How To Change Oil On A BMW 328i: A Complete Guide

Maintaining clean and quality oil in your BMW 328i ensures smooth performance and a long-lasting engine.

To maintain the performance & engine longevity you need regular oil changes.

Oil plays a huge role in protecting the inner engine parts from damage, keeping the engine cool & preventing contaminants from accumulating inside the engine.

Changing oil is one of the basic DIY steps, which is pretty easy and simple, and you cannot go wrong with anything.

But challenging enough to make you feel like a champion when you do this.

With socket wrenches, an oil filter wrench, and car ramps it would cost you around $90-$150 and about 30 minutes to change the oil on a BMW 328i.

But in dealerships, the same oil change will cost you around $190-$300.

So, let’s get into the process.

Tools Needed For a 328i Oil Change

• 7 quarts of 5W-30 grade Synthetic Oil
• Oil Filter
• Oil Filter wrench
• 17mm Socket wrench with a short extension
• Car Ramps
• Funnel
• Drain Pan
• Shop towels & paper towels
• safety glasses & gloves

Now if you’ve gathered all the necessary tools then it’s time to change the oil.

Also Read: BMW 328i Head Gasket Replacement Cost: Fully Explained

Step by Step Process of BMW 328i Oil Change

So, now you’ve gathered all the necessary tools let’s follow along the step by step process.

1. Set Your Car

First drive your car for about 15-20 minutes, to let the oil reach the operating temperature.

You could also simply start the engine & let the oil heat up, the hot oil pours more smoothly and any particles will be drained with the oil.

Now drive your car above the car ramps, so you can crawl underneath more easily. If you’re having trouble with the car ramps, you can also use hydraulic jacks to jack the car up and use jack stands.

And remember to wear safety gloves and glasses.

2. Remove the Oil Cap

First, pop up your hood and open the oil filler cap, which is located above the engine.

Simply unscrew the cap by rotating it counter-clockwise, then clean it with a clean towel and keep it in a safe place.

Keeping the cap open will let the oil drain more smoothly and quickly.

3. Locate the Oil Drain Plug

This step will require the 17mm socket wrench and a drain pan with about 10L oil capacity.

Now Crawl underneath your vehicle and locate the oil drain plug, which is covered.

You can use a flathead screwdriver or your fingers to pinch the cover and rotate the plastic piece 180 degrees.

4. Drain the Oil

Now Place the drain pan under the drain plug to catch all the oil.

Then you can access the drain plug, just use the 17mm socket wrench to unscrew the drain plug (with a washer), and remember the oil is hot.

You can use the trick I use, just use an extension as a spinner to remove the plug from far away and get away from the hot oil.

After removing the drain plug, oil should start pouring into the pan, and you can clean the drain plug with a clean towel.

All the oil should be poured in between 3-5 minutes.

With the drain plug, you’ll find a washer, you also need to replace the old washer with a new washer you’ll find with the new oil filter kit.

4. Replacing The Oil Filter & O-ring

While the oil is draining, get out from under the car and locate the oil filter.

The oil filter should be inside the housing, at the front of the engine, in front of the engine intake manifold. If you struggle to find the oil filter take help from the owner’s manual, or look at the photo below.

Now use the 32mm to remove the cap and take out the oil filter, sometimes it would just open if you pull firmly.

Now simply pull upwards and pull your oil filter out.

With your new oil filter kit, you’ll find two O-rings, and a crush washer you need to replace the O-rings and the crush washer when the oil draining is done and while screwing the drain plug back on.

So, take out the o-rings carefully with a flathead screwdriver, or if you have a pick it’ll be much easier, just remember to take out the o-rings carefully without damaging the housing or threads.

Removing the big o-rings can be pretty tricky, but if you have a pick it will become much easier. I always use the pick when I need to replace my o-rings.

Remove the old filter from the housing and replace it with a new filter.

After removing the old filter always remember to clean the housing with a clean paper towel. (It’s a pro tip)

5. Set The Oil Filter Housing & Close The Drain Plug

After you’ve replaced the oil filter put it back on, and firmly close the cap.

The oil filter housing cap should be sealed tightly because it experiences high pressure inside the housing and you don’t want oil leaks.

If the cap is not tightly sealed it can cause oil leaks.

Now, the oil should be drained, so go underneath your vehicle and screw the drain plug back on. And, remember to replace the old crush washer with the new one.

Don’t tighten the drain plug too much just tight it to the appropriate level and replace the oil drain plug cover.

6. Add Oil

Now put a funnel on the oil filler and add the BMW recommended 5W-30 synthetic oil slowly.

You can check the owner’s manual to know how much oil is needed for your vehicle or, just add the oil slowly, and check the oil level on the dashboard or with the oil dipstick to measure the appropriate level. (newer BMW models typically replaced the traditional dipstick with an oil level sensor in the iDrive)

Usually, I add a quarter of the 7th and check the dipstick (or dashboard)and it comes at the second mark, which means it’s full.

You should also fill the oil at the second mark of the dipstick, filling too much oil is as bad as too little oil.

Now replace the oil filler cap by rotating it clockwise & clean the oil filter housing & oil drain plug for further inspection.

Also Read: How To Add Oil To Your BMW 328i? (Step-by-Step Guide)

7. Final Inspection

Now you’ve added the oil start the engine and keep the engine on for about 5-10 minutes, or just go on a drive for 10-15 minutes(my favored style).

After 15 minutes of driving visually check for any oil leakage in the oil filter section and the oil drain plug.

Also, check the oil level in your dashboard and with the dipstick.

So now congratulations, you’ve just done an oil change in your BMW 328i all by yourself. Also, you just saved the labor charge by doing everything yourself.

Actually, with the saved money I like to use a premium oil just to give my vehicle the ultimate luxury it deserves.

8. Dispose of The Used Oil

There’s only one last step you need to perform, simply give the used oil to a recycling center or any auto shop that accepts used oil.

In my area, I have an auto shop, that takes my used oils and gives some free services, sometimes good discounts which count for me.

Conclusion

Now You know every little detail to change the oil of your BMW 328i. You can also use the same process in other BMW models.

There’s not much difference in the process, only the component’s location and parts may be different.

This step should take about 30 minutes of your time as a beginner, but it will help you save some bucks on the dealership charges.

Also, you’ll know exactly what you putting into your vehicle, cause some Autoshop charges less than $100 and fill basic or cheap Castrol or mobil1, which is not worth it at all.

FAQ

Image Source: The Truth About Cars, Youtube

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