Its one of those "funny" coincidences - numerous cases of oil weeping or pouring out of FD seals, then BMW revise the refill amount down from 200 to 180 et voila! no more weeping seals (apart from those hit over the head with a big stick)
Bevel gear oil level
- Thread starter M30SJM
- Start date
This thread is like bubblegum for the mind?! 
Slight side note, my sister is a Mensa member and a prominent bank executive………….and I caught her years ago trying to put oil in her car via the dipstick tube. 
Because they changed the oil amount from 200ml to 180ml, presumably didn’t change the position of that plug, therefore, it’s no longer a level plug.
Perhaps you could post a photo on here?
M30SJM
Registered user
I dont know how to do that.
Dm me if you like, I'll send one to you
I don't get this thread lol
The op has asked for advice on filling his bevel box, as he's unsure of the correct process
Multiple people who have way way more experience on these bikes have pointed out the correct way and why that was had been chosen to fill the bevel box
And the op goes the offensive, claiming he knows better
So why ask for advice if your just going to argue the toss, and do your own thing???
My advice to the op is you do what you want to do.
When the box / seals fail at a point in the future...and you come on here asking for advice, be prepared to get a very hefty dose of
"We Told You So"
And probably very little support from the people you rubbished the first time around
The op has asked for advice on filling his bevel box, as he's unsure of the correct process
Multiple people who have way way more experience on these bikes have pointed out the correct way and why that was had been chosen to fill the bevel box
And the op goes the offensive, claiming he knows better
So why ask for advice if your just going to argue the toss, and do your own thing???
My advice to the op is you do what you want to do.
When the box / seals fail at a point in the future...and you come on here asking for advice, be prepared to get a very hefty dose of
"We Told You So"
And probably very little support from the people you rubbished the first time around
And no one has even mentioned a RIBE bit. I think on my 2008 either the fill or drain is a RIBE bit, often mistaken for TORX Enjoy.
Enjoy.M30SJM
Registered user
I started the thread after reading another thread about filling using a syringe.
I started to question myself, as to why I use what I believe to be the level plug, yet I have never read anything from anyone else about using this plug.
I swap the bevel oil at every service (6000 miles) and have never had any problems or seals fail, and that's over maybe 60k miles on a 1200 lc and now my second 1250.
I'll carry on doing it using the level plug, and will be straight on here so you can put me in my place if something happens.
M30SJM
Registered user
Yep that's the fellaI`ve never noticed a third plug on the final drive so i looked through some pics of mine and saw it - is the one circled in blue the one we`re talking about?
Hold on, are you suggesting the wheel, wheel carrier and final drive disk, must be removed just to check the oil level? You can't be serious.
Its in the service manual
180 ml
There is ZERO mention of a bloody 'level' plug at all anywhere in the BMW SERVICE MANUAL.......especially where it shows you how to change the bevel oil....
You don't need to check the level because you empty it and replace it with 180 ML and forget about it...if its leaking you have an issue you need to fix first....its not a level that is required to be checked.
180 ml
There is ZERO mention of a bloody 'level' plug at all anywhere in the BMW SERVICE MANUAL.......especially where it shows you how to change the bevel oil....
You don't need to check the level because you empty it and replace it with 180 ML and forget about it...if its leaking you have an issue you need to fix first....its not a level that is required to be checked.
M30SJM
Registered user
No you can get at it with the wheel removed.
I normally remove the wheel and give everything a good clean while I'm doing the oil.
There is no plug level. That died out with the 1150.
180ml for a change.
200ml for a totally dry rebuilt or new unit.
Too much oil on a unit without the breather will blow a seal.
They survive surprisingly well with very little oil but that's not a wise to test.
180ml for a change.
200ml for a totally dry rebuilt or new unit.
Too much oil on a unit without the breather will blow a seal.
They survive surprisingly well with very little oil but that's not a wise to test.
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If you wanted to know how much is in there, just drain, measure and refill with the correct amount.
I seem to remember reading on this site a while ago that a chap who repairs / replaces the bearings used 85w140 & never had any issues with them thereafter .
Anyone tried using this spec oil?
Anyone tried using this spec oil?
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