BMW Oil Change DIY! doityourself

[Alphatek45]

Not needed by most wrenchers but I came across it and figured It may give someone who normally wouldnt do it the needed push to give it a shot. Keeping one less set of grubby paws on their car. Especially for those that use the local oil change shop...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StWae8JBKaY

[adb1028]

Great, I need to do this soon. The oil is still clean, but I have no idea what the previous owner put in. Time to switch to OEM oil. Better to be safe then sorry

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Absolutely. My previous owner changed the oil about 4000 miles before I bought it. When I got the car home I immediately had the oil changed. I just like to know what's inside the car.

[danewilson77]

^ I like the way this guy thinks. Bet he didn't do tranny and diff fluids like me though? I really like to know whats in mine....plus I have 250k miles more than Marcus has on his...hehe

[Marcus-SanDiego]

My gearbox oil and diff oil gets changed in 1,000 miles.

Previous owner never changed those.

[danewilson77]

This is such a noob diy thread. Sorry...been holding that back.

Please don't anyone post one to check your tire air pressure....

<3 u Alphatek...and oddly and contradictorily I am glad you posted this.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

What about one for removing and replacing grills?

[Alphatek45]

I knew it was noobsauce but I guarantee there will be some one at some point that sees it and says "Hmmm I could prolly do that"...
There are guys out there that have never held a hammer that can tackle this, and may never try... But yeah, I hesitated before posting lol.

[danewilson77]

I knew it was noobsauce but I guarantee there will be some one at some point that sees it and says "Hmmm I could prolly do that"...
There are guys out there that have never held a hammer that can tackle this, and may never try... But yeah, I hesitated before posting lol.

Playin....someones gotta keep you on your toes. And the last thing I wanna see, is a "license plate diy"

[Linh]

Just changed the oil on a bmw for the first time, and used this DIY as a reference. Very nice step by step instructions.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

So this did turn out to be a good DIY! Nice.

[danewilson77]

Lol....

[Linh]

So this did turn out to be a good DIY! Nice.

So. . . was that you in the video?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Not me.

[danewilson77]

Yeah it was.....you lie!!!

[Alphatek45]

Not me, just stumbled across it.

[Alphatek45]

Glad it helped btw :)

[Linh]

Yeah, took less than 10 minutes. . . if you didn't count the long break I took while the oil drained. =)

[quikryptonite]

Yeah, took less than 10 minutes. . . if you didn't count the long break I took while the oil drained. =)

Did you buy a 36mm six point socket?

[ryrules1]

Thanks for posting this, coming from a subaru I had no idea where the filter was. Nice to watch the video instead of reading the boring manual.

[JHiggy]

Was just going to post a DIY on how to replace the passenger side power window switches after I knocked it out in 4 mins tonight. Would have fallen into the license plate and/or "how to flush your toilet" categories. I must admit though, I did bask in my magnificence and knocked down an adult beverage afterwards to celebrate.

[danewilson77]

Thanks for posting this, coming from a subaru I had no idea where the filter was. Nice to watch the video instead of reading the boring manual.

Should be up your alley then.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1830-BMW-E46-ZHP-DIY-and-Preventative-maintenance

[Nivo]

News paper? really? the funnel isnt enough? lol That is why most Oil bottles are shaped the way they are, use the correct side and the oil is delayed.

[quikryptonite]

So, another question. I've been thinking about buying some Rhino ramps and not use jack stands to change my oil. When I get the car on up on the ramps, do I need to jack up the rear of the car as well so the oil can drain out properly? Or will I get all of it out just by getting the front end of the car up in the air?

When I look at the pictures, I can't tell if it's been molded to funnel all the oil down and out. Or if it is level on the bottom which might result in some oil pooling up and not draining out if the car isn't level.
M54 oil pan (http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/Oil_Pan/ES18916/)

[Dave1027]

So, another question. I've been thinking about buying some Rhino ramps and not use jack stands to change my oil. When I get the car on up on the ramps, do I need to jack up the rear of the car as well so the oil can drain out properly? Or will I get all of it out just by getting the front end of the car up in the air? No need to jack up rear for an oil change. One thing you should be aware of before you buy the rhino ramps is depending on your garage floor they may not work well. I bought a pair and could not drive the zhp up onto them because they kept sliding out. I tried all sorts of things and finally said hell with it and took them back to the store. Since then I got really good at jacking up the car. It's really quite easy. Only takes a few minutes.

[quikryptonite]

Cool, I'll keep going with the jack stands. Has anyone put plastidip on the top of their jack stands? I've noticed on my E30 that some marring/scratching occurs when I prop up the car on the stands. I figure it can't hurt.

[Dave1027]

Maybe a thin rubber pad on top of the jackstand would help. I have been using my jackstands without anything and I have noticed a little of the undercoating has come off of the frame rails.

Here is my front end jacking method. Pull on the e-brake and chock rear wheels. Lift up one side of car with floor jack on plastic jack pad (under door) and place jackstand (at it's lowest setting) under frame rail right behind the aluminum belly brace. Then do the other side. If the front end is not high enough then use floorjack at same jack location but use a 4x4 block of wood too. Then extend jack stands.

[RITmusic2k]

FYI, at stock height, your bumper won't clear rhino ramps; you'd have to build a DIY ramp at a shallower angle in order to get 'er up...

[echo46]

Yea, stay with the jack stands. I always put the stands on the rubber jacking points. Never had any problems.

[Dave1027]

Yea, stay with the jack stands. I always put the stands on the rubber jacking points. Never had any problems.
They feel more like plastic. I had a jackstand slip off that once. Almost f'd up the panel under the door. Since then I put the front jackstands on the frame rails.