Will it be OK to use gearbox oil in the roof motor?
Roof Motor Oil
- Thread starter LtRipley1983
- Start date
The roof motor uses hydraulic oil, not transmission oil. 250 milliliters of BMW hydraulic oil (Aral Vitamol ZH-M) costs less than £20, so I wouldn't take any risk.
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Newtricks
Dedicated Member
No, don’t use transmission oil, and the roof motor oil suggested by Opie is OK for Audi/VW, but no for BMW Z3. The oil should be the colour of champagne, if its darker it need replacing rather than simply topping up - in the post of my Topaz Blue 2.8 I detailed a refurb of the roof pump including replacing and bleeding the oil (it’s actually pretty straight forward and doesn’t really require any special tools. Eurocarparts stock the correct oil - I’ll reply again with their part number
Newtricks
Dedicated Member
Took less to find than I thought - Correct oil can be sourced very cheaply (£10/litre) from Eurocarparts and is part no; 963220150. Good luck, happy to provide any help if you PM me
Good info, thanks I'll replace mine next year.
How much does it take? And I was also told trolley jack oil is fine?
Newtricks
Dedicated Member
I can’t remember how much it takes, but I bought a bottle from Eurocarparts and still have some left. I’ve no idea whether you could substitute jack oil (I’d lean towards scepticism as the oil from Opie I got was very thin too, but didn’t work). For the sake of £10/litres I’d just get the right one.
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Stephen.
Stephen.
Newtricks
Dedicated Member
Only been at it since buying the Z3 which needs a bit of TLC, but I’d have to agree wholeheartedly.
I forgot to mention; when filling the reservoir keep it as vertical as possible, and don’t fill beyond the indicated max. Change the roof to manual and raise and lower 6 or so times to vent the system - you’ll probably find it requires a top up after doing so to bring it back up to the level.
I forgot to mention; when filling the reservoir keep it as vertical as possible, and don’t fill beyond the indicated max. Change the roof to manual and raise and lower 6 or so times to vent the system - you’ll probably find it requires a top up after doing so to bring it back up to the level.