How to Change Engine Oil on a BMW E39 530i

DIY draining and refilling engine oil on 6 cylinder E39s. May apply to other models with the M54B30 or M52 engine.


Tools:

• 17 mm socket
• 35/36 mm socket 
• Ratchet(s)
• Oil drain pan
• Ramps or jack and jack stands

Parts:  

• Oil filter. O-ring and gaskets are included. 
• Mann, Mahle, Bosche, Genuine BMW filters all work well. 
• Engine oil. 
• I used Mobil 1 0W-40 for this guide. BMW approved LL01 oil will work. I have used Castrol 0W-40 and BMW's 5W-30 in the past. Mike Miller, the columnist in Roundel uses Red Line's 0W-40 for his BMWs.

Recommended:

• Any shop rag, towel, oil eater pad, kitty litter or oil absorbent to clean spills, gloves. 
• Jack point adapter to prevent damaging jack point. 
• Funnel

Steps: 

• Drive BMW for a short period to warm engine oil.

• Drive onto ramps or use a jack and jack stands to lift front end. 
• Use jack pad adapters to prevent crushing plastic jack points. 
• Place wheel chocks on rear wheels and set parking brake to prevent BMW from sliding.

Jack points in the Bentley Manual

• Open hood

• Use a 35/36 mm socket and ratchet to remove oil housing cap and filter. I use the Lisle 35/36 mm socket for its low profile and strength.
• Place rags or pigmat around filter to soak up any oil.
• Set the oil cap and filter aside after removing. 

Lisle socket on oil filter cap

• Get underneath vehicle and locate oil drain plug. The plug is right behind the front jack point.
• Your E39 may have plastic paneling or trap door that covers your oil pan, my 530i did not. I do not know if the vehicle did not come with the panels or the previous owner removed them. 

Oil drain plug highlighted in red.

• Use 17 mm socket and remove drain plug. 
• Place oil drain pan where you think the oil will come out. The plug is not facing downwards so oil will shoot out towards the passenger side. I use my Lisle Black Pan for its large capacity and spout.  
• Do not use an impact wrench to remove or install plug. 

• Remove the old filter from cap while the oil is draining.
• Pull filter straight out. This may require moderate force. 

• Replace large o-ring on oil filter cap. 
• Use a scribe or small flat head screw drive to remove old o-ring. Be careful not to damage oil filter cap.
• Check condition of two small o-rings and replace if necessary. Part # 11421744001
• Coat new o-ring with new oil and install. Please note proper location of O-ring by referencing picture below. 

• Install oil filter and filter cap. 
• Use 35/36 mm socket and torque to 18 ft-lbs
• Optional: Install filter cap after inserting oil drain plug. I put one quart of oil into the oil filter housing and the rest into the engine.

• Place new copper gasket on drain plug and install using 17 mm socket. 
• Torque to 25 ft-lbs. 
• I installed a MTC magnetic drain plug because the original plug was complete rusted and the previous owner rounded the plug head. 
• Reinstall any body paneling or trap doors if equipped. 

MTC magnetic plug

MTC magnetic plug installed

• Remove wheel chocks

• Carefully lower BMW by driving off ramps or jacking and removing jack stands. 

• Remove oil cap and fill with 6.5 liters or 6.7 quarts. 
• Use dipstick to check if oil is within limits, add more if necessary. 
• Use a funnel to prevent spills. I use the Hopkins funnel and it works fine.

Oil filler cap location and locking funnel.

• Reinstall oil cap. 

• Close hood and take a 10-15 minute drive. Check if there are any leaks. 

Notes: 

I used Mobil 1 because of their 5 quart rebates. Amazon and Walmart sell their 5 quarts for $23 and with the $12 rebate it only costs $11. 

How to Change Spark Plugs on a BMW E39 530i

DIY: Spark plugs on BMW E39s equipped with M54 inline six engines. May apply to M52 engines and E46s.
BMW recommends the spark plugs be changed every 100,000 miles which seems a bit high. Many drivers suggest 60,000 - 80,000 miles.

