I could use a little help
 

I've decided I'm going to drive my 2010 3.0 X5 for my upcoming trip.

I want to change the oil before I go. However, I want to be sure I don't drain the wrong fluid when I pull the plug under the car.

Looking under the car, there is no "trap door". Just a large skid plate with a couple opening cut in it ( I haven't put the car on a lift yet). Laying on my back from the front of the car, which is the only place I can fit, I can see and reach what looks to be the oil drain.

It's located where the first opening in the skid plate is and points basically down and looks to be right of center of what should be the oil pan.

However, it looks to be a aluminum bolt (maybe stainless but doubt it?).

Has anyone done an oil change on the 10 3.0 X5 that maybe could give me an ideal if this is the drain?

Also, you do in fact need a special tool now to get the top off the filter housing. It doesn't look like there is even enough room there to use a strap wrench.

I'm told Snap On has the tools, BMW does not according the 4 parts guys I talke with. However I can't find this took on the Snap On site.

I'll be at the hanger at the airport later today and will ask the Snap On driver to look for me when I'm out there.

BMW should have it, if not in stock should be able to get it within a couple days. The front parts counter guys only deal with customer needed parts while the back counter guys deal with the techs all day and would better know what you're talking about. (it's the same filter cap socket as the E60 and E90 with that engine)

And yes the drain plug just aims straight down on that model It is a 17mm bolt head with an allen socket in the middle of it.

I got my E60 filter wrench (same as the one you need) at a local auto parts store. IIRC it fits Audi, BMW, and several other brands. Amazon.com has them as well, and several other tool suppliers on the web.

Nope, that's not it...

I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it here..

Of course maybe it's not the oil filter I'm looking at. :dunno:

Wouldn't that be bad..

Here is what a 2010 X5 3.0 oil filter cap looks like according to the realoem parts catalogue (item 2). It looks pretty much like the photo I posted above. The photo isn't of an X5, so the location is likely different, though.

Thank you. I think maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing.

I'm also thinking if I can't even determine where the oil filter and drain plug are, maybe I should be rethinking a DIY oil and filter change.

On the X5 they kinda hide the filter. You see that air duct on the drivers side that goes to the front, you gotta unclip the front of it and pull it out of the way as the filter housing is right under it.

Thank you. Went out and looked and there it is right where you said it is.
I was looking at the power stearing pump tank. First tip off shoud have been the lines leaving the bottom going to the PS pump.

Ok, so the front of the snorkel is easy to unsnap.
But about a foot back from that is a bracket on the cross brace.
That bracket has two "buttons" ( for lack of a better term ) that look like they may come off with some sort of tool.

Can those be unsnapped; do you just pull up on them as it looks?
Maybe with a slotted screwdriver which I have for a piece of dive gear.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Those are expanding plastic rivets. The center does pull up to release the rest allowing the whole plastic plug to be pulled out, and if it is the flat blade screwdriver with the deep half circle cut into the middle then yes it should work just fine.

cover the plastic rivet tips with paper/cloth towel then pull out with pilers. this way u wont damage the rivets. the air duct might be a pain to remove without scratching things up.

lube new o-rings and soak the new oil filter with fresh oil before tightening the oil filter housing cap.

it's very easy i did it twice already. took around 30mins.