Oil Change E36 3.0

[Travis Mcgee]

I am going to change the oil and filter on my 3.0. Is this a fairly straight forward DIY job? Any complications? Any recommendations re Oil etc.
Cheers all

[Rags]

Very very straightforward.

just a few pointers though!

Make sure the oil that is being drained is warm (ie. run the car for a bit).

Be careful when the sump plug is unscrewed as the oil will piss out and be hot! Catch it in a catch tank and dispose correctly! Let it drain for 20 mins, gravity will do its work!

Just make sure you get a new o ring washer for the sump plug and while you are at it, get another sump plug just in case the old plug has its threads damaged - if possible get a magnetic one!

Just take your time and make sure you put the plug back in prior to filling the oil!

[iguana]

Do vanos filter too, tiny little thing front of engine, & torque it up properly, my torque wrench= big half inch drive bugger & wouldnt fit in there & what felt enough with allen key = not enough, lost a litre of oil all over the manifold= messy smokey & smelly!

Its also helps that if when jet washing that oil off, you get no water in the elctrics, then dont think 'pah im driving now so they will dry out as engine warms up' because firing on about 3 gets the cats so hot with the unburnt fuel they glow red & they then ignite that spilt oil...... so from a simple lack of doing a simple bloody bolt up your car nearly goes up in flames! & would have if not extingushed!

That was a fun morning!

[chris7676]

Is there a VANOS filter on the 3.0 engine as well?

[Rags]

Yep, although the 3litre is a single vanos.