Oil Change - Dealer Screw Up?
#11
Members
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 550i, Titanium Silver/Black, 6-Sp Steptronic, Sport Package, HD Radio, Sirius, Premium Sound, GPS Nav, Cold Pkg, cell phone cradle, iPod through the AUX port
1976 Datsun 280Z, Charcoal/Black, 5-Sp Manual, A/C, American Mags, CD, Tom Tom 930 GPS (works better than the BMW!) and the rest is pretty much stock
Originally Posted by 1600' post='381427' date='Jan 21 2007, 08:56 PM
Why are you guys screwing around with your oil changes with the vehicle under full free of charge warranty? Just a thought.
#12
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by pa550' post='381430' date='Jan 21 2007, 09:03 PM
The drain plug set up is well designed. There is a trap door in the belly pan. Remove one or two screws to get it off. Once off, you'll see the drain plug - it has an allen wrench fitting. Take out the plug and let her drain. The filter casing has a small drain plug in it as well. I wait until the crankcase has drained, then remove the plug on the filter casing. Once the oil has drained from the filter casing, use a a 17 or 18 mm socket to remove the casing. The filter is inside. Remember to replace the o rings on both the filter casing and on small drain plug on the casing. Put the small drain plug into the casing on your workbench. Also, rembemer to replace the brass washer/gasket on the main plug.
I think I used 9 quarts of oil. I filled it up with whatever the manual said the capacity is. There is a dipstick on the V8, so you can check.
Have fun.
I think I used 9 quarts of oil. I filled it up with whatever the manual said the capacity is. There is a dipstick on the V8, so you can check.
Have fun.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?automodule...si&img=2822
The instructions say they're for the 545i but I just checked and the 550i instructions are exactly the same (obviously filter part numbers are not part of the instructions...)
#13
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by 1600' post='381427' date='Jan 21 2007, 08:56 PM
Why are you guys screwing around with your oil changes with the vehicle under full free of charge warranty? Just a thought.
#14
Members
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 550i, Titanium Silver/Black, 6-Sp Steptronic, Sport Package, HD Radio, Sirius, Premium Sound, GPS Nav, Cold Pkg, cell phone cradle, iPod through the AUX port
1976 Datsun 280Z, Charcoal/Black, 5-Sp Manual, A/C, American Mags, CD, Tom Tom 930 GPS (works better than the BMW!) and the rest is pretty much stock
Originally Posted by pa550' post='381430' date='Jan 21 2007, 09:03 PM
The drain plug set up is well designed. There is a trap door in the belly pan. Remove one or two screws to get it off. Once off, you'll see the drain plug - it has an allen wrench fitting. Take out the plug and let her drain. The filter casing has a small drain plug in it as well. I wait until the crankcase has drained, then remove the plug on the filter casing. Once the oil has drained from the filter casing, use a a 17 or 18 mm socket to remove the casing. The filter is inside. Remember to replace the o rings on both the filter casing and on small drain plug on the casing. Put the small drain plug into the casing on your workbench. Also, rembemer to replace the brass washer/gasket on the main plug.
I think I used 9 quarts of oil. I filled it up with whatever the manual said the capacity is. There is a dipstick on the V8, so you can check.
Have fun.
I think I used 9 quarts of oil. I filled it up with whatever the manual said the capacity is. There is a dipstick on the V8, so you can check.
Have fun.
#15
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2013 M5 - Sakhir Orange / Black Leather.
Originally Posted by geokr1' post='381422' date='Jan 21 2007, 08:40 PM
I would say no if the filter sealed in the housing so that all the oil went through one side and out the other without going around the filter. Did it seem to fit when you installed it? Is so then size really doesn't matter since you change often enough that they couldn't clog and all BMW filters pretty much filter out the same size material.
I bought my first filter and oil this weekend to do my own change at 8,000 miles and will verify that they gave me the right one. Where did you find the drain plug (haven't been under mine yet) and how much did you get out of the engine and then add?
I bought my first filter and oil this weekend to do my own change at 8,000 miles and will verify that they gave me the right one. Where did you find the drain plug (haven't been under mine yet) and how much did you get out of the engine and then add?
#16
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2013 M5 - Sakhir Orange / Black Leather.
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='381436' date='Jan 21 2007, 09:11 PM
Here's a link to the oil change instructions posted in the technical gallery:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?automodule...si&img=2822
The instructions say they're for the 545i but I just checked and the 550i instructions are exactly the same (obviously filter part numbers are not part of the instructions...)
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?automodule...si&img=2822
The instructions say they're for the 545i but I just checked and the 550i instructions are exactly the same (obviously filter part numbers are not part of the instructions...)
#17
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2013 M5 - Sakhir Orange / Black Leather.
Originally Posted by geokr1' post='381439' date='Jan 21 2007, 09:17 PM
I'da never found the trap door - thanks. My '07 has no dipstick - electronic - so I have to add 6 or 7, check the level then top off. BMW warns strongly about overfilling. Did you jack up the front or put it on a lift - can't find the jack points.
#18
Members
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 550i, Titanium Silver/Black, 6-Sp Steptronic, Sport Package, HD Radio, Sirius, Premium Sound, GPS Nav, Cold Pkg, cell phone cradle, iPod through the AUX port
1976 Datsun 280Z, Charcoal/Black, 5-Sp Manual, A/C, American Mags, CD, Tom Tom 930 GPS (works better than the BMW!) and the rest is pretty much stock
Originally Posted by pa550' post='381457' date='Jan 21 2007, 09:47 PM
I think you have a dipstick - at least my '06 550 has one. Correct, never overfill because if you do the crankshaft can froth the oil up in the pan and you'll end up starving the engine. Use ramps, not jacks. See my earlier reply to you. Rudy posted the precise instructions.
#19
Members
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lanark, Scotland
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is a well known fact that if you want your engine to last a very long time and i mean over 200,000 miles then regular oil changes are very important. 15,000 intervals is a very long time. However, the bmw longlife or the likes of castrol diesel edge should do the job for 15,000.
My problem is in the way they do there oil changes, have you ever watched them. My dealer in Scotland never took the sump plug off my e39 instead they pump out the oil with a machine! It is simply impossible to get all the oil out with this method. At the time they said it was common do do this with all vehicles.
Does anyone know if this is still used at you realerships?
My problem is in the way they do there oil changes, have you ever watched them. My dealer in Scotland never took the sump plug off my e39 instead they pump out the oil with a machine! It is simply impossible to get all the oil out with this method. At the time they said it was common do do this with all vehicles.
Does anyone know if this is still used at you realerships?
#20
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Shropshire UK
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Estoril Blue 440i GC
Model Year: 2017
It is almost universal at garages of any size that the oil is "sucked" out, rather than drained. It is easier and cleaner, and for the "no-blame culture", the Techs don't need to risk getting hot oil over their fingers. Of course, it would be nice to know that ALL of the old oil has been removed, and not just most, or even half of it.
Sorry, I'm being cynical again. BMW Dealers would never drain out 4 litres and charge for 6 would they??
I too change my oil more frequently than recommended, around the 7000 mile mark. I suppose I'm old fashioned as well!
Sorry, I'm being cynical again. BMW Dealers would never drain out 4 litres and charge for 6 would they??
I too change my oil more frequently than recommended, around the 7000 mile mark. I suppose I'm old fashioned as well!