My 1st Oil Change experience

[mrclean2]

The look of the car is beautiful The features are excellent The ride is incredible...

but the oil change is hell18 screws to remove the cover to get to the oil plug and filter. You've got to be kidding me!

I've been on my back for longer periods for things more enjoyable than this.What a beat down!

Can I get an Amen!

[szh]

The look of the car is beautiful The features are excellent The ride is incredible...

but the oil change is hell18 screws to remove the cover to get to the oil plug and filter. You've got to be kidding me!

I've been on my back for longer periods for things more enjoyable than this.What a beat down!

Can I get an Amen!

Amen!

But, you can make life easier for yourself ... there is a little flap on my 2003 M45 that only has two screws. This flap is designed for access to the oil filter and drain plug. Do you not have this flap on your car too?

Z

[mrclean2]

Amen!

But, you can make life easier for yourself ... there is a little flap on my 2003 M45 that only has two screws. This flap is designed for access to the oil filter and drain plug. Do you not have this flap on your car too?

Z

Nope! My BMW 540i had this flap. Run it up on the ramp. Drop the flap, drain, change and you're done! The M45 has the one big cover that takes me 15 min to remove.

[sr79labrat]

Thats gotta suck! Are you sure....dont see why ours would have one and yours wouldnt?!?!

That is a pain!KTW

[mrclean2]

Thats gotta suck! Are you sure....dont see why ours would have one and yours wouldnt?!?!

That is a pain!KTW

I'm sure, because the manual says to and I stayed on my back for 10min just to make sure because I still couldn't believe all that had to come off for a 10min oil change.

[DRIPS]

i have the flap too. takes me ten mins for a change and done...not sure why urs would be diff???

[jankenpo30]

The 06' does have a flap as well. If you took all 18 off, you wasted your time. The four screws located closes to the rear is all you need to remove, bend the flap back and use something to hold it in that position. I used a short piece of 2x4 I have. Change filter & oil. I'm in, draining oil within 5 mins, done within 15 mins.

Of all the cars I've own, this perhaps is the most convenient oil change I have to do. The filter & drain plug are right next to each other.

[mrclean2]

The 06' does have a flap as well. If you took all 18 off, you wasted your time. The four screws located closes to the rear is all you need to remove, bend the flap back and use something to hold it in that position. I used a short piece of 2x4 I have. Change filter & oil. I'm in, draining oil within 5 mins, done within 15 mins.

Of all the cars I've own, this perhaps is the most convenient oil change I have to do. The filter & drain plug are right next to each other.

I can see the logic in that, but how can you get the drain pan under it enough to where you dont spill or get any on the cover? My past cars have all had the flap to get to the plug without so much effort. I must say that BMW has made it much easier, but that's a small price to pay for the joy I get behind the wheel.

I think it's a design flaw. If they had a flap on the past generation, it would only make sense to do it on this one.

[jankenpo30]

You can jack it up, I assumed you knew that part. The flap is there. I just said I have an '06 as well.

I personally have to vehicle ramps for mine, drive up on the ramps, loosen the 4 screws, fold flap back, prop it, Loosen oil pan plug....slide oil catch container underneath, continue to loosen drain plug, oil drains....clean hands, go grab beer, drink beer.

Reverse process & I'm done. It is no where near as difficult as you are making it out to be.

[Double E]

I have to agree with the responses, this is probably the easiest car I've worked with to change oil. Fold the flap and everything you need to get to is there. I am disappointed in the flimsy-ness of the screws and mounting hardware that that flap fastens with though.

I agree that the oil drain path from the plug may touch the flap cutout slightly as it pours, but I probably can look at jacking up the other side of the car instead next time.

The only other easier vehicle I've encountered is the Jeep GC and that's only because I don't need to jack it up...

[wingFeather]

this is probably the easiest car I've worked with to change oil.

Which model year are we talking about here? The new gen M's are a *****. Yes, you can bend the cover back... but they should have put an easy access flap there. Then, you have to contort your hand to access the filter, which is tucked behind some bars & brackets...

It's not the worst car, though. The SR20DET engine in my Nissan is torture. You cannot see the filter, you have to do it blind (and with a large extension).

Best car for oil changes was a Ferrari 348. Oil filter sits on top of the engine, and drain plug is accessible without lifting the car But that thing was designed for racing.

[Double E]

That's a good point. My reference is the '04.

The provided access door on the '04 is not so much a door as it is a plasitc "flap" within the larger plasitc cover that has a crease that accepts a bend once 2 bolts are loosened. I'm not confident the crease will hold up forever though...

I find it hard to believe that the latest generation does not have a similar access door, but I guess y'all would know better. ( I luv my '04!)

[mrclean2]

I do run my car up on ramps and will try the “loosen a few screws in the back” technique. I hope it works for me. I do clean the inside of the cover as I do the engine because it makes it easier to notice little things, like leaks.