Here's the torque spec of the oil drain plug. (25nm)

http://i.imgur.com/dJl2nYI.png?1

I have not seen any level between MIN and MAX on my 8/2011 X5 35d. My oil level did go directly from MAX to MIN three times before I checked the oil (the diesel has a dipstick) and added a liter. I had completed 13 hours straight of driving and several short trips with nary a problem. Over the next couple of days and a dozen trips or so I started getting the level warnings, three of them.

I, like others, lament about the lack of a dipstick on modern BMW engines and maybe that's living in the past, being sappy or just nostalgic but they could have at least provided an electronic level indicator with some resolution or granularity. Instead we got a cheaply implemented level switch. Couple that with the absence of an oil pressure gauge and a complete lack of ANY temperature meter and you have the makings of a disaster.

The electronic oil level indicator on our E83 shows multiple levels between min and max, always has. I'd still like a dipstick, but the gauge has worked well.

Changed the oil myself today on our 2010 X5 diesel following the instructions. Easy peasy. Thank you Funf Dreisig!

Great instructions !!!
 

Your instructions were the best I've read in a long time. Thank you for such detailed instructions. I performed the oil change with a perfect score. I just have 1 question that is related. As soon as I finished with the oil change I went refilled the diesel exhaust fluid tanks. (there is one refill port on the RH and another on the LH) the port on the RH (passenger side) was almost full but the one on the LH (drivers side) took 3 liter bottles to fill. Is this normal for 1 side to consume so much more than the other side? This is my first time changing the oil and doing mntc to this car. I just bought it for my wife 5 months ago.

There is an active and a passive urea tank. Fluid is transferred from the passive tank to the active tank where urea from the active tank is then injected into the exhaust stream. By design, the active tank is kept full by this transfer process. As long as there is fluid in the passive tank, that is. The passive tank is large and is constantly being consumed by the transfer process. The fill port for the active tank is on the right side of the vehicle and passive tank fill port is on the left side.

where do i get the oil?

What type of oil? Amazon, your local dealership, Walmart, local auto parts store or speed shop, Tischer BMW, AV Lubricants . . .

I know that I mean what's the best oil to use I've looked at a few forums and I don't know which one is best.. I know the recommended, although I can't find that either. So what do y'all use and what's the best oil to use? I was gonna start using Mobil 1.. But I read somewhere 5-30 esp is to thin for our engine

Just go to dealer or find the OEM diesel one online. Not worth the minimal savings.
If you have a friend or someone you know that works in automotive, they can get you the OEM oil at cost from the dealer. My brother is so i get 8 qt for around $55.