DIY - E90 Oil Change (with Pics! - 56K Beware)

777ER · 06-10-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autobot

Thats what I thoguht but there is a little arrow on it that goes clockwise

That's for tighting it. If you look close enough, you can see there's a torque value on it so that means to torque it in that direction with a torque wrench.

Autobot · 06-10-2007, 10:32 PM

Gotcha, yeah thanks, I think I over tightened the ever living shot out of it so now I am trying to go the correct way and it is killing me. Thanks 777er for the help

SimpleMan · 06-12-2007, 04:01 AM

So how much does the dealer charge to change the oil and how long does it take them?

Also, what about the transmission fluid and differential fluid? Should I have those changed at 1200 miles when I get the original oil changed?

Do I need to tell the dealer not to reset the computer so that I get my free oil change at 15K? I plan on doing my oil changes at 7,500 miles.

Thanks

777ER · 06-12-2007, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleMan

So how much does the dealer charge to change the oil and how long does it take them?

Also, what about the transmission fluid and differential fluid? Should I have those changed at 1200 miles when I get the original oil changed?

Do I need to tell the dealer not to reset the computer so that I get my free oil change at 15K? I plan on doing my oil changes at 7,500 miles.

Thanks

Aprox $90-$120 and about a hour, depends on the workload they have for the day. My dealer gives me loaner cars while doing all work on the car. So I have a choice between 325i, 328xi and X3

Go thru the owners manual, it has a recommended fluid change invtervals in miles on it for the transmission and diff fluid.

You can change the oil without going to the dealer, apparently the tech might reset it since it's part of their normal rountie with oil changes. Do that and the next oil change won't be covered by BMW unless it's once a year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Booboo12 · 07-07-2007, 07:48 PM

I was SOOOO ready to come back and report a story comparable to the Exxon Valdez spill… but it all worked well...

Long story - this was the first time I ever changed the oil on a car... wasn't bad at all primarily due to this thread and the one on the E92's diy... A few things I did learn that I thought I'd share....
1. BMW of Austin parts prices are ridiculous. over $8.00 for a quart of oil even with the bmwcca card - NO WAY DUDE... and the guy acted like he was giving me a deal even when I showed him the catalogue on his desk that priced the MSRP at $5.40... No good. Stop doing that and BMW of Austin would be all 5's even in the comments when BMWNA calls...

2. I needed to put on another 100+ miles to make it to 1200 for my breakin oil change so I took a drive out to San Antonio BMW... they charged less than $5.00 (with the bmwcca) per quart... so I got a couple of cases... and some filters too for $10 instead of $14... BMWofAustin parts dept - what the hell u thinking???
with 30.6 mpg avg - it was cheaper to go to the parts dept in San Antonio, plus I got a nice drive in...

3. Nav works real realy well in locations you don't know... that was cool..

4. And finally - the oil change... it was simple...

----
Now something interesting.. one of the manuals for the 328I 2007 says 5w30 or 5w40 synthetic oil...
But another of the manuals actally lists out Mobil1 0w40 as approved... That was a littel confusing as BMWNA said they didn't think that Mobil1 0w40 was approved... I think this is new this year???

Alls good - thanks for all the info you all have provided... Very cool!!!

777ER · 07-08-2007, 08:21 AM

Can someone find out the torque value from the BMW service manuals?

On my other car, it's a 1999 Camaro Z28 with a LS1 engine, the torque for the oil drain bolt is 17 ft/lbs.

I suspect the BMW is less due to the machine threads from the oil drain bolt.

533ogetnom · 07-08-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booboo12

with 30.6 mpg avg - it was cheaper to go to the parts dept in San Antonio, plus I got a nice drive in...

you get 30.6 mpg... you need a different car

Booboo12 · 07-08-2007, 12:15 PM

that was door to door with a MPH of 76.4... these cars were made for highway driving... wonder if the break in oil change will change the mpg... i guess i've been uber-geeking on the new car a bit, but then again, it's like I'm learning for the first time what driving is supposed to be like...

thammel · 08-05-2007, 09:35 PM

Hi,

I just did my first E90 oil change at 3500 miles. As you all know, the biggest hassle was getting the car jacked up. Anyway, I agree that 25 NM should be used for the drain plug. However, I don't think you should be using this figure for the oil filter housing. This will make it way too tight and compress the o-ring too much. I basicall went just a little bit past the green paint marks. All seems oil tight now. It's been a LONG time since I used oil filter inserts - last time was on my Triumph TR-6 before I installed a spin on filter adapter. But the BMW system works well and is much easier than trying to access from under the car.

