Comments on: How To Change Oil On A BMW

By: BK

BK — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:04:34 +0000

Oil transfer pumps (also called “fluid evacuation” or “fluid recovery” pumps) are the way to go. Get a good one with a built in reservoir (looks like a garden sprayer, but it pulls a vacuum rather than pressurizing) and you don’t have to be concerned about splashing or discharging to a separate container. Motive Products sells a great one, and there are others out there. I use it on all my outdoor power equipment as well. Only draws 10psi of vacuum and empties my 325i’s 6.9liter sump in about 10 minutes (warm oil).
They are meant for oil changes. Drop the tube down the dipstick, pump about 20x, and change the oil filter in the meantime.
DO IT! So much easier, cleaner, and less chance for boogering up you drain plug.

0 0

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:03:38 +0000

I have a 1997 540i, is the oil filter housing located on the drivers side fender well next to the engins, accessed from under the hood? What type of oil do you reccomend 10/30 or 5/30, full synthetic/

Thanks

0 0

By: Shamim Abowath

Shamim Abowath — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:40:48 +0000

I mean 1/2 inch wrench not racket.

0 0

By: Shamim Abowath

Shamim Abowath — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:16:21 +0000

You will need 36MM socket and 1/2 inch racket for the oil filter housing. I believe not 32mm socket which has been stated in who to change oil on BMW X3 2004. three liter engine.

0 0

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:10:16 +0000

Yeah i think this one is based for US BMW’s. Yeah i found that site. seems quite good for some areas though. seems to be the case with the 1 series!! hopefully it something is on the horizon though!

0 0

By: Nigel

Nigel — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:48:35 +0000

Is this site a USA site? Im not on a site but have a look at http://www.babybmw.net but there is a lot lacking in the self maintenance department for these cars. Finding any tech info seems to be difficult compared to the VWs Ive had, no one does any workshop manuals or anything

0 0

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:09:31 +0000

Brilliant, thanks! Yeah thats the same with me. I’d just rather know how to do it before it have to make the change. Are you by chance on any owners clubs or sites for 1 series? I used to own a peugeot and there were a good community for them but i haven’t yet found one for the one series for a knowledge base.

0 0

By: Nigel

Nigel — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:10:19 +0000

Grasping the black plastic engine cover firmly left and right hand side, pull up to free it and then pull forward and out it comes. Bit of a knack in getting it back but essentially a reversal of getting it out. Once out, its plain to see how it fits. To be honest I havent thought about the fuel filter yet as way too early for me, just wanted to know the first step on removing the cover

0 0

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:55:24 +0000

Nigel, i was just wondering what you did to get to the fuel filter? as you mentioned there is a black cover on the engine which sits directly over the fuel filter… is there some way to unclip it? thanks
Jon

0 0

By: Nigel

Nigel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:48:50 +0000

Thanks bmwtechal, you were right it just pulled off, simple when you know how

Im obliged to you

0 0

By: bmwtechal

bmwtechal — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:28:25 +0000

you should not have to take that cover off for an oil change. we dont have the 118d in the US but none of the BMW engines in the US need that cover removed for an oil change. all the filter housings are accessable. look around the engine bay for a black plastic filter housing. this is the cap that screws of to get the filter. youll probably need a special filter wrench since BMW stopped putting a hex head on top of the caps with most of the new eninges. if you do need to take of that cover there are either like 4 torx or hex bolts holding it on, they may have little covers on them that pop of. if not just pull up on it. some of them like the N63 just snap on. again im not familiar with the 4cyl diesel.

0 0

By: Nigel

Nigel — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:55:22 +0000

Interesting but Im looking at the plastic engine cover on my series 1 118D and wondering how to get that off first?

