Is there a site for DIY oil change instructions? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Naka · 30th January 2003, 02:44

I'm trying to change the oil on the Beast myself (for the first time). Does anybody know where I can find easy to follow instructions on how to do it? I've always done it in all my cars, but this is the first time I'll do it on a BMW so I don't want to screw up anything. Any help is well appreciated.

cliff · 30th January 2003, 05:26

Here are some notes I posted after I did it for the first time:

http://www.bmwm5.com/vbulletin/showt...eferrerid=1667

You can also do a search on this board for "oil change".

Basically, you just need to open a small square plastic cover under the car with a screwdriver. This gives you access to the drain plug. Unscrew the drain plug and drain as you would for any car. Then the filter is a cartridge-type filter in the front left section of the engine compartment. It will probably be on pretty tight, but you probably won't need a wrench.

The replacement filter you get from the parts department will include the filter, a new 0 ring for the cannister, and a new copper washer for the drain plug.

Tighten up the drain plug, and the cannister with the new filter, replace the oil, replace the cover on the underbody, and you're done. Probably you should recheck the oil level after a short while.

pmiranda · 30th January 2003, 19:02

I like the topsider. I use it for a DIY change halfway to the scheduled service. Get the "big boy" model so it can hold all 7 quarts or so. While it sucks the oil from the dipstick tube, you can swap the paper cartridge. Some people can do it in 15 minutes, I take my time and allocate half an hour.
Some people fear it won't get the very last bit of oil, but I don't care because:
1) There is always going to be at least a quart up in the engine you can't get out anyway.
2) I still have the traditional drain done with the 15k mile or so scheduled changes.

Bluewater M5 · 30th January 2003, 23:53

I agree with pmiranda. I use a similar device you can get at a local boat supply store. It sucks out the oil through the dip stick opening. I am a little freaky and do it every 3000 miles. It's on money right??

pmiranda · 31st January 2003, 17:19

I changed the oil with my topsider last night. A couple tips I forgot about:

1) Make sure the rubber seal on the suction tube is on the can side of the plate! Mine was installed backwards when I got it and I always wondered why it didn't hold good vaccum!

2) Have a plastic bag handy when you pull the oil filter. It WILL drip when you pull it from the housing.

It took under 15 minutes to pull out all 7 quarts or so of oil. Plenty of time to swap the filter cartridge.

I put in 6 quarts and the distick showed nearly full. Run the engine for a minute (to fill the oil filter canister) and it will show it down to the bottom mark. Top it off with a seventh.
You could probably just dump in all 7 quarts at once, but I didn't want any frothing.

grnatl · 31st January 2003, 21:22

If you do drop the plug to change the oil, be VERY careful when you put it back. Remember the pan is aluminum and the plug is steel. It would be easy to strip the pan

John