Tools:
- 17 mm socket
- 35/36 mm socket
- Ratchet(s)
- Oil drain pan
- Ramps or jack and jack stands
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| MTC magnetic plug |
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| 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.
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| 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.
