New guy/new car... now, wtf is this for?

[pomadepete]

Hello,

Quick intro... name is pete, live in seattle, work at the Times, like dogs, long walks on the beach and quiet evening at home.

Now, what is that reservoir for near the brake mc/reservoir on the driver down from the fuse box a bit... the car is an 1988 325ic. There only appears to be one line comming off it and its going to the abs box? The cap and dipsitic do not say what type of fluid to use (and the dipstick shows low, so i need to ad, also, when do you check this level? when hot? running?). The fluid is sort of black... could be brake fluid? does not look like tranny fluid... help! Thanks, Pete

[Halon]

Now, you see I always heard you could use brake fluid for transmission fluid. and vice versa...

[edit]

[BMWJNKY]

Originally posted by Halon@Jun 1 2004, 02:15 PM
Now, you see I always heard you could use brake fluid for transmission fluid. and vice versa...

[edit]

DO NOT PUT BRAKE FLUID IN THAT RESV.!!!!!!! Yes, brake and ATF fluid are both a hydrolic fluids, but are formulated very differently. It's like engine oil and diff. oil are both oils, but you wouldn't but diff. oil in your engine would you? That is the resv for your power stearing. It takes regular Dextron III ATF fluid. The cold/warm full line is the line about 1/2" up from the bottom, the hot full line is a 1/2" up from that. Some of the 5, 6, and 7 series with self-leveling suspension take a special fluid, but your E30 uses regular ATF.

[pomadepete]

thanks! pete

[DANM]

just a note to add. you mentioned the fluid is black and cloudy,change it your power rack will thank you. Mine was the same and i used a mighty vac to empty the resivoir ,filled it,ran the car for a few days and repeated the procedure.
after a year it still looks clean.