Oil Change on X3 (E82) from USA

[lemos]

Hello, can you tell me please how can I drain the engine oil. The bottom part of the car is covered by a plastic and aluminum shiels. Should I remove them to find the oil drain plug?
Thanks for your HELP!
Lemos.

[Supercourse]

.... plastic and aluminum shields. Should I remove them to find the oil drain plug?


No - you can reach the oil pan drain plug by putting your hand up through a round hole in the aluminum shield, quite far back (these inline 6's are long remember) on the passenger side behind the front wheel. A rag pushed up to surround the inside of the hole in the shield will contain spurting oil that doesn't make it directly out through the hole, to facilitate cleanup.

[echelon153]

Hello, can you tell me please how can I drain the engine oil. The bottom part of the car is covered by a plastic and aluminum shiels. Should I remove them to find the oil drain plug?
Thanks for your HELP!
Lemos.

This might help:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106684

[dug01]

Hello, can you tell me please how can I drain the engine oil. The bottom part of the car is covered by a plastic and aluminum shiels. Should I remove them to find the oil drain plug?
Thanks for your HELP!
Lemos.

I think they eliminated the drain plug along with the dipstick!! :rofl:

[X3-terrestrial]

Is it not E83?

[UncleJ]

Please don't take this the wrong way. If you are not 100% sure on how to do something with your car maintentance wise it is best left to a dealer or independent shop IMHO. Even a simple task like an oil and filter change has become more difficult in the newer cars. It is not rocket science but does require some special tools and there is always the possibility of stripping a plug or breaking something while you are working under there. As for me I can't even remember the last time I changed my own oil. Good luck!

[X3-terrestrial]

Well, I agree if you don't have any knowledge on the subject and never done it before. But if you have changed oil in any car before, you can do it in a BMW. No special tools required. Only difference is you get to the oil filter from de engine bay, not the underside, that makes it even easier.

[Vodka G]

i think he is probably just not too sure where the drain plug is....i mean i was a bit suprised when i first did the oil change on the X3 (and i did TONS of oil changes on many diff cars) because the oil pan/drain plug sits REALLY far back from the front of the car (since the engine sits back/on the front suspension (hence the gud weight dist of bimmers))....i had to check a few times to make sure that was indeed the oil drain plug (and not the tranny or anything else)

and...if you are really a beginner good for you :-) is not hard to change oil in a bimmer (and yeah you gotta start somewhere) :-P

Good luck

[Supercourse]

..... not hard to change oil in a bimmer (and yeah you gotta start somewhere) :-P


Yes, at least servicing the BMW oil filter is easier than many other vehicles. For those outside the free scheduled maintenance, or even if you are not, DIY has some distinct benefits:
- you don't have to beat the clock, so you should be less likely to overfill with oil. For those still with a dipstick, you can make sure the level is mid-way between the min. and max. lines (or just above). Dealers tend to always fill to over the max. line because they are not going to take the time to check and double check the level as the new oil finds its way down to the pan (see separate thread on over-filling)
- you can make sure the filter housing is cleaned properly, the new filter fully primed with fresh oil before start-up, and the correct amount of tightening applied
- you can ensure the drain plug washer is properly replaced, and the right torque applied
- you have control over determining that the engine is at the right temperature for efficient draining, and letting it drain until the last few drips come out
Most dealers will do a perfectly fine job, but you never know .....

[madurodave]

One tool I found to help a lot with my old Z3 was the Topsider. It pulls the oil from the engine by vacuum into a can for disposal. The oil is drawn through a tube you insert through the dip stick tube. I would use that every other change. The oil filter in the engine comparment made it a very neat job!

Now that I don't have a dipstick on my X3 (or my wife's 530xi), it is probably a worthless tool!

[lemos]

Yes You are right it is E83. Sorry for the typing error.
Lemos

[bobbyjoe]

Hello Lemos,

I did my own oil change on my 2008 x3 back in February (when my car reached 1500 miles). If my memory serves me correctly, there is a plastic cover over the oil drain plug. I think there are actually two coverings, a big one ~5 x 7 inches and a smaller one. It was the bigger one that the drain plug is hidden behind. Location is underneath the car (of course), roughly in the middle, roughly 1.5 to 2 feet in from the front bumper. The cover is kept on by 3 plastic tab/latches. I had to use a screwdriver as a wedge to release two of the tabs. Just don't be too violent or you might break the tabs.

Good luck.

[ubermax]

This might help:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106684

great pics - we've got an '08 & I'd love to change the oil - however, there's a shot near the top showing the removal of the oil filter element cap using a 36mm socket - when I look under the hood I don't see that 36m bolt ? - is there a dust cap hiding it from view ? those pictures were from an '05 X3 - could it be that the design changed for '08 ?

[X3-terrestrial]

when I look under the hood I don't see that 36m bolt ? - is there a dust cap hiding it from view ? those pictures were from an '05 X3 - could it be that the design changed for '08 ?

Same design- It is not an actual BOLT, it is built-in in the housing cap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/larinoriani/X3/Step4.jpg

[ubermax]

Same design- It is not an actual BOLT, it is built-in in the housing cap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/larinoriani/X3/Step4.jpg

I'll look again tonight after work but as I remember the '08 top is smooth like an oilcan - no place to stick a socket wrench.

[Supercourse]

I don't see that 36m bolt ? - is there a dust cap hiding it from view ? those pictures were from an '05 X3 - could it be that the design changed for '08 ?

Yes, BMW seems to be eliminating the 36mm. plastic "bolt" on the housing. It was used on Minis and VWs too. You may be able to unscrew it by hand with the appropriate gloves to grip it, or a strap wrench. The new proper tool may be this:
http://www.asttool.com/detail_page.php?from_search=y&tool_number=V%20410&total=58&offset=54&stype=bymanf&manf=BMW&category=spec

For re-installing, you may find pre-painted dots to line up as a guide to reaching the required torque by hand.

[X3-terrestrial]

Yes, BMW seems to be eliminating the 36mm. plastic "bolt" on the housing. It was used on Minis and VWs too. You may be able to unscrew it by hand with the appropriate gloves to grip it, or a strap wrench. The new proper tool may be this:
http://www.asttool.com/detail_page.php?from_search=y&tool_number=V%20410&total=58&offset=54&stype=bymanf&manf=BMW&category=spec

For re-installing, you may find pre-painted dots to line up as a guide to reaching the required torque by hand.

I stand corrected.

[madurodave]

Hello Lemos,

I did my own oil change on my 2008 x3 back in February (when my car reached 1500 miles). If my memory serves me correctly, there is a plastic cover over the oil drain plug. I think there are actually two coverings, a big one ~5 x 7 inches and a smaller one. It was the bigger one that the drain plug is hidden behind. Location is underneath the car (of course), roughly in the middle, roughly 1.5 to 2 feet in from the front bumper. The cover is kept on by 3 plastic tab/latches. I had to use a screwdriver as a wedge to release two of the tabs. Just don't be too violent or you might break the tabs.

Good luck.

Actually, for my 2007 the oil drain plug is in a round recessed hole. You simply put the socket in there and loosen to drain. Very easy.

I used 18 lb-ft for the drain plug and snugged the oil filter cover since I did not have a 27mm socket for the filter cover tool needed on 2007 and newer.

ANd people who say 18 lb-ft is just over finger tight must have strong fingers! I need to bump up the vitamins man!