volume remained essentially flat through 1999 (18) and 2000 (19) before dropping sharply to 5 in 2001, suggesting that early-production cars carried issues that BMW addressed over the production run rather than through formal recall action. The dominant complaint area for 1998 is Structure, accounting for 14 of 19 complaints, with the remainder spread across power train, air bags, and suspension; the data does not specify root causes for any of these. TSBs held steady at 5–7 through 2001 before rising to 22 by 2008, likely reflecting aging-vehicle service guidance rather than a defect trend. As the first year of the generation with peak complaint volume concentrated in a single category, 1998 represents the least refined point in the production arc; a buyer would likely face fewer issues sourcing a 2000 or 2001 model, where complaint counts dropped significantly without any corresponding increase in recalls or investigations.
All 19 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B340714 | 2023-10-13 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a… |
| 000799 | 1999-08-01 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION ON REVISED SCHEMATICS DEVELOPED FOR 1998 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM… |
| 120299 | 1999-02-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. *TT |
| 651698 | 1999-02-01 | Equipment | PROCEDURES ON INSTALLING I-BUS WIRE FOR THE CD CHANGER. *TT |
| 620798 | 1999-02-01 | Unknown Or Other | INSTALLATION OF VOLTMETER. *YC |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
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.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.