Tom

E90Fleet · 08-07-2007, 05:30 AM

Official tightening figures are

Oil Drain bolt - 25Nm

Oil Filter housing - 25NM

thammel · 08-07-2007, 09:51 AM

Hi,

I agree on the 25 nm. I had incorrectly installed the o-ring on my filter housing and leaked probably 2 qts of oil that made a horrible mess. I had to jack up the car, remove the 4 undercar plastic shields and then clean them with Gunk and clean off all the oil that had gotten under the car.

Here are a few crucial pointers....and I am not a novice mechanic either, having rebuilt a few engines and restored a TR6....

Be careful installing the large oil filter cap o-ring. It needs to be placed in an o-ring slot or groove that is about 1/16" down from the ridge that sits on the filter housing on the engine. When the cap/filter assembly is installed correctly, you will NOT be able to see the o-ring. You will be able to torque this cap to 25 nm and the two painted marks on the cap and housing should line up at this torque level. Also, be sure to oil this large o-ring so that it slides down into the housing as the cap is tightened. Do all this to avoid the mess I made!

An embarassing event!

Tom

777ER · 08-10-2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Official tightening figures are

Oil Drain bolt - 25Nm

Oil Filter housing - 25NM

That'd be 18 ft/lbs.

Thanks!

csupernova · 10-03-2007, 09:33 PM

I bought the oil and oil filter from my dealer today. I realize that the oil filter part number is different from the one shown in OP pics. Mine is 11-42-7-566-327. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks

(P/S: I told my dealer I have 2006 330i)

335iheLLraiseR · 10-03-2007, 10:53 PM

pic links are bad........cannot see any pics.....maybe OP can fix?

NaTuReB0Y · 10-03-2007, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csupernova

I bought the oil and oil filter from my dealer today. I realize that the oil filter part number is different from the one shown in OP pics. Mine is 11-42-7-566-327. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks

(P/S: I told my dealer I have 2006 330i)

I have a 2006 330i

I changed my own oil 6 times already............every 5k miles.

and the OEM oil filter part # is 11 42 7 541 827
( I still have 4 more left

)

doba_s · 10-03-2007, 11:24 PM

I am geting ready for my first oil change ... I already have a little bit over 100 miles on my car since last friday

Anyway ...I am planing to use Mobil1 0W40 that you can get at Kragen for only $5.29+tax ... The OEM BMW Oil filter you can get here on the forum for only $7.50

... So now you can use this DIY to change oil and it can cost you around $50 and not 175 like BMW told me ... I hole it helps ...

Nice DIY

nagge · 11-09-2007, 01:45 PM

I just finished changing the oil and thanks to this thread it was very easy

Got almost 7liters out of it. Although the oil filter doesnt look like the one's in this thread, but it was the same method to change it.

The drain plug is horizontal on the 330dA if anyone is wondering.

Thank you for this great DIY

LittleBlue · 03-03-2008, 06:44 PM

Excellent writeup! Quick question though, I noticed your your filter has a different part number than what the dealer had on my work order, my dealer showed 11-42-7-566-327, yours was diff, if we both have a e90, shouldn't the number match?

Inspired · 03-30-2008, 01:07 AM

I am kind of confused when it reached to oil filter changing and the o rings. small and large. can anyone help me out on that?

bfmurphy · 04-13-2008, 07:25 PM

I just changed the oil on my 2007 335i coupe. Since there is no dispstick I would caution about just pouring all 7 quarts in. After draining the oil and changing the filter, I put 6 quarts in. I then backed off the ramp so the car was level and used the electronic oil level indicator, which seemed to take a minute or two to do the check, with the engine running. IT WAS JUST BELOW MAX! If I had put all 7 quarts in I would have overfilled. I have been changing oil on BMW's since 1975 when I bought a 2002, and have had BMW's since. RFT and no dipstick is STUPID. The manual's indes list "Oil Capacity" but the referenced page does not have that information. By the way I changed oil at 5,000 miles and the filter was quite dirty.

