Oil change and transmission fluid check, missing bolt
 

Decided to change the oil this weekend. Its only been 8000 miles since we purchased the X5 but I wanted to get it done before the long weekend after the 4th in case we go camping. I did notice I was missing a bolt on the skid plate under the engine, whats the quickest way to find the part number for it so I can order one?

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I used Mobil 1 0w-40 Euro Blend which is now good for every German car except BMW. :nanana: First time I have ever seen a filter like this with the plastic caps. I guess Im used to see Mann filters.

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Shes a pretty clean machine underneath which made me happy, its a joy to work on clean cars. Not 100% sure on the transmission temp (warm not hot) when I leveled the car and pulled the fill plug to check the level. Car was running and in Neutral, I pulled the plug and probably 4oz or so ran out onto the drip pan. I put the plug back in and decided Im changing the fluid and filter before 65k. Fluid looked ok and didnt smell funny but the thought that CarMax may have serviced and overfilled it is scary. There were Marks on teh fill plug and drain plug so someone has been under there (another oddity since the car only has 50k miles on it).

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Farmer style, dont worry those leveling blocks are glued and screwed together. Its a very stable setup. If I need it higher I just jack it up and add more 2X6 spacers .:rofl:

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Parts diagram (ETK). Go to realoem.com and choose vehicle type with your VIN. Those bolts are spec'd as one-time-use bolts (torque + angle), so you may wish to consider replacing them all and torquing them correctly. Warning - they're not cheap.

Normal.

Transmission must be level and within temperature range to set fluid level. It's possible that you drained fluid from a correctly-filled but hot transmission.

Please tell me you didn't crawl under the vehicle unless it was also supported by jack stands...

Car was level and the outside of the transmission was about 105f (I read the procedure). "4) With the engine running at idle speed and the selector in Park position, remove the filler plug. Monitor the transmission temperature, if a small stream of oil runs out at 40°C, the fluid level is correct."

Yes there were jack stands holding up the rear of the car but properly built blocks are more stable than any jack stands you can buy. Those 2x6 fir board with that 5 inch span will hold around 400 psi. The car with a full tank of gas is right around 39 psi assuming a 8" x 4" contact patch on each tire. My experience has shown that a lift is the most stable platform to hoist a car but the 2nd most stable is just letting the car sit on its own tires. In the land of earthquakes jack stands alone scare me. :D


Thanks I’ll check realoem.

Bolts found and ordered, thanks again.

I will usually slide a tire/wheel, cement block, toolbox under the car when it is up on jackstands or a jack, and the wheel is off. Just to create a 'survivable space'.

Might hurt. Might take a while, But I wont be dead.