• I have a 2004 BMW 525i, I still have the engine that has a dipstick rather than the oil level being checked thru the idrive system. I am wondering if it is ok to use a fluid transfer pump to drain my oil rather than needing to jack up my car and go under to do it. It is not an electric pump just a lil handheld one but it is sold by walmart for this type of thing I just wanted to make sure it is ok tp use on my car before doing it? If it is safe to use does anyone know if it is better to pump the old oil out thru where the filter goes or thru the dipstick tube?

 

Why? You will still have to go under the car to change the filter. Also, you won't get all of the oil using the dipstick. But, if you insist in doing an incomplete oil change, there is no danger in doing what you describe.

 

M54 oil filter is accessed at the oil filter housing which under the hood.

 

Didn't know that, tks, but still!

 

yea lol my filter is under the hood, very accesable from the top, I just don't like how low car is and currently don't have the jacks I need to lift it as safely as I would like to in order to do the oil change from the bottom.

 

I was wondering what kind of oil you guys think I should use, in the store the guy sold me Valvoline 10w-30 high mileage full synthetic but I have been hearing lately that I should be using 0w-40 or 5w-40 so before I do my oil change I want to make sure that the oil they sold me is ok to use and wont cause any harm to my engine or if I should go back to the store I got it and try to exchange the oil for the right stuff?

 

https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...stions-146876/

 

The only way to find out if the pump will work well is to try it. Pump out as much oil as you can get through the dipstick. Compare how much comes out to how the engine holds. If you are able to pump out 6 quarts out of a total of say 6.75 quarts...I would call that good. Only you can decide what is acceptable in terms of how much oil you require to pump out.


As far as what kind of oil...I personally use Mobil 1, grade as specified in the manual for your climate. In the end, as long as you change it regularly, with a brand name synthetic, it doesn't matter what brand you use. Nobody has ever had an engine fail because they used one brand over the other.

 

I used my pump via the dipstick extensively on my 2004 530i but recently upgraded to the 2007 530i and was saddened to learn it doesn't have a dipstick!😠 Filter still at top but w/no dipstick, it's back to old fashioned underneath drains.

 

lol yea it was so much easier not having to go under the car lol next time I think im going to do it old fashion way so I can change drain plug as well as inspect undercarriage.