Going to change the oil, where are the jacking pts and oil drain?

[Bill K]

I looked under my 2009 X5 3.0 and could find only one jack point in the front, it was a front centrally located plastic rectangle. Are there any side jacking points near the tires?

Also, as for oil drain plug, there was a 17mm bolt whose head was parallel to the ground. Is this the drain bolt? Thanks for any help.

By the way, capacity is 7 qts and the recommended oil is Mobil 1 0w-40, right?

[motordavid]

Page 278 of the Owner's Manual, found on front page of this site:
Index of /pdf/e70

jacking points are right behind front wheel well and, right in front
of rear wheel well.

That front nub works well too, for getting front end up.

I like M1 0W-40, but many here will say the BMW dlr oil or
Castrol full syn 5W-30, et al.
GL, mD

[Penguin]

I find that I can change the oil on an X5 without any need for jacking. It's a bit awkward, but not that difficult, particularly with the filter located topside. I even manage to use my torque wrench to tighten the drain plug with the normal ground clearance.

If you do a search, there's a lot of info and photos on the X5 oil change around.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Bill K

and the recommended oil is Mobil 1 0w-40, right?

Car under warranty? and under BMW maintenance? I would ONLY use the BMW oil.

[Bill K]

Originally Posted by ard

Car under warranty? and under BMW maintenance? I would ONLY use the BMW oil.

Yea, its under warranty, but their oil changes come out to about 14k miles. I checked the air filter (its still the original that came with the car) and its black. I replaced that on my own dime. So much for BMW free mantenance, its a joke.

Also, Mobil 1 0w-40 is actually listed by BMW as one of their 01 type motor oils so it should be just fine with no warranty issues. I just wanted to know what others are using.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Bill K

Yea, its under warranty, but their oil changes come out to about 14k miles. I checked the air filter (its still the original that came with the car) and its black. I replaced that on my own dime. So much for BMW free mantenance, its a joke.

Also, Mobil 1 0w-40 is actually listed by BMW as one of their 01 type motor oils so it should be just fine with no warranty issues. I just wanted to know what others are using.

1. Agree BMW maintenance is a joke.

2. You are dead wrong about the oil. This is a very common misconception. While BMW lists multiple oils on their USA oil lost, these are ONLY listed as "top off" oils in the event the BMW oil is not available. You should parse their published list, and not rely on forums.

Here is the link, read it... you will wind up saying 'wow, never noticed that wording'. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...4&d=1250989272

I am not saying M1 is not a good oil... I use it in several cars. Just not BMWs under warranty.

3. I tend to run one oil, then if I change, another oil, but for extended periods...I do not like switching back and forth every other fill between oils and their different stabilizer/chemistries.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Bill K

Yea, its under warranty, but their oil changes come out to about 14k miles. I checked the air filter (its still the original that came with the car) and its black. I replaced that on my own dime. So much for BMW free mantenance, its a joke.

Also, Mobil 1 0w-40 is actually listed by BMW as one of their 01 type motor oils so it should be just fine with no warranty issues. I just wanted to know what others are using.

I use Mobil 1 in my out of warranty Z4 and other vehicles, but I use the BMW oil for my 2010 in-warranty X5. I figure no reason to do anything that might impact the warranty, and my dealer sells the BMW oil at a reasonable price.

[IndyRon]

Not directly related to whether or not it should be used as an OEM oil replacement, but for those using Mobil 1 "synthetic" and thinking it is a top shelf oil it may be worthwhile to do a little more research. M1 has changed its base stocks after petitioning the gov't about some of the other lower quality synthetics that were marketed as such without being true synthetics such as Pennzoil, Valvoline, and Castrol. Mobil failed to have the gov't disallow the use of the term "synthetic" in their names with the base stocks that the other manufacturers were using so Mobil has changed their base stocks to the cheaper organic base stocks that others are using. There are only a few true synthetics that are still out there that are either Group 4 or 5 base stocks. Those include Redline, Amsoil and a few others, FYI. I guess the point I'm getting at is while M1 may be a decent oil now, it (in my opinion) is no longer a good or great oil.

[JCL]

I guess it comes down to the definition of what a top shelf oil is.

I have never worried about the Castrol that I purchased being a Group III oil, as I believe that a Group III oil with good additives is better than a Group IV oil with average additives. The reason that Castrol does so well with that specific oil is that it performs, whether it is based on synthetic PAO base stocks, or a synthetic process to produce an oil with the same or very similar properties.

The lawsuit that Mobil 1 lost was in something like 1999. 12 years ago? I think motor oils have changed significantly since then, and I suspect that all oil manufacturers have reformulated their products.

[ard]

I purposefully avoid discussions on the merits of one oil over the next as I can count on one hand the number of TRULY qualified participants in these discussions.

My purpose in bringing it up was to warn the OP of his interpretation of the BMW oil document.

Lets avoid yet another oil thread.