DIY: Oil Change - Video Tutorial

[elm3]

Originally Posted by coogs08

When my pads are due for a change (which seems soon, along with the rotors) I'll be sure to make a video for it!

Let me know when you do the pads, I have the torque values for the slidding bolts on the calipers. I'll send them to you, so that way it can be a sticky on here. I changed mine a while ago.

[MentholGuy]

Originally Posted by Foolclear

You can just pull it out by lifting up the edges.

I believe it's just another plastic cap over the filter cap.

[mdosu]

those new pop off filter housings are awesome. I almost want to just buy the OEM one myself, so I don't have to mess with buying the oil filter wrench adapter.

OP, thanks for the video. Impressive you did it all with one hand! lol

Although I've changed my car's oil a million times with my past car (Evo8), it always helps to have a video to show you where all the points are. There is a great pictorial DIY here, but something about a video that clarifies alot of the points. For instance, I never knew there were 2 rubber o-rings on the filter housing.

Are the two drain plugs standard "screw on/screw off" plugs? The pictorial DIY shows that you need to pull it one way to loosen.


At the end of the day, I just dont' have the space (live in apartment tower) to change my own oil. But this is useful when I'm ready to do it.

My only reservation about changing the oil on the M3 is jacking up the car. Ideally, you need the car to be level. But you want it on ramps for stability. I might just still use jacks and jackstands to access the drain plug, then take it all down to get a complete drain. Then jack the car again to tighten the plug. Also the problem with this is to find a really flat pan that can fit under the M3 without jacks and still hold all that oil. I may need to use 2 pans. One to take most of the oil. Then the flatest one when I take the jack down to get the last bit of oil.

[MentholGuy]

Originally Posted by mdosu

I almost want to just buy the OEM one myself, so I don't have to mess with buying the oil filter wrench adapter.

Are the two drain plugs standard "screw on/screw off" plugs? The pictorial DIY shows that you need to pull it one way to loosen.

You will still need to use 35mm wrench to remove the filter cap after remove pop-off cover, it's an additional cover over the filter cap.

And yes, those are standard "screw on/off" plugs - M6 allen wrench used for my 2011.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Kris@Modmynav

You will still need to use 35mm wrench to remove the filter cap after remove pop-off cover, it's an additional cover on the filter cap.

And yes, those are standard "screw on/off" plugs - M6 allen wrench used for my 2011.

good to know, thanks! In that case, screw it. I don't need another "condom" on top of the cap.

So the drain plugs' interface is a M6 allen interface instead of the standard hexagonal socket? Nothing else different about these plugs other than the socket interface?

[MentholGuy]

Originally Posted by mdosu

good to know, thanks! In that case, screw it. I don't need another "condom" on top of the cap.

So the drain plugs' interface is a M6 allen interface instead of the standard hexagonal socket? Nothing else different about these plugs other than the socket interface?

T40 hex will work too, I used T40 to remove those drain plugs, but hex wrench end was stuck in bolt.

I used M6 allen wrench to put them back, and it worked better for me. (I felt that I might have worn out bolts after using T40 hex)

[FatSmoke]

Good video. Thanks.

[sensi09]

Nice video.

If I go to a shop and they just jack.up the front to drain the oil....is that a bad thing?

[elm3]

Originally Posted by sensi09

Nice video.

If I go to a shop and they just jack.up the front to drain the oil....is that a bad thing?

Well you want the car as level as possible when draining. So that way both sumps are drained completely.

[M3N74L]

Great video. I go to UH as well.

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by elm3

Well you want the car as level as possible when draining. So that way both sumps are drained completely.

Does anyone have an idea how much more oil would be drained if level compared to just jacking up the front? Assuming a very small amount.

All the lifts were full at the shop I went to, otherwise I would of asked.

[coogs08]

Originally Posted by sensi09

Does anyone have an idea how much more oil would be drained if level compared to just jacking up the front? Assuming a very small amount.

All the lifts were full at the shop I went to, otherwise I would of asked.

well to give you an idea, I had to put almost 8.6 qts in after draining. it isn't much, if any, more when I have drained the car while it's level. I'm sure a little more will come out though when it's level.

[coogs08]

Originally Posted by M3N74L

Great video. I go to UH as well.

sweet! I graduated a few years ago, go coogs!

[mtl88]

Great vid! Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together!

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by coogs08

well to give you an idea, I had to put almost 8.6 qts in after draining. it isn't much, if any, more when I have drained the car while it's level. I'm sure a little more will come out though when it's level.

Good info. Not sure if you covered it, but how long did you drain it for?

[ScreaM]

I wouldnt use channel locks on the filter housing cap... leaves grooves and over time will round the edges.

From the video looks like its already begun

[coogs08]

Originally Posted by sensi09

Good info. Not sure if you covered it, but how long did you drain it for?

about 30 mins

[grsd03]

Thanks for making this vid!

[m3monkey]

Excellent DIY video op!! great job!

[Space Ghost]

Thanks for the video. That will be my next DIY right after the plugs.

[eclause13]

Great DIY!!!

[Sapper_M3]

OP, fantastic DIY. I'll be changing my oil at 10,000 miles (right after this next HPDE...), and--although changing the oil isn't a difficult job--it's great to see someone do it on your specific car beforehand. Kudos for the effort!