Tools:

• Various flat tip screwdrivers
• 10 mm socket
• Ratchets and extensions
• 5/8" Spark plug socket
• Torque wrench

Parts:

•  6 Spark Plugs
• NGK BKR6EQUP
• Bosch FGR7DQP

Recommended:

• Dielectric grease for coil harness connectors

Steps: 

• Open hood
• Remove passenger side cabin filter hose. 
• Optional. Will make this job much easier if removed. 
• Use a flat tip screw driver and detach three clips.

• Pull and remove hose from micro filter cabin box.
• Twist and pull hose out from opening. See picture below.

Rubber O-ring that fits over the hole came off with the hose. Not sure if that is supposed to happen but it is easy to reinstall.

Hose completely removed.

• Use a flat tip screwdriver and pop out two small circular covers. See red circles below.

• Use 10 mm socket and remove two nuts holding engine cover. Picture of 10 mm nut below.

• Remove oil fill cap.
• Remove engine cover.
• Reinstall oil fill cap to ensure nothing falls into engine.

• Use flat tip screwdriver and raise metal clips on each coil. 
• Unplug female connector to each coil 

• Use 10 mm socket and remove two 10 mm bolts holding each coil. 
• Coil #1 and #6 have wires attached to them. Note their position for reinstallation. 

#6 Coil. Note the wire on the left.

• Remove each coil by pulling them out.
• Mark each coil to which cylinder they belong to or arrange them in order so they go back to the same spot on installation.
• Use 5/8" spark plug socket and extension to remove spark plugs.
• I highly recommend AMPRO's Spark Plug Socket since it comes with a large extension. 
• GearWrench's 5/8" Spark Plug Socket works as well, but you will need an extension to reach the plugs.   
• Be careful not to use any large side motion when breaking the torque on the plugs. 

Original BMW NGK Spark Plugs removed.

• Install new spark plugs with 5/8" socket and be careful not to cross thread. 
• NGK plugs are coated with a metal jacket and do not need anti-seize.
• The Bentley manual says to torque spark plugs to 18 lb-fts.
• Various sources and NGK list the torque values around 20 - 25 lb-fts. 
• Reinstall coils 
• Install two 10 mm bolts to each coil
• Apply dielectric grease (optional) to female connector and plug into coil
• Press down on metal clips that lock connectors to each coil. 
• Reinstall cabin air filter hose (if removed) 
• Insert end into body of car and twist
• Reinstall other end to filter box and pull towards box so the three clips snap into place
• Remove oil fill cap
• Reinstall engine cover and two 10 mm bolts securing cover
• Reinstall oil fill cap
• Reattach 2 small round clips over 10 mm engine cover bolts. 

Notes: 

It is a good idea to change any coils that are bad at the same time.
Check the plugs to see if there is any fouling or wet oil and gasoline on them
If you have a valve cover gasket leak, this would be a good time to change the gasket.
Changing the old spark plugs may clear any misfires or poor fuel economy and smooth the idle.
NGK says to not use anti-seize because there is a risk of over torque and it is not needed because their threads are coated. It is up to you to decide if you believe NGK and to use or not use anti-seize.

How to Change Engine Air Filter on BMW E39 530i

DIY: Change Engine Air Filter on E39 530i and 525i. May be applicable to E46s.

Parts: 

• Mann Air Filter or Bosch or Mahle.  

Steps: 

• Open hood

• Locate air filter box on the driver's side and right behind the headlamps

• Unlatch two clips (red circles)

Location of other clip closest to driver.

• Pull air filter tray upwards.

• Remove any leaves or debris in air box.

Leaves love to hide in here

• Remove old filter from tray and install new filter. 
• The previous owner used a Napa filter which is a lot thinner than the new Mann filter on the right. 

• Install air filter tray inside air box until the two clips latch into place. 

Notes: 
One my clips would not unlatch so I had to forcefully pull the tray out. Yours may or may not require the same technique.

Please change your engine air filter yourself. The job is very quick and easy. Do not overpay at quick lube places or the dealerships.

Inspect air filter every oil change or 10-15,000 miles. Replace as necessary.

Clean air filter results in better MPG and engine performance. Do not let a clogged air filter cost you money at the pump.