F32Fleet · 09-26-2008, 09:04 PM

Just clarification. The oil filter cap is removed by turning clockwise?

rdsport323 · 09-26-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

Just clarification. The oil filter cap is removed by turning clockwise?

righty-tighty
lefty-loosey

06-10-2007, 10:32 PM	#178
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Gotcha, yeah thanks, I think I over tightened the ever living shot out of it so now I am trying to go the correct way and it is killing me. Thanks 777er for the help __________________ Delivered 28 May
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-12-2007, 04:01 AM	#179
SimpleMan Private First Class 14 Rep 153 Posts Drives: 04 Z4 2.5i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA iTrader: (1)	So how much does the dealer charge to change the oil and how long does it take them? Also, what about the transmission fluid and differential fluid? Should I have those changed at 1200 miles when I get the original oil changed? Do I need to tell the dealer not to reset the computer so that I get my free oil change at 15K? I plan on doing my oil changes at 7,500 miles. Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-07-2007, 07:48 PM	#181
Booboo12 Private First Class 57 Rep 179 Posts Drives: 328i Sedan 2007 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin Texas iTrader: (0)	I was SOOOO ready to come back and report a story comparable to the Exxon Valdez spill… but it all worked well... Long story - this was the first time I ever changed the oil on a car... wasn't bad at all primarily due to this thread and the one on the E92's diy... A few things I did learn that I thought I'd share.... 1. BMW of Austin parts prices are ridiculous. over $8.00 for a quart of oil even with the bmwcca card - NO WAY DUDE... and the guy acted like he was giving me a deal even when I showed him the catalogue on his desk that priced the MSRP at $5.40... No good. Stop doing that and BMW of Austin would be all 5's even in the comments when BMWNA calls... 2. I needed to put on another 100+ miles to make it to 1200 for my breakin oil change so I took a drive out to San Antonio BMW... they charged less than $5.00 (with the bmwcca) per quart... so I got a couple of cases... and some filters too for $10 instead of $14... BMWofAustin parts dept - what the hell u thinking??? with 30.6 mpg avg - it was cheaper to go to the parts dept in San Antonio, plus I got a nice drive in... 3. Nav works real realy well in locations you don't know... that was cool.. 4. And finally - the oil change... it was simple... ---- Now something interesting.. one of the manuals for the 328I 2007 says 5w30 or 5w40 synthetic oil... But another of the manuals actally lists out Mobil1 0w40 as approved... That was a littel confusing as BMWNA said they didn't think that Mobil1 0w40 was approved... I think this is new this year??? Alls good - thanks for all the info you all have provided... Very cool!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-08-2007, 08:21 AM	#182
777ER Lieutenant 36 Rep 561 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	Can someone find out the torque value from the BMW service manuals? On my other car, it's a 1999 Camaro Z28 with a LS1 engine, the torque for the oil drain bolt is 17 ft/lbs. I suspect the BMW is less due to the machine threads from the oil drain bolt. __________________ -Chris 2007 Montego Blue 328xi Sedan \| Poplar trim \| Steptronic \| Cold Package \| Power front seats w/memory \| Xenon Adaptive Headlights \| PDC \| 2008 Plate LED's \| PBX \| LUX v5.2
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-08-2007, 12:15 PM	#184
Booboo12 Private First Class 57 Rep 179 Posts Drives: 328i Sedan 2007 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin Texas iTrader: (0)	that was door to door with a MPH of 76.4... these cars were made for highway driving... wonder if the break in oil change will change the mpg... i guess i've been uber-geeking on the new car a bit, but then again, it's like I'm learning for the first time what driving is supposed to be like...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2007, 09:35 PM	#185
thammel Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e90 6MT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: maryland iTrader: (1)	Torque value for oil filter and drain plug Hi, I just did my first E90 oil change at 3500 miles. As you all know, the biggest hassle was getting the car jacked up. Anyway, I agree that 25 NM should be used for the drain plug. However, I don't think you should be using this figure for the oil filter housing. This will make it way too tight and compress the o-ring too much. I basicall went just a little bit past the green paint marks. All seems oil tight now. It's been a LONG time since I used oil filter inserts - last time was on my Triumph TR-6 before I installed a spin on filter adapter. But the BMW system works well and is much easier than trying to access from under the car. Tom
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-07-2007, 05:30 AM	#186
