2012 35i Oil Change DIY - N55B30M0 Engine

[SmartSolution]

Great write up! Thanks

[neilrmp]

Great write up, I just sold my x5 4.8i for the 2012 x5 35i and was looking for some info on what oil other owners are using, your write up is great explaining what I wanted to know, the only thing I will do different is change my oil at 3000 miles, my preference, because of the Turbo, thank you again for the great info.

[Lubehead]

Just curious why 3,000 miles?

[neilrmp]

I drive to work everyday very aggressively, and with the turbo I think the oil will work a lot harder, oil is not expensive either.


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[JCL]

Originally Posted by neilrmp

I drive to work everyday very aggressively, and with the turbo I think the oil will work a lot harder, oil is not expensive either.

It is your vehicle, and your decision. But just for another data point, my 535i with the earlier twin turbo 3.0 was also driven aggressively, and saw red line regularly (once warm). It did very well on 24,000 km oil change intervals, over four years. No oil consumption at all. Engine was clean inside.

An engineering design safety factor would typically be 10%. Double it to be ultra conservative. 20% of 15,000 miles is 3,000, or a resulting 12,000 mile interval. But changing it 5 times during the recommended interval? Your call in any case.

[neilrmp]

Originally Posted by JCL

It is your vehicle, and your decision. But just for another data point, my 535i with the earlier twin turbo 3.0 was also driven aggressively, and saw red line regularly (once warm). It did very well on 24,000 km oil change intervals, over four years. No oil consumption at all. Engine was clean inside.

An engineering design safety factor would typically be 10%. Double it to be ultra conservative. 20% of 15,000 miles is 3,000, or a resulting 12,000 mile interval. But changing it 5 times during the recommended interval? Your call in any case.

I owned the X5 4.8i, the oil always seem to smell and look burnt, maybe it is the oil I was using in it, I changed that at 3000 miles, this is my 1st oil change on this E70N N55 engine, I will see how it goes, thanks for the information, you are always bring up some great points.

[YuCrew]

Very nice write-up and pictures.

Just for the sake of assisting others ....

The picture just above step 5 does not show the filter fully seated. When properly seated, the center plastic stub extends BEYOND the face of the filter. I wouldn't want anyone to not push and fully seat the filter on the stem because they based the proper location on that picture. Perhaps the filter actually seat when you tighten the entire assembly so my input is meaningless.

[neilrmp]

I started using the new oil BMW has for the oil change, it's for turbo engine, not sure what is the difference with it and the other


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[skeetjunkie]

Just a quick heads up - BMW engine oil is sold in 1 liter bottles (as compared to 1 U.S quart bottles sold in the US for the majority of engine oil). The N55 oil change requires ~ 6.5 liter bottles for the equivalent of 7 qts. Adding all 7 bottles of BMW oil will overfill by 1/2 quart.

[YuCrew]

Hope this tip helps someone. It's just a small addition to the EXCELLENT post by D3a5v1e

Found my previously installed (NOT by me) filter element somewhat crushed. Here's what to look for and how you might prevent it.

https://youtu.be/2xQgYacTFyg