BMW 330i Oil Change

[V6Alfisti]

I have decided to break my mainly British/Italian car history and am now also running a 2001 BMW 330i Sport E46 alongside, to see if it's my cup of tea.

Now I just just need to get the oil changed.

What grade is recommended for the 330i?

Opie Oils generator seems to suggest 0W30 or 5W40 Fully Synthetic and around 6.5 litres of it?

I have read a guide online how to change the Oil on these, seems you do the usual warming it up e.t.c

Then these Beemers seem to run a filter whereby you remove just the element and not the outer casing as well, plus a number of little rubber bits. First question, this appears to be a 36mm!! socket, can they normally be undone by hand or is the 36mm socket the only way?

Sump drain e.t.c seems normal.

Any guidance much appreciated.

Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 10th March 20:49

[Neil_Sc]

You'll want a BMW approved oil, I've just switched to Mobil 1 0W40 for my 2004 330i.

These cars are known for using oil and mine uses around 1 litre every 1000, I have used Motul 5W30 previously, so we shall see if the Mobil 1 is any better.

[Neil_Sc]

I forgot to add, yes the oil filler cap is a 36mm socket. I picked one up for about £9 IIRC. Sump is a 17mm socket.

[rich85uk]

Neil_Sc said:

You'll want a BMW approved oil, I've just switched to Mobil 1 0W40 for my 2004 330i.

These cars are known for using oil and mine uses around 1 litre every 1000, I have used Motul 5W30 previously, so we shall see if the Mobil 1 is any better.

ditto, although mine has creeped up to around 2-3k miles as ive been driving gently in this weather

[Shropshiremike]

Neil_Sc said:

You'll want a BMW approved oil, I've just switched to Mobil 1 0W40 for my 2004 330i.

These cars are known for using oil and mine uses around 1 litre every 1000, I have used Motul 5W30 previously, so we shall see if the Mobil 1 is any better.

Just out of interest Neil, do you have the emissions blurb from your last MOT?

[V6Alfisti]

Thanks all, I ended up buying some 5w30 Fully Synthetic on the basis that this is what the local BMW dealer would stick in.

Reset the oil light but this has now been replaced with an "Inspection" light, and I will be hopefully resetting this once I find out how

EDIT: For future reference, Opie Oils said anything with an LL01 spec would be fine. So 0w xx or 5w xx.

Edited by V6Alfisti on Thursday 11th March 19:52