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Official tightening figures are Oil Drain bolt - 25Nm Oil Filter housing - 25NM __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-07-2007, 09:51 AM	#187
thammel Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e90 6MT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: maryland iTrader: (1)	25 nm torque values and READ THIS ON FILTER O-RING Hi, I agree on the 25 nm. I had incorrectly installed the o-ring on my filter housing and leaked probably 2 qts of oil that made a horrible mess. I had to jack up the car, remove the 4 undercar plastic shields and then clean them with Gunk and clean off all the oil that had gotten under the car. Here are a few crucial pointers....and I am not a novice mechanic either, having rebuilt a few engines and restored a TR6.... Be careful installing the large oil filter cap o-ring. It needs to be placed in an o-ring slot or groove that is about 1/16" down from the ridge that sits on the filter housing on the engine. When the cap/filter assembly is installed correctly, you will NOT be able to see the o-ring. You will be able to torque this cap to 25 nm and the two painted marks on the cap and housing should line up at this torque level. Also, be sure to oil this large o-ring so that it slides down into the housing as the cap is tightened. Do all this to avoid the mess I made! An embarassing event! Tom
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-03-2007, 09:33 PM	#189
csupernova Captain 32 Rep 606 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (7)	I bought the oil and oil filter from my dealer today. I realize that the oil filter part number is different from the one shown in OP pics. Mine is 11-42-7-566-327. Can anyone verify this? Thanks (P/S: I told my dealer I have 2006 330i)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-03-2007, 11:24 PM	#192
doba_s Major General 405 Rep 6,107 Posts Drives: X7 l Cayenne l 997.2RS Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Danville iTrader: (26)	I am geting ready for my first oil change ... I already have a little bit over 100 miles on my car since last friday Anyway ...I am planing to use Mobil1 0W40 that you can get at Kragen for only $5.29+tax ... The OEM BMW Oil filter you can get here on the forum for only $7.50 ... So now you can use this DIY to change oil and it can cost you around $50 and not 175 like BMW told me ... I hole it helps ... Nice DIY
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2007, 01:45 PM	#193
nagge Swedish user 2 Rep 267 Posts Drives: 06' E90 330dA Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	I just finished changing the oil and thanks to this thread it was very easy Got almost 7liters out of it. Although the oil filter doesnt look like the one's in this thread, but it was the same method to change it. The drain plug is horizontal on the 330dA if anyone is wondering. Thank you for this great DIY __________________ E90 330dA \| SG \| Remapped \| Blacklines \| Matte black kidney grill \| M3 Steering wheel \| Ümnitza Predator ICE LED Angel eyes \| 18" M5 reps \| ESS Tuning
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-03-2008, 06:44 PM	#194
LittleBlue Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 254 Posts Drives: 2022 G30 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW 530I M Sport [0.00] [10.00]	Excellent writeup! Quick question though, I noticed your your filter has a different part number than what the dealer had on my work order, my dealer showed 11-42-7-566-327, yours was diff, if we both have a e90, shouldn't the number match?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-30-2008, 01:07 AM	#195
Inspired Colonel 148 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California iTrader: (2)	I am kind of confused when it reached to oil filter changing and the o rings. small and large. can anyone help me out on that?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-13-2008, 07:25 PM	#196
bfmurphy Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2007 335i sports coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pueblo, CO iTrader: (0)	I just changed the oil on my 2007 335i coupe. Since there is no dispstick I would caution about just pouring all 7 quarts in. After draining the oil and changing the filter, I put 6 quarts in. I then backed off the ramp so the car was level and used the electronic oil level indicator, which seemed to take a minute or two to do the check, with the engine running. IT WAS JUST BELOW MAX! If I had put all 7 quarts in I would have overfilled. I have been changing oil on BMW's since 1975 when I bought a 2002, and have had BMW's since. RFT and no dipstick is STUPID. The manual's indes list "Oil Capacity" but the referenced page does not have that information. By the way I changed oil at 5,000 miles and the filter was quite dirty.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-26-2008, 09:04 PM	#197
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3570 Rep 10,351 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Just clarification. The oil filter cap is removed by turning clockwise?
	Appreciate 0 Quote