DIY E39 oil service
Discussion
I have a 2001 530iA E39 touring, it's done about 143K miles and has a few rough edges, so basically it's worth buttons. But it drives well and has been largely reliable after I had all the usual E39 issues sorted out.
My oil service light came on this morning and I was just wondering if it's worth getting an indie to do it, or do it myself? I'm assuming all that's needed for the service is an oil and filter change, and a reset of the service light? Is there anything else I am forgetting?
I've done lots of small jobs on cars before but always got servicing done at a garage to get the all important stamp, so I've never actually done an oil change before. The thing is I am not sure if I will sell the comfy old bus before it falls apart, but I might get the bug to change at which point I'd want to maximise the cars value (regardless of how tiny that value is).
Apart from the money saved it's the inconvenience of dropping the car off at the garage and picking it up again. If I DIY then I can do it on a Sunday morning at home with unlimited tea and toast...
What's the collective opinion? Will this make the car completely worthless as opposed to virtually worthless? Am I going to save pennies and it's simply not worth doing myself? Am I likely to make a fundamental error and destroy the engine because I didn't re-adjust the complicated widget-flange-actuator-something-or-other?
Encouragement please gentlemen...
My oil service light came on this morning and I was just wondering if it's worth getting an indie to do it, or do it myself? I'm assuming all that's needed for the service is an oil and filter change, and a reset of the service light? Is there anything else I am forgetting?
I've done lots of small jobs on cars before but always got servicing done at a garage to get the all important stamp, so I've never actually done an oil change before. The thing is I am not sure if I will sell the comfy old bus before it falls apart, but I might get the bug to change at which point I'd want to maximise the cars value (regardless of how tiny that value is).
Apart from the money saved it's the inconvenience of dropping the car off at the garage and picking it up again. If I DIY then I can do it on a Sunday morning at home with unlimited tea and toast...
What's the collective opinion? Will this make the car completely worthless as opposed to virtually worthless? Am I going to save pennies and it's simply not worth doing myself? Am I likely to make a fundamental error and destroy the engine because I didn't re-adjust the complicated widget-flange-actuator-something-or-other?
Encouragement please gentlemen...
Go for it, you wont de-value your car any more as its not worth much as you say,
Its a realy simple job with nothing to go wrong, just make sure you have a big enough socket to remove the oil filter cap.
You need a large container to hold the old oil, your car takes just short of 7 litres so dont make a mess on the drive.
Use fully synthetic oil, 5w40 grade.
Half an hours job
Its a realy simple job with nothing to go wrong, just make sure you have a big enough socket to remove the oil filter cap.
You need a large container to hold the old oil, your car takes just short of 7 litres so dont make a mess on the drive.
Use fully synthetic oil, 5w40 grade.
Half an hours job
Have a scout at places like ATS/Kwikfit for special offers:
20% off oil&filter change at ATS before the end of the month:
http://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/assets/files/vouche...
Last time I costed it up I couldn't buy the oil & filter myself for less than ATS charged me and it saved me the hassle of doing it myself.
Phone them up for a quote then take 20% off. You might be surprised.
Or just do it yourself at the weekend.
20% off oil&filter change at ATS before the end of the month:
http://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/assets/files/vouche...
Last time I costed it up I couldn't buy the oil & filter myself for less than ATS charged me and it saved me the hassle of doing it myself.
Phone them up for a quote then take 20% off. You might be surprised.
Or just do it yourself at the weekend.
k ups by kwik fit?steve_bmw said:
Go for it, you wont de-value your car any more as its not worth much as you say,
Its a realy simple job with nothing to go wrong, just make sure you have a big enough socket to remove the oil filter cap.
You need a large container to hold the old oil, your car takes just short of 7 litres so dont make a mess on the drive.
Use fully synthetic oil, 5w40 grade.
Half an hours job
It's dead easy, especially on BMW's with the handy filter location. Its a realy simple job with nothing to go wrong, just make sure you have a big enough socket to remove the oil filter cap.
You need a large container to hold the old oil, your car takes just short of 7 litres so dont make a mess on the drive.
Use fully synthetic oil, 5w40 grade.
Half an hours job
I used a Sealey Oil Extractor - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vacuum-Fluid-Extractor-Man...
