So i just hit 5000 miles so i did my first oil change. Fyi, I plan on keeping this car a very long time, so the bmw 15,000 mile oil interval, isn't going to cut it. i will do the change every 5000 miles (letting the dealer do every third). i choose mobil 1 0w40 european formula:
http://www.mobil.com/usa-english/lub...l_1_0w-40.asp;
Pretty simple, but two things make it easier.
the first is the ecs jack pad adapter:
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES251251/
the second is bmw oil filter wrench, like this:
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...m_source=02341
there is are four rubber jack pads. place the ecs jack pad adapter on your jack and then lift one wheel of the ground. place a jack stand under car as well just in case the jack fails.
the oil drain plug is located under an access cover. you turn a dial then it just comes off. it was too hard for me to turn with my fingers so i used a screwdriver to turn it.
the oil drain plug is VERY lightly torqued so it easily comes right off. approx 6.5-6.9 U.S. quarts will come out. as stated, i had 5000 miles and the oil was black, but my g35's oil is darker after just 3000 miles.
the factory installs a silver drain plug washer, i had to use force to push it off as it did not just come off when the drain plug was removed. the replacement washers are copper in color. once all the oil is drained, put the new washer and plug in and tighten to 18.5 foot pounds (which is pretty light folks).
the bavauto wrench makes it easy to remove the filter. removing the filter takes a lot more force than removing the drain plug. unscrew it and then just let it sit there for a little to allow more oil to drain out of the filter.
as with other bmw cars, there are two o-rings that have to be replaced along with the filter element, a small green one and a larger black one.
once you have the new filter back on (and you have verified that you really put the drain plug back on along with the access cover) you can drop the car and put 6.5-6.9 U.S. quarts in. Drive around and the oil measurement device built-in the car should show it at full (at max).
one note: so the question arises, why 6.5-6.9? It's because there is oil soaked into the old filter element along with oil in various nooks and crannies. It is easier to put 6.5 and then add up until full than to put 6.9 and have to jack the car back up and remove some!