BMW 318ci oil and filter change

[Cestria]

I know this is not bike related (sorry!!)but I'm sure someone on here will know something about this.
I want to change the oil and filter on my wifes 318CI (coupe) as BMW want about 90 quid to do it!
Its justover 3 years old and has a 2.0 valvetronic engine.
Do you need special tools to remove the filter? Where is the filter ? Is it a screw on can type or an element type ?What sort of synthetic oil would be best ? Basically any info would be appreciated from you mechanic types out there. I have done a fair bit of home servicing on a variety of cars and bikes but beemers are new to me - you cant see much under the bonnet apart from plastic covers.
I did a net search hoping to come up with an idiots guide or an onlne manual but came up with nothing.

 

[wessie]

Why bother doing it yourself. £20 for Duckhams QXR & filter and no hassles with tools and disposal

 

[The Mechanic]

Oil and stuff.

Use only a top quality semi-synthetic (perfectly acceptable) or fully synthetic such as Castrol Magnetex, or any of the big oil companies Mobil, Shell etc. Choose wisely and check the BMW handbook for oil specifications and quantities etc.

Make sure that you are not going to invalidate any warranty that may be covering the car (used car etc).

Depending upon the exact model you will either have to deal with a throw away oil filter (screw on/off type) or replacement element type ( these seem to be making a comeback). Either way you shouldn't have too much bother if you are handy with the spanners.

Tips: Get the engine up to normal temperature before draining the oil, go for a short drive rather than run the engine in the driveway. Have all the necessary kit to hand, bowl or drain tin of suitable size for the amount of oil. Watch out the oil will be hot and you could scold your self, wear a pair of latex gloves or thick rubber to protect you.

Shake the new oil filter if it rattles you don't want that one (do this at the parts shop. Get a new sump plug seal washer at the asme time.

Pre-fill the oil filter if you can to help the lube around on initial start up.

Leave the dipstick out whilst draining the oil and when refilling as this lets air into/out of the engine/crankcase.

Clean any crankcase breather devices that you can access without major stripping. Spray WD40 into any accessible breather hoses to flush through any build up of crud.

Double check everything after you have completed the task.

DON'T OVERTIGHTEN THE SUMP PLUG.....use a torque wrench if possible.


Hope you get on ok

 

[Cestria]

Cheers for the advice and feedback guys.

The Mechanic - thanks for the time and effort to write that.

I've heard from a knowlegable source on here that the oil used could well be specific to valvetronic engines , made specially for BMW by Castrol, so I'm going to check into this.

The car is not under warranty any longer which is why I want to do the work.
Does anyone know where the filter is located, what sort it is, and the tightening torque of the filter and drain plug?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I thought BMW car engines used a paper element filter in an aluminium housing just behind the top of the radiator under the bonnet. ?

My last two did...

filter change in 2 mins .

always top up the filter housing with fresh oil before putting the lid back on.

 

[Straypuss]

I asked the local Polis mechanic when he was in the shop (motor factors) today and he confirmed what Motomartin said. Just take off the big plastic cover and you'll see the paper element housing. Curiously... I looked up the Purolator filter book(2004-5) and couldn't find a listing for the valvetronic....