Who would you let do an oil change?

[donbruno]

I can't help but notice the mailer coupons for places such as Midas, Jiffy Lube and so on. I've heard how oil changes at the dealership or indy shop are in the neighborhood of $150, so I can't help but wonder, what's so special about $150 oil changes? What's different that a midas or jiffy lube couldn't do it? I do understand that you must use synthetic motor oil and that it carries an extra charge, but still...you guys have any further insight?

[z3540i]

No on jiffy lube....search jiffy lube scam! I would only trust the dealer, a respected indy, or Do it yourself! Its super easy and if u have the right tools it takes less than 30 min and cost $30-40 bucks. I had bad luck with jiffy lube a few years ago stripping my oil plugs and not changing filters. Ever since then i change it myself!

[dareckibmw]

You really need a good indy/mechanic. I thought you said you had one.

[ViolinARC]

Me...I only DIY. A one time investment in a decent vacuum extractor and you're good to go.

[OnTheFence]

Forum posters are super paranoid about this stuff. When I first got here, I bought into the urban legend horror stories recycled here. A few internet stories about a missing drain plug offsets millions of successful oil changes a year. If that's not you, just take it to any oil change place. They do 100's of oil changes a day. This isn't rocket science. It's 1 bolt. If they messed this up regularly, they would be out of business. If it makes you feel better, watch them pour the 7 quarts in. Yes, it's got to be synth. Yes, they all have it. Order a few Mahle oil filters online for $5/ea in case they don't stock the E39 filter. The oil change paranoia makes about as much sense as refusing to let some idiot teenager pump your gas. Again, this isn't rocket science, and they do it 10 hours a day. If anything, you're more likely to screw things up than they are.

[Justin517]

If for some reason I were incapable or unwilling to do my own changes, I would have a trusted Indy do the change with oil provided by me (German Castrol) and an OEM mahle or mann filter.

[TriniSpeC]

its not hard to change your own oil.

[crosseyedsniper]

I'm with 12CoolDude on this one. It's not a difficult job. I didn't even have to jack up my 540. Best of all, I know the job was done right! If you're not comfortable with the DIY route take it to a good indy.

Since someone mentioned horror stories I'll give you one. I took my wife's Saturn to the dealership where we bought it for an oil change. It's was part of the purchase of the car so why not right. Some bone head from their service department left the oil drain plug loose in the drain pan! It wasn't even finger tight when I checked it! I don't think that all service techs are out to get you and they are often under pressure to do as many jobs in a day as possible but jeeze! Tightening the drain plug to spec is oil change 101.

[donbruno]

I knew I'd get a bunch of "just do it yourself" replies, but I gotta say I'm sure almost any oil change place would have more credentials than I do. Plus I live in the city and it's cold as shit, so I don't really have the option.

[Silverlight]

Once you change your oil once, you'll realize, "why pay anybody for this?"

[TArsen]

I've been changing my oil in my e46 since the day i got it. it costs about $75 for me to change it myself.

I went to the dealership the other day to pick up an ignitor and they only charge $79.99 for and oil change, plus whenever they work on your car they wash it.

so from now on ill be going to the dealership.

[jamesdc4]

Don,

DIY or have a trusted indy or dealership do it. Better yet, get an evacuator like I use in the following Oil Change DIY and you can do everything from the engine compartment without having to get under the vehicle.
Oil Change with Evacuator (98 540i)
Imo, OnTheFence is wrong. This may not be rocket science, but the fluids you put in the car, the engine oil in particular, are the lifeblood of your car's engine. Get it wrong and the results can be catastrophic. Places that do express oil changes tend to have fast turn over of emplyees and the result is you never know if the person working on your car is qualified. Basically, if you value your car and want to take good care of it, I recommend you don't take it to one of these places.

[bigMphan]

I would only do it myself. For $150 I'll fill the car with Royal Purple and then let a little Korean girl walk on my back. Just in case I pull any muscles putting the 25 NM on the filter. Such an easy job, why give anyone the chance to screw it up?

[Random77]

I also vote for DIY. The 540 has got to be one of the easiest cars to do an oil change on. I installed a fumoto valve, so the only tool I need to touch is the strap wrench I use to remove the filter. The whole thing takes less than 30 minutes. I also like the fact that I know exactly what materials I used on the engine.

[jp5Touring]

I also vote DIY. I buy Mobil 1 0w40 on sale,,$ 5.00 to $6.00 a quart. buy my Mann filters online.

One oil change for less then $50. A lot of places have Mobil 1 on sale with a free Mobil 1 filter.. I get the filter for My Mazda 6 so its a total Bonus

[donbruno]

in all fairness, I've changed oil before, I'm sure i could learn via a DIY post I suppose. lemme dig one up. again though, in the city=no garage or real tools. my original question was if I could trust a common shop to change the oil versus dealers and indies. I will call and check though just to see, maybe I'll be surprised at the prices.

[topaz540i]

If for some reason I were incapable or unwilling to do my own changes, I would......

If i was in that situation i would drive to the 15,000 mile mark, sell it and get another one that had service the records to show the oil was changed recently so i knew i was good to go for awhile again.

[jamesdc4]

in all fairness, I've changed oil before, I'm sure i could learn via a DIY post I suppose. lemme dig one up. again though, in the city=no garage or real tools. my original question was if I could trust a common shop to change the oil versus dealers and indies. I will call and check though just to see, maybe I'll be surprised at the prices.

Don,

Did you not read my post (#13) above?

[Random77]

in all fairness, I've changed oil before, I'm sure i could learn via a DIY post I suppose. lemme dig one up. again though, in the city=no garage or real tools. my original question was if I could trust a common shop to change the oil versus dealers and indies. I will call and check though just to see, maybe I'll be surprised at the prices.

You might be fine with a non-specialist local shop. However, the 540 is different enough where it would make me nervous. Again, it's not difficult to change the oil, it is just different than most other cars.

I'll give you an example, I had a '93 740iL which had the M60B40 motor which is fairly similar to the M62B44 in the 540. I brought it somewhere to get the oil changed and when they pulled out the old filter they also pulled out the plastic adaptor that went over the metal tube in the center of the oil filter housing(#19 in the following diagram). They then proceeded to install the new filter in the housing without the adaptor. This meant that I drove for about 7500 miles with an oil filter that had no seals to prevent the oil from bypassing the filter. Since then I only change my own oil.

[BavarianE39]

Only do oil changes myself, helps that we own our own auto shop.

[donbruno]

that is an interesting little story. James, about how much is an evacuator? does it remove enough oil to do the job proper?

[Random77]

that is an interesting little story. James, about how much is an evacuator? does it remove enough oil to do the job proper?

Amazon has the 8.8 liter Mityvac for $85.49 currently. You need one with at least a 8 liter capacity since the M62 has a 7.5 liter oil capacity.

I would expect it should be able to get as much out as draining, since the dipstick tube goes into the lower oil pan.

[eluther3z3]

I would also urge you to change the oil yourself. Costco sells 6 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic for $36 and sometimes less with a coupon.

[John in VA]

I've been changing my oil in my e46 since the day i got it. it costs about $75 for me to change it myself.
I went to the dealership the other day to pick up an ignitor and they only charge $79.99 for and oil change, plus whenever they work on your car they wash it.
so from now on ill be going to the dealership.

I'd do it myself to save the $5 and keep my car from potentially being scratched "for free."

[Codyson]

I personally change the mountain dew in my car everyday