0 0

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:13:32 +0000

@bmwtechal:
Thanks for the help

0 0

By: bmwtechal

bmwtechal — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:42:36 +0000

@Carlos Perez:
the only way to reset the light in the new cars (E9x, E6x etc.) is through the diagnostic machine. except the E65 7 series. for this car insert the key fob, press and hold the trip odo reset button and press the start stop button. a menu will come up in the cluster and you can scroll through and reset the different services. brake will not reset unless a new sensor is fitted though. you can reset E46, E53 X5, E83 X3, E39 5 (2002 and later only), E85/6 Z4 and most cars that DO NOT have a 20 pin diag connector under the hood by press and hold the trip odo reset button, turn the key to pos. 1 (first click, radio accessories on, not ign on), keep holding until the display in serv ind. changes, release the button and press and hold again until it flashes then press the button once. any car that has a 20 pin diag connector, even ODB II cars (2000-2002) need a special tool to be reset. they can be reset by jumping 2 of the pins but im not sure wich ones. never had to. im sure that info can be found online somewhere.

0 0

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:22:23 +0000

I have one doubt in here, because we are used to make and oil chance ourselves to our cars, EXCEPT for the BMW’s because at the agency, they told us that even if you change the oil the alarms programed in the computer (the millage when you have to change the oil) won’t turn off until we get it to them, and it also the same whit the brakes and old those things, is there any way to turn the alarms of the computer off?? or reprogrammed when you do this changes?

@Smithy:
If you quit the oil stains and the mess i’ll take out all the fun

0 0

By: Smithy

Smithy — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:30:21 +0000

FYI, replacing your drain plug with the Fumoto valve makes your oil changes much easier and faster. With one flick of the safety-locked switch, the ball valve drains the oil without a wrench and mess of getting oil stains on your hands or clothes. Nipple type allows you to attach a hose to drain the oil directly into a container. It is very convenience if you change oil yourself. I bought one for my vehicle from http://www.qwikvalve.com.

Hope it helps.

0 0

By: bmwtechal

bmwtechal — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:25:14 +0000

@Craig:
interesting. ive actually never heard of or seen one. initally im a little nervous by the sound of it. im assuming its pumping oil in. does it just come out the drain hole of the oil pan then? and i dont like the sound of having the entire oil system pressurized at once. if the pan is pressurized via the dipstick tube while the car is running, the entire oil system would be pressurized above what the cars oil pump already does. high oil pressure is not good. oil can get into places it should not. for example, the basic operation of the oil system is that the pump draws oil from the pan and pumps it up to the cylinder head on from there it returns to the pan by gravity. there more to it than that but basically once oil reaches is destination in the engine it should still be under pressure. the rotating parts keep the oil circulated. also if there was pressurized oil under the valve cover in the cylinder head it could be forced by the valve guide seals and enter the combustion chamber. thats not good. if you have some kind of link to a page that has more info on this device id be interested to see it. im only assuming how it may work. it still seems kind of shady to me. and if you know what youre doing, changing oil really isnt that messy. and its should be done when the car is hot/warm anyway so youre still dealing hot/warm oil. so far i cant find an advantage to it in my opinion. that just my personal opinion though. i wouldnt use one.

0 0

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:29:03 +0000

Can’t believe this doesn’t mention using a pump to remove the oil. It’s WAY easier than getting under the car (but it’s still messy). Any car parts store sells oil pumps, they’re used for changing oil in boats usually, and cheap ones are around $15.

After warming up the car you stick the tube down the dipstick hole and pump slow (too quick and you’ll blow the seal on the cheap pumps). It takes about 30 min, you can actually get as much if not more oil out than through the drain plug! The oil does come out hot of course, so be careful.

Then just change the filter normally.

There you go: easy, quick, a bit messy (it can splatter into your capture jug if you’re not careful, and your hands will get oil on them), no risk of car falling off ramps.

0 0

By: bmwtechal

bmwtechal — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:46:01 +0000

@Hector Meda:
check this out:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/repair_faqs/sil.html

0 0

By: Hector Meda

Hector Meda — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:46:47 +0000

Hello, I own a 2000 528i and I’ve done several oil changes to my BMW, the only thing I have trouble with is resetting the change oil display on the dash board. I tried looking on the owners manual and had no luck, I’ve ask around and the only answer I get is to have a dealer re-set it.

0 3