How to Change Oil on BMW
Changing your BMW’s oil is a basic maintenance task that every car owner should know how to do. This guide will walk you through the steps necessary on how to change oil on BMW.
Be sure to have all of the necessary tools and supplies before getting started. Changing your BMW’s oil is a great way to help keep it running smoothly for years to come. It’s a relatively simple process, and this guide will show you how to do it. Read on to know more information!
10 Steps to Follow: How to Change Oil on BMW
1. Make Sure You Have the Right Oil and Filter
Your owner’s manual should tell you what weight and type of oil your car needs for optimum performance. If you’re not sure whether to use synthetic or conventional oil, ask your mechanic if it makes a difference for your vehicle (it does in some cases). You’ll also need the correct-size replacement drain plug gasket and new oil filter. Make sure you have any sealing washers that might be needed too.
2. Warm Up Your Engine
This will maximize the drain interval. As your oil gets hot, it becomes less dense and flows better, which means you can change it faster. Driving for at least 20 minutes before draining the oil to get your engine good and hot. Start with a gentle warm-up to avoid damaging delicate components like plastic radiator hoses.
3. Open the Hood and Locate Your Oil Drain Plug
The procedure for opening the hood varies from car to car, but in most cases, you’ll find a small rubber or metal lid that covers a bolt in your engine’s front end. Unscrewing the drain plug is often easier when you remove this cap first.
4. Locate the Drain Plug
Once you find the drain plug, place a pan underneath it and unscrew the drain plug using an adjustable wrench. The valve stem on some plugs is found inside a shallow depression in the top of the plug; use this depression to guide the plug as you unscrew it. Be careful not to strip or break any of these parts. You’ll have to remove the plug with a unique drill-mounted extraction tool if you do.
5. Drain Your Oil
Make sure the pan is big enough to hold all of your oil; it should be able to hold at least four quarts. After removing the drain plug, let it sit for a few minutes while the oil continues to drain; then unscrew it carefully and put it somewhere safe.
6. Remove the Old Oil Filter
Most oil filters attach with a bolt that you undo with an adjustable wrench or socket set. Some cars use quick-connect technology, which often makes this step easier. If you have trouble removing the filter, it may help lay the car on its side for greater access.
7. Check the Oil Level
Don’t assume that you can pour the same amount of oil there before. Modern engine oils are much better than they used to be, and cars now burn more oil due to lower tolerances inside engines. Therefore, your car’s modern oils will last longer between changes.
8. Pour in Your New Oil
Make sure the gasket on your new drain plug is in place, and pour your new oil through the cavity where the plug was. Once it’s full, screw in the drain plug by hand to get a feel for tightening it securely. Then use an adjustable wrench or socket set to tighten it correctly.
9. Replace Your Oil Fill Cap
Replace the oil-fill cap and wipe any excess oil from your engine with a clean rag dipped in mineral spirits. Let your car run for a few minutes to help circulate the new oil, then take it out on the road for a test drive.
10. Take It for a Spin
After running the car for a few minutes, take it out onto the highway and go as fast as you can. Then drive as slowly as possible without stalling until the engine has had time to circulate all of that new oil.
Some Tips and Suggestions
1. If you can, always make sure to check your oil when it is still warm. This way, the oil accumulated in the engine during the last minutes of driving will be closer to the top end of your engine.
2. Always remember when opening up an oil change on a BMW where every bolt goes because it’s not always in the same place.
3. Pour the new oil into your funnel very slowly so you won’t spill any on the engine head and if this does happen, wipe it before starting your car to avoid smudges on your hand-work. Also, remember to clean up everything you can with a clean rag after removing all of the old oil from the engine’s various parts.
4. Be extremely careful when removing the oil filter, so you don’t spill any oil on your hand-work or anywhere else for that matter. If you do spill some, try wiping it before starting your car to prevent streaks from being left behind, which can be very hard, if not impossible, to remove completely.
5. It is advisable to use a new oil filter every time you change your oil; however, this may not be financially possible for some people. If not, always replace the o-ring when reassembling the oil filter.
6. Always use high-quality oils when changing your engine oil and not some cheap low-end brand that will only compromise the life of your engine.
7. Using some container to direct the oil out of the drain hole on the bottom of your engine is always advisable, but if you do not have anything around that will work, at least be careful not to spill oil all over yourself and clean up whatever you can before starting your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Do You Know When It Time to Change Your Cars Oil?
A: It is not necessary to change the oil in your car every time it is suggested by a manufacturer or at set mileages. Oil companies have come up with formulas so that the same oil weight can be used throughout an engine’s life, despite wear and tear variations.
Oil manufacturers will tell you that 3,000 miles are enough for most cars, but this is just a rough estimate. In many cases, the oil needs to be changed when it reaches its change-oil light or after a specific number of miles, whatever comes first.
Q: Can You Use Wd-40 Instead of Distilled Water When Changing Your Car’s Oil?
A: It’s a good question that doesn’t have an easy answer. It seems like everyone has their method for this step of the car-changing process, but not everyone is right. WD-40, being so common and well known, makes people wonder if it can be used instead of distilled water when changing the oil in your car.
The safest bet is to use distilled water. However, WD-40 will not cause any problems when used in the car’s oil tank; it just isn’t ideal.
You Can Check It Out to: Use Stp Oil Treatment
Conclusion
The process of changing the oil on a BMW is not difficult, but it can be time-consuming. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and always use OEM parts when replacing or repairing your vehicle. It is essential to change the oil on your BMW regularly.
We hope these steps on how to change oil on BMW will help you change the oil on your BMW with ease next time! We try to advise on all makes and models including changing the oil or installing new brake pads, so don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else we can do for you.
Louis Wein
Louis has always been fascinated by cars. He loves the way they look, the sound of the engine, and how they make him feel when he's driving. He is always keen to learn more about different mechanics of cars and how the engine contributes to other aspects of the car. As an automotive technician with over 10 years of experience, he knew how they worked and loved taking them apart to see how they went back together. He was especially interested in the mechanics of combustion engines and loved finding ways to make them more efficient. He loves to work on cars and help people keep their vehicles running smoothly. As a senior editor, he enjoys contributing to Diy quickly because it allows him to share his knowledge and expertise with others.
