First Time Oil Change

pouano4162@hotmail.com · 05-10-2002, 03:56 PM

Anyone know where the oil drain plug and oil filter is located at? I've never done this before. Is there also a collapsible washer that goes with the oil drain plug?

Karl · 05-10-2002, 04:03 PM

If you have a RWD car, the oil plug should be located behind a small door in the lower engine cover. If you have an AWD car, the entire engine cover has to come off. The drain plug is a single (I believe 17mm) bolt and a brass washer, that faces sideways towards the passenger side of the car. This creates the problem that the oil will spill out at considerable velocity once you get the plug out, so be sure to account for that by moving the drain pan to catch a strem that lands a good 6-8 inches from where the plug is. When you purchase an oil filter kit from your dealer, you will get a replacement brass washer for the drain plug, as well as a filter and a filter housing seal. The filter housing is located at the top of the engine, next to the thermostat (black cylinder, almost looks like a power steering reservoir), at the front. The top screws off, either with a really big socket or a monkey wrench, and the filter will come out (it is attached to the top). The filter housing seal is also located on the top, you'll need a screwdriver or fingernails to get it off.

Steel Gray · 05-10-2002, 04:21 PM

Do a search, someone posted a very decent write up with good pics of everything.

mladrow · 05-10-2002, 04:45 PM

By-the-way, I don't have the hatch door on my '02- I seem to recall someone else saying the same thing. You can see that it's designed to have a door- but no door on it!

Mark

emi323i · 05-10-2002, 09:59 PM

to open up the cover for the oil filter.

05-10-2002, 03:56 PM	#1
pouano4162@hotmail.com Registered User Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 1 View My Garage	First Time Oil Change Anyone know where the oil drain plug and oil filter is located at? I've never done this before. Is there also a collapsible washer that goes with the oil drain plug?

05-10-2002, 04:45 PM	#4
mladrow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 20 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	By-the-way, I don't have the hatch door on my '02- I seem to recall someone else saying the same thing. You can see that it's designed to have a door- but no door on it! Mark __________________ Mark- '02 330i- 5sp

05-10-2002, 09:59 PM	#5
emi323i E46 Pioneer Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: nowhere Posts: 388 My Ride: none View My Garage	you need a 36 mm socket to open up the cover for the oil filter.

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05-10-2002, 04:03 PM	#2
Karl Engineer Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Stanford, CA Posts: 967 My Ride: 2001 330xi View My Garage	If you have a RWD car, the oil plug should be located behind a small door in the lower engine cover. If you have an AWD car, the entire engine cover has to come off. The drain plug is a single (I believe 17mm) bolt and a brass washer, that faces sideways towards the passenger side of the car. This creates the problem that the oil will spill out at considerable velocity once you get the plug out, so be sure to account for that by moving the drain pan to catch a strem that lands a good 6-8 inches from where the plug is. When you purchase an oil filter kit from your dealer, you will get a replacement brass washer for the drain plug, as well as a filter and a filter housing seal. The filter housing is located at the top of the engine, next to the thermostat (black cylinder, almost looks like a power steering reservoir), at the front. The top screws off, either with a really big socket or a monkey wrench, and the filter will come out (it is attached to the top). The filter housing seal is also located on the top, you'll need a screwdriver or fingernails to get it off.

05-10-2002, 04:21 PM	#3
Steel Gray Registered User Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Santa Clara Ca (SF Bay Area) Posts: 52 My Ride: 325 Ci View My Garage	Do a search, someone posted a very decent write up with good pics of everything.