What tools (and size) do I need for changing oil DIY?

[autoque]

Yup yup, I'll study them. I'm saving them in my Favorites folder in IE so I can look back on them. Thanks!

I can almost see myself definitely having trouble in the middle of it, getting stuck, not having the right tools, air intake tube not coming off too well or end up calling for towing when it doesn't fit back in.

I guess first time's always tough but learning this will benefit me so much in so many ways me thinks. And better now than later.

[Jeg Norge]

oh yeah speaking of the intake tube, for me it was very difficult to remove for the first time. since i didn't want to scratch the plastic. there're these tabs on one end where the tube meets the intake box. it was stuck there so snug it took me forever lol. i had to use lube and gentle pry it out with a flat screwdriver. afterwards i sanded down the tabs a little with a dremel and everything is easy to put on and off.

and also with the two plastic expanding pins, there are two pins for each side and the pin goes through the expanding "thingys" so total 4 pieces. DONT LOSE THEM! lol

[autoque]

Wonder how the techs do it. Can't imagine them going through all the trouble to save it from scratches.

[Jeg Norge]

Originally Posted by autoque

Wonder how the techs do it. Can't imagine them going through all the trouble to save it from scratches.

maybe they know some tips or tricks i didn't or got another tech to help out. but yeah, pls keep us updated on your oil change diy. eventually u will be able to do it so fast it's quicker to DIY then to drive it a shop lol.

kinda off topic, when you look at the 30i intake tube it kinda makes you wonder, if the bmw engineers angled it a little differently there would've been no need to remove the tube at all. sighhh LOL

[autoque]

Sure thing. I'll do a complete diy guide for beginners, specific to the 3.0 engine. I'm just getting all the tools ready. I don't want to find out in the middle of the oil change that I'm missing a tool and I can't even drive to buy it.

I'm currently looking at ramps. Rhino ramps's width restriction of up to 9 1/2" (~240mm) tire width limits my option of ramps, since my tires are 255mm of width. So I'm looking at these steel ramps that are supposed to be wider.
I can't possibly use the jack stands becasue there's no front center jacking point (at least not officially) to lift up and put the stands under.

I agree about building a more "ergonomical" under-hood design for diy-ers. Then again, I don't think BMW engineers ever wanted owners servicing their own cars.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by autoque

I'm very unfamiliar with the names and sizes of the tools. Honestly, I don't even know how a ratchet looks like.

Originally Posted by autoque

Then I'll have to depend on a shop for the rest of... and I'm still young! I gotta learn this sooner or later

Why? There is nothing wrong with wanting to learn how to do it, but why would you want to practice on your new X5? Take a night-school course, and work on someone else's car together with them. That is a far safer way to learn than risking damaging your car or hurting yourself.

Buying the correct tools is the simplest part of the job. As an example, you certainly can use jack stands, and they are easier to store than ramps. Ramps don't help you when you want to take a wheel off, so you will need jackstands anyway if you want to work on your car. In any case, learning how to work safely and properly is far more important, and internet DIY guides are no substitute for teachers that can show you how to do it.

Just my $0.02.

[Quicksilver]

You could also have someone do the job on your vehicle.
Hand him or her the tools and take notes.

[Jeg Norge]

Originally Posted by autoque

I can't possibly use the jack stands becasue there's no front center jacking point (at least not officially) to lift up and put the stands under..

seriously you don't need to lift the car at all. for the last two oil changes i just crawled under LOL.

[autoque]

Thanks for all the comments!

I know. My biggest fear is safety related. I don't want to be burned by the gushing hot oil draining or I don't really wanna trust a piece of steel to support it. Norge, you must be very lean. I'll probably need to go on a diet and reduce my waist size to be fit under there without any aids. And IF I can get under without any aids, I would feel much safer than having some piece of steel, stands or ramps, supporting it. Do you have enough room for your elbow and good enough visibility?

I decided to diy since it sounded easy enough at first just by reading through, and everybody does it, so why not try. But the more I look at it, the more I'm intimidated. I would honestly just pay the dealer to do it for me if I was 100% sure they would do the work with the supplies I provide them with, rather than skipping to replace the filter o ring, crush washer (or even the entire oil filter for that matter) or using the stock dealer oil than the premium ones that I buy and supply them with. But then I would look sort of weird if I insisted that I actually stand beside and watch them change the oil. The dealer might be like, "what you really wanna do that? you don't trust us? we haven't seen anyone like that. we are offended".

I'm actually having a second thought about this diy project. You guys scared me enough.

[Xtony]

Originally Posted by autoque

Thanks for all the comments!

I know. My biggest fear is safety related. I don't want to be burned by the gushing hot oil draining or I don't really wanna trust a piece of steel to support it. Norge, you must be very lean. I'll probably need to go on a diet and reduce my waist size to be fit under there without any aids. And IF I can get under without any aids, I would feel much safer than having some piece of steel, stands or ramps, supporting it. Do you have enough room for your elbow and good enough visibility?

I decided to diy since it sounded easy enough at first just by reading through, and everybody does it, so why not try. But the more I look at it, the more I'm intimidated. I would honestly just pay the dealer to do it for me if I was 100% sure they would do the work with the supplies I provide them with, rather than skipping to replace the filter o ring, crush washer (or even the entire oil filter for that matter) or using the stock dealer oil than the premium ones that I buy and supply them with. But then I would look sort of weird if I insisted that I actually stand beside and watch them change the oil. The dealer might be like, "what you really wanna do that? you don't trust us? we haven't seen anyone like that. we are offended".

I'm actually having a second thought about this diy project. You guys scared me enough.

There's nothing wrong with the stock BMW synthetic oil. If you've done oil changes on other cars, go for it. There's no obscure science about changing oil on BMWs. In fact it's usually a lot easier than on most other cars I have owned.

My X5 has a front jack point in an opening on the bottom cover. I've jacked it up using that many times and use jack stands at the side jack points. Even if the car were to fall off of the jack stands, there's plenty of room under the car to keep you from getting crushed.

Having said that, I recognize that some people shouldn't be working on cars at all and you should decide for yourself if you are capable of doing this on your own.