This sucks the warmed oil through the dipstick pipe. It also negates the need to: jack the car up, have the car fall on you, scald your hands, miss the drain pan entirely, ring the sump plug, forget to put the copper washer on... etc etc.
adam85 said:
It's dead easy, especially on BMW's with the handy filter location.
I used a Sealey Oil Extractor - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vacuum-Fluid-Extractor-Man...
This sucks the warmed oil through the dipstick pipe. It also negates the need to: jack the car up, have the car fall on you, scald your hands, miss the drain pan entirely, ring the sump plug, forget to put the copper washer on... etc etc.
Oooh I like gadgets... But I am going to try and do it old-school this time, if I end up with scalded hands, a squashed head, an oily drive, and a stripped thread sump plug, I will allow you the opportunity to say 'I told you so', and then I will buy one (and a new car - after I get out of hospital). The reason for this is mainly that I want to do it on Sunday and I doubt I will get delivery before then, which would mean waiting another 2 weeks before I get a free weekend and my OCD will freak having to look at the orange light for 2 weeks and 1000 miles.I used a Sealey Oil Extractor - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vacuum-Fluid-Extractor-Man...
This sucks the warmed oil through the dipstick pipe. It also negates the need to: jack the car up, have the car fall on you, scald your hands, miss the drain pan entirely, ring the sump plug, forget to put the copper washer on... etc etc.
I picked up a filter from BMW for £9, and have a colleagues Halfords Trade card on my desk for the oil purchase, so I am pretty much good to go.
skoff said:
That's a bit harsh, true, but still harsh. Support and encouragement is what I need..
Come on now - group hug
I'm quite happy to join in the Kwikfit bashers most of the time, but not for a simple oil change if there's an offer on.
Let us know how you got on next week!
dooosuk said:
You'll be fine..it's dead easy. It wasn't a slight on your skills.
I'm quite happy to join in the Kwikfit bashers most of the time, but not for a simple oil change if there's an offer on.
Let us know how you got on next week!
I'm quite happy to join in the Kwikfit bashers most of the time, but not for a simple oil change if there's an offer on.
Let us know how you got on next week!
Will do.
I'm quite looking forward to it, even if for no other reason than to show up my neighbour who needs to call the AA when his screen wash gets a bit low.
adam85 said:
skoff said:
According to the chap in the parts dept it's in the pack with the filter - will check tonight, if not I will pop back tomorrow.
It normally is indeed, good luck! Tango13 said:
adam85 said:
skoff said:
According to the chap in the parts dept it's in the pack with the filter - will check tonight, if not I will pop back tomorrow.
It normally is indeed, good luck! With the filter I got a big O ring, and a small copper washer, so I guess all is present and correct.
As req, here is my report back.
I had two small problems. First I didn't have a 17mm socket that would fit my torque wrench, and second the oil came out a bit quicker than anticipated and I spilt a bit on the floor (why on earth is the plug on the side of the sump as opposed to underneath it??). All in all no big issues after a trip to Halfords for a £4 socket and a £4 bottle of driveway cleaning fluid. Job done. It took most of the morning to complete, but that's because I took the Monaro to go to Halfords and took the long way home
I did notice that the sump plug didn't have a copper washer on it when I removed it, though I suppose it's possible that it disappeared into the waste oil. Still, I fitted the new washer included with the filter, and there don't seem to be any drips or leaks.
I have let the car run a bit an it seems fine, oil level normal. Job done.
I had two small problems. First I didn't have a 17mm socket that would fit my torque wrench, and second the oil came out a bit quicker than anticipated and I spilt a bit on the floor (why on earth is the plug on the side of the sump as opposed to underneath it??). All in all no big issues after a trip to Halfords for a £4 socket and a £4 bottle of driveway cleaning fluid. Job done. It took most of the morning to complete, but that's because I took the Monaro to go to Halfords and took the long way home
I did notice that the sump plug didn't have a copper washer on it when I removed it, though I suppose it's possible that it disappeared into the waste oil. Still, I fitted the new washer included with the filter, and there don't seem to be any drips or leaks.
I have let the car run a bit an it seems fine, oil level normal. Job done.
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