2011 BMW 535i DIY Oil Change - With Pics!

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Aug 24, 2009
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Location
Hollywood, CA
1100 miles, time for a oil change.
Parts
* Fully Synthetic Oil 7 Quarts BMW High Performance Full Synthetic 5W30* (BMW P/N: 07 51 0 017 866), Mobil 1 0W40, or Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W30.
* Oil Filter (BMW P/N: 11 42 7 566 327) - Comes with 2 o-ring washers (1 big black, 1 small green), and 1 copper crush washer.
* Oil Filter Wrench, there are several on the market. I used my hand but this might be too hard for you paper pushers.
* Floor Jack (I used 2) with jack stands
* Oil Drain Pan.
* 17 mm socket (1/2" drive wrench).
* Torque Wrench
* Rags / paper towels.
* Disposable rubber gloves.
* Funnel.
* Needle nose pliers.
* Goggles.
* Beer for after.

Make sure oil is at operating temp before doing this.
1. On a level surface, engage parking brake and chock rear wheels
2. Lift front of car, I used two floor jacks with plastic pads to keep from damaging plastic jack points on the F10.
3. Use jacks stands in case floor jacks malfunction (this is VERY IMPORTANT) Never get under a car without proper safety backup.
4. Remove small bolt that holds trap door in place, remove trap door.
5. Using 17mm socket and wrench loosen drain plug. (Bolt faces down, so no mess with angle draining)
6. Lower car back down to ensure even oil draining. This will take a while, I made a sandwich during the time.
7. Remove oil filter, I did it by hand but if your kung fu grip isn't strong enough buy the filter wrench. With needle nose pliers remove green gasket and large black gasket on oil filter housing. Pull oil filter out. Install new filter, the writing was facing out or down. Put new gaskets on the filter housing. I soaked the new filter in a little oil and rubbed some oil on the new gaskets. I sucked out all the residual oil in the filter seat with a turkey baster. Screw filter back into the base. Match the green alignment marks (thanks for that Dingolfing!)
8. Jack Car back up, place jacks stands in position again, make sure the rear chocks haven't moved around. Put copper crush washer onto new bolt, put a little oil on the threads of the bolt, and tighten bolt back by hand at first then use the 17mm socket and torque the bolt back to 25nm or about 20lbs/ft, don't over tighten.
9. Put trap door back in place (or leave open to check for leaks later, I skipped this as I am confident in my DIY skills, if you're not, triple check everything).
10. Place car back on level ground, and fill with 7 qts of oil. I list the 3 grades and brands above because they are the most common in N. America and can be found easily, don't send me PM's about how great Amsoil or Redline is, most people don't want to deal with the hassle of getting that stuff.
11. Drive car around until oil level appears on IDrive (this took forever, and [censored] me off. My kingdom for a dipstick!!!)
12. Bask in your glory by consuming beer or adult beverage of choice.

Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W30
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chock rear wheels
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I used two floor jacks with plastic pads to keep from damaging plastic jack points on the F103.
IMG_0888.jpg


Use jacks stands in case floor jacks malfunction (this is VERY IMPORTANT) Never get under a car without proper safety backup.
IMG_0887.jpg


Remove small bolt that holds trap door in place, remove trap door.
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5. Using 17mm socket and wrench loosen drain plug. (Bolt faces down, so no mess with angle draining)
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I sucked out all the residual oil in the filter seat with a turkey baster.
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Match the green alignment marks (thanks for that Dingolfing!)
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Early and often for the first year. I own this car, it's not rented.:
Planned schedule:
Total Vehicle Mileage
1. 1,200 Miles (Owner)
2. 7,500 miles (Owner)
3. 15,000 miles (Dealer)
4. 22,500 miles (Owner)
5. 30,000 miles (Dealer)
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Cool pics. Thanks. Is the floor jack from Harbor Tools? I have seen them there.

Yes. One is larger than the other but both work like a charm and both were on sale. All tools used were from Harbor Freight.
 
Last edited:
Yes the N55 engine. Single turbo. I haven't been able to air it out yet, but so far it's been pretty creamy smooth.
 
Yes, that looks like Mann regular paper oil filter. We just bought a 98 MB for my wife to drive, and it uses fleece oil filter for extended use, so I thought BMW used fleece oil filters too. Don't know if fleece oil filter makes big filtration difference in extended interval versus the paper filter though. Just curious.
 
Originally Posted By: moss
Yes, that looks like Mann regular paper oil filter. We just bought a 98 MB for my wife to drive, and it uses fleece oil filter for extended use, so I thought BMW used fleece oil filters too. Don't know if fleece oil filter makes big filtration difference in extended interval versus the paper filter though. Just curious.

FWIW - The N55 uses the same parts and oil specs as the N54 twin turbo that many people know and love/hate.
 
The 2011 BMW 535i doesn't have oil dipstick tube ? My brother in-law's 2004 530 has oil dipstick tube and he uses oil extractor Mityvac, it makes oil change much easier and faster.
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
The 2011 BMW 535i doesn't have oil dipstick tube ? My brother in-law's 2004 530 has oil dipstick tube and he uses oil extractor Mityvac, it makes oil change much easier and faster.

No, it's annoying. I'm pretty old fashioned, I don't mind getting underneath the car at all. I can see how if you didn't have the right tools or space this would be a problem. I got all that $h*t.
 
Originally Posted By: TJPark01
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
The 2011 BMW 535i doesn't have oil dipstick tube ? My brother in-law's 2004 530 has oil dipstick tube and he uses oil extractor Mityvac, it makes oil change much easier and faster.

No, it's annoying. I'm pretty old fashioned, I don't mind getting underneath the car at all. I can see how if you didn't have the right tools or space this would be a problem. I got all that $h*t.


I think newer MB engines don't have oil dipstick (owners can buy oil measuring device which is a dipstick at the dealer) but the dipstick tube is still in the engine and dealers use it to extract the oil.

I think your OCI's is prudent, you do the mid-term and dealer does the once a year.
 
Wait a minute! The new 5 series has two jack points on the sides (picture 5)?

I lucked out on my Z4. it's got a dipstick tube so I use a Mityvac to to my oil changes. But wouldn't have minded doing it this way since it's a once-a-year event.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: TJPark01

IMG_0511.jpg


What??? German car but Dutch beer?
31.gif


This deserves at least Hacker-Pschorr!
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I'm not so sure about drinking while working on/under a car. I prefer to be sober to avoid any mishaps involving the car.
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I'm not so sure about drinking while working on/under a car. I prefer to be sober to avoid any mishaps involving the car.


Which is why under the instructions the drinking is listed last after all the work is done.
 
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Wait a minute! The new 5 series has two jack points on the sides (picture 5)?


No, the floor jack is using the intended jack point. The jack stand has a rubber sleeve on it and is placed as a back up in case the floor jack fails.
 
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