Noob question - washers in oil change kit

[Scarceas]

Thanks to all the users and supporters of this forum as I have been doing a lot of searching and finding tons of info.

Short version of today's question: why do I have two of these in my oil filter kit?


Got my 98 M Roadster 2 weeks ago, and decided I should change the oil. I used one washer on the bolt that goes through the oil filter (there was one there when I started). I left the original washer on the drain plug because it didn't look anything like this copper deal. How big of a deal is this? I hate to waste the oil but I sure don't want to ruin the engine and I am paranoid b/c I just got this car and it is my first BMW. My thoughts at this point are to look for signs of leaking and make a judgement from there.

Also, PO was running dino oil 20w50. I have switched to Catrol Edge/Syntec 10w40. I live in Arkansas which rarely gets cold so I'm not too worried about the 10w/15w/20w but the manual calls for 40 weight oil. PO felt like a high mileage car (163K) should run a thicker oil. I noticed the oil temps would hardly ever get to 175 F, which is about what the manual recommends for going over 4K rpm. I am hoping the thinner oil flows better and in contrast to most of the posts I have read while searching, I am hoping for increased oil temps. I would like to get in to the normal range!

Anybody think I will have problems from switching to synthetic 10w40? I hear stories about synthetic oil leaking after an engine has been run on dino for a long time, but I am not sure if that is just a myth or what. I have always run synthetic in my other cars but I got them at much lower miles.

[z3540i]

Those are for the Oil drain plug....Is it a M or just a 6 cylinder...I think the M's require like 10w-60 or something thick like that...but i dunno...i do know those washers are for the plug...some M guys will fill in on the oil or use google search

[Scarceas]

It is an M.

Manual says 15w40, though it doesn't ever mention a 3.2L engine, either. There is a supplemental manual and it says refer to the regular manual.


Here's the oil temp part. My gauge is in C but I can drive the thing home from work (about 12 miles) and as I pull in it is finally getting up to oil temp--barely.


Here's my gauge after a drive home from the office:

[rf900rkw]

The washers are as you surmised, oil filter bolt and the oil drain plug.

Your '98 is an S52. It uses regular weight oil; not that weird gold laced 10w/60 used in the S54.

[Scarceas]

The washers are as you surmised, oil filter bolt and the oil drain plug.

Your '98 is an S52. It uses regular weight oil; not that weird gold laced 10w/60 used in the S54.

lol @ gold laced...

That does makes me feel better, thanks. I left the old washer on, I guess worst that can happen is it leaks a lil around the plug? I'll keep a close eye on the garage floor and I will check the levels often for a while. The washer that was on there was not copper and was much larger in diameter, so at the time I felt like I shouldn't replace it with something that wasn't a match.

[comsult]

The copper gasket is a crush gasket. Single use if proper torque is applied,, do not re-use, unless absolutely necessary. Thats why there's one in every filter kit.