I Dont think this day could get any worse..

[Slynke]

It all started off with finally getting around to changing my oil myself for the first time on this car. (I'm about 500 miles overdue)

So I went up to Discount Auto Parts, picked up the oil filter housing tool ($5), a 10qt pan ($6; same thing seen in other topics, with the grille to catch the bolt and all). I decided to give the filters they have in DAP a shot, since it was only $6 for the kit.

I get home, and get the car up in the air. Pop the filter housing off, and find out that the new filter I bought doesn't fit of course. No biggie, filters are actually good for about 12,000 miles anyways, so I don't think using the same one for 6,000 will hurt (besides, I can always replace it before then if need be).

Grab my 17mm socket, and strangley enough, it's too small for my bolt. I end up needing a 19mm. "Strange.." I thought, but no matter. Drained, dumped 4qts into the engine, and checked the levels. It was extremely high. I figured maybe if I let it run a little, it woudl settle down. Let it run, checked, same thing. Put it down on the ground, drove it around the block, only to notice the tranny is acting like a bitch.

Of course, I ****in' drained the tranny instead of the oil pan. (Now, I can honestly say, I still don't understand why the oil pan looks like a ****in AC compressor or something, I've never seen an oil pan with a damn grille on it). No biggie, I'll just pour the fluid back in. ****, there is no way to pour it in from the engine bay, once again, GAAAYY!

I do some research, and of course, I don't have a siphon (sp?), so I figure I will give it a shot doing it the same way you do the smaller pan, by taking it off, filling it, and putting it back on. Of course, in this process, I manage to lose a considerable amount of fluid.

So here I am now, contemplating whether to just do a whole new fluid replacement (requiring even more effort and time, which I would rather spend beating my BMW with a sledgehammer), or spending the extra $100 or so and having it done at a tranny shop..