» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 12-04-2004, 10:55 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mt. Laurel, NJ Posts: 390 | oil change help now that i own the ti, i wanna change my oil. i want to change to fully synthetic oil. most people says mobil 1 is good, so i will go wiht mobil 1, but the car is at 83,000 miles , and i really dont know what kind of oil they used before, my father took the car to some mechanic i think every 7000-8000 miles. i live in nj and it usually get around 30-35 degrees in winter and i was thinking about going with like 10w or 15w, i really dont know what kind of oil the mobil makes, so can u guys help me wiht the thickness of the oil. i also checked out the drain plug today and i saw that i dont even need to lift the car. i can get a racket and unscrew the plug. do i have to get a special tool to remove the oil filter cap. i was thinkin of doing it with my dads wisegrip tools. can u guys help me iwht the parts i need to change the oil. thanks any help would be awesome. also the car is 1997 __________________ Intake, Sony mp3/cd player, remus cat-back exhaust, | | | 12-04-2004, 11:19 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | You can get underneath the car without lifting it? *WHEW* I would not suggest using a racket. Maybe a ratchet or box end wrench. There are special sockets to use. Do yourself a favor and don't use the wisegrips. Errr, vice grips. Take a look at this page. http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/eng...il_change.html __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 12-05-2004, 12:10 AM | #3 | Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: camp lejeune Posts: 49 | hey im trying to do the same, do u need a torque wrench to be more accurate? how else would u get the 18lbs needed? | | | 12-05-2004, 12:13 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | first, i don't think it's a good idea to switch to synthetic this late in the car's life. but, ask around and make your own decision. second, just because you can slide an arm under there to reach the drain plug doesn't mean you can get an oilpan under there at the same time. i do the last part of the bolt with my fingers, so i don't get oil on my tools (but wear gloves) or drop the bolt. you can get a generic filter cap wrench from most automotive stores. i've found them at autozone and walmart (between $2 and $4). other than tools, your only consumables will be the oil and the filter (which includes new o rings and a crush washer). | | | 12-05-2004, 12:40 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by devilddog88 hey im trying to do the same, do u need a torque wrench to be more accurate? how else would u get the 18lbs needed? | I suppose a torque wrench would be helpful but I don't use one. I tighten until it is snug, then a gentle extra snug. Don't crank it down. The crush washer will keep it in place. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 12-05-2004, 01:26 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mt. Laurel, NJ Posts: 390 | ok thanks guys, maybe ill go search for cap tool, about the synthetic oil, so everyone thinks that it is now too late to switch to full sythetic oil. lets says its too late, what thickness regular oil do i need a 15w 40 or like 10w --?? thanks for the help __________________ Intake, Sony mp3/cd player, remus cat-back exhaust, | | | 12-05-2004, 01:29 AM | #7 | Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: camp lejeune Posts: 49 | thanks steven | | | 12-05-2004, 01:47 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | the only thing i use a torque wrench for (during normal maintenance) is checking the wheel lug bolts every so often and after i have the rubber changed. i do what steve does. snug, then a little extra. | | | 12-05-2004, 04:54 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 107 | Mobil One 10-30 in winter. 15 -50 in summer. Great stuff. Good luck with the Ti. | | | 12-05-2004, 05:49 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | Read my posting. I explain the whole process with tools necessary. Quote: Originally Posted by barische now that i own the ti, i wanna change my oil. i want to change to fully synthetic oil. most people says mobil 1 is good, so i will go wiht mobil 1, but the car is at 83,000 miles , and i really dont know what kind of oil they used before, my father took the car to some mechanic i think every 7000-8000 miles. i live in nj and it usually get around 30-35 degrees in winter and i was thinking about going with like 10w or 15w, i really dont know what kind of oil the mobil makes, so can u guys help me wiht the thickness of the oil. i also checked out the drain plug today and i saw that i dont even need to lift the car. i can get a racket and unscrew the plug. do i have to get a special tool to remove the oil filter cap. i was thinkin of doing it with my dads wisegrip tools. can u guys help me iwht the parts i need to change the oil. thanks any help would be awesome. also the car is 1997 | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 12-06-2004, 12:06 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mt. Laurel, NJ Posts: 390 | my question is that, is it ok to switch to full sythetic oil now. the car has been using regular oil and the car is at 83,000 miles. so should use mobil 1 or get regular oil thanks __________________ Intake, Sony mp3/cd player, remus cat-back exhaust, | | | 12-06-2004, 12:25 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | It will be fine. Go ahead and switch. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 12-06-2004, 12:33 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 107 | Yes. Switch, You may want to change again in say 2000 miles just in case the motor is a tad sludgy. Then you can just change at regular intervals. | | | 12-06-2004, 02:59 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | In my post detailing the tools needed, I mentioned that I put in 1 quart of slick 50, and 4 quarts of Mobile 1. The car was always using regular oil up until my first oil change 2 months ago. You can always switch to a synthetic oil, just stay with it. Change the weight with the different seasons, if you have different seasons. http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3670 Quote: Originally Posted by barische my question is that, is it ok to switch to full sythetic oil now. the car has been using regular oil and the car is at 83,000 miles. so should use mobil 1 or get regular oil thanks | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 12-06-2004, 03:09 AM | #15 | Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: camp lejeune Posts: 49 | what would be the best oil for cold temperatures? | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |