1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Oil Replacement

How to change the oil in your E36 BMW. It is...

iFixit Library 1992-1999 BMW 3 Series Easy 20 minutes Guide 66245

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Guide overview

Before you begin

How to change the oil in your E36 BMW. It is recommended that the oil in your E36 is changed every 4,000-8,000 miles to keep your engine healthy. It is also one of the easiest regular maintenance jobs you can do, requiring only a few basic tools and less than an hour of time. This guide was written for the BMW E36 320i, 325i, 328i, M3, or any BMW using the M50/M52/S50us/S52us 6-cylinder engines. Note: For purchasing the Oil it is recommended to call your local BMW dealership and ask for what oil weight is recommended for your climate.

Step 1

Repair step

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Open the hood of the car by first pulling the black lever located in the drivers side footwell.
Lift upward on the latch located underneath the hood to release the hood.

Step 2

Repair step

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Jack up the car using the jack points located underneath the sides of the car.
Tip: it is advised to use Jackstands to support the car in case of jack failure.
Tip 2: It may only be necessary to lift one corner of the car in order to change the oil. The right front jack point seems to be the best for this.

Step 3

Repair step

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Place the oil pan underneath the plug
Using a 17mm socket, remove the drain plug.
Allow the oil to fully drain into the oil pan.
Reinstall the drain plug after the the oil stops dripping from the drain hole.

Step 4

Repair step

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Remove the Oil Filter Housing bolt using a 13mm socket. Lift upwards on the oil filter housing cap to remove it.
Lift the old oil filter straight up to remove it. Place a towel underneath it as you lift to catch any dripping oil.
While the oil filter is out, inspect the gaskets on the oil filter housing cap and bolt. Replace if necessary.
Install the new oil filter and reinstall the oil filter housing.

Step 5

Repair step

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Remove the oil filler cap and slowly pour seven quarts of oil into the engine.
Pull the Dipstick out and inspect the oil level. The oil level should be between the two marked lines.