What tools (and size) do I need for changing oil DIY?
 

I've got a 3.0 NA gasoline engine.
I have searched and the consensus is that I need:

17mm socket
32mm socket
Socket wrench size??
Ratchet size??
Torque wrench size??
Some sort of extender??

What sized tools above should I buy? Do I need some sort of an extender? What else do I need?

Thanks!

It might help if you said what engine you have...

Oops, corrected.

its very easy. 17mm for the drain nut. a special tool for the oil filter cap (find it on ebay, same size as the E90/E92 tool). torque wrench. torque both drain nut and filter cap to 25.5 NM when tightening.

you dont even need to lift the car, x5 is high enough you can crawl under. use pilers to pull out the two plastic expanding pins that lock the air intake tube so you can remove it to get to the filter cap. everything else should be pretty easy. the 30i engine takes around 6.5 L of oil. although i always fill 6.7L just to be safe.

3/8 ratchet should give you enough leverage. or you can use 1/2 ratchet. buy oil filter kit from the dealer. should come with filter, 2 o rings (1 large 1 small), and one copper drain nut washer.

always replace with new o rings and washer. before re-installing the oil filter cap, make sure to lube the o-rings with fresh oil with your finger.

also, soak new filter with fresh oil before installing it. and fill 1L of new oil in the oil filter housing before putting the cap on. this will minimize oil starvation on first startup. fill the rest of the oil via the engine fill hole.

Hey, Thanks a bunch!

So I don't really need a 32mm socket or a socket adapter or expansion? I hear that 32mm is the same length as 1 1/4".

I'm very unfamiliar with the names and sizes of the tools. Honestly, I don't even know how a ratchet looks like.

You mean something like this?
http://c1552172.cdn.cloudfiles.racks...18653_x300.jpg

yeah...

in this case maybe it's a good idea you DO NOT DIY this and find a shop to do it.

Then I'll have to depend on a shop for the rest of... and I'm still young!:D I gotta learn this sooner or later. Help me much? Thanks.

ok if you insist on doing it yourself. make sure you do it VERY SLOW, and double check everything!!!

read this E90 DIY, even though its for E90 the steps are pretty much the same as for the X5

DIY - E90 Oil Change (with Pics! - 56K Beware) - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com.

also read the E53 oil change DIY on this board. this will give you a better idea on how oil changes are done.