M gets an oil change

Sep 22 2010 porschedoc BMW 8 Comments

It was service time, so up on ramps she goes.

Castrol TWS oil. Porsche guys think your mobil 1 is expensive? You have no idea.

After draining the oil out the bottom, the filter was next. On the bolt holding the cap on, there is an o ring to replace, as well as a aluminum seal ring

Since the filter housing is right there and upright, you can add almost a quart of oil to the housing/filter to reduce oil starvation on startup.

Next up was to clean the VANOS filter. This should definitely be done every oil change. If the filter is in good shape, clean it all out with brake clean and reinstall. This will keep the VANOS unit operating properly….or at least we hope, lol. I have seen some pretty clogged filters in the past.

You can see the filter/screen on the end. This one wasn’t too bad.

All cleaned up and ready for reinstall.

And…..done.

BMW M3Castrol TWSE46FilterM3Oil ChangeVANOS

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8 Comments

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David Lessmann

September 23, 2010 at 11:33 AM

I noticed your Castrol oil was purchased by the quart. I just did an oil change for the p-car and found that Mobil 1 15w-50 was only available by the quart at O’Reilly’s, price $7.99 per quart. Walmart offered a 5 qt container of Mobil 1 15w-50 for $21.00, (or $4.20 per quart). Quite a difference in price.

Don’t know if Walmart carries Castrol TWS. Maybe they can order it.

    porschedoc

    September 23, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    TWS is very specialized oil that has to be ordered through BMW sources. Walmart is great for standardized weights like 5-30 and 5-15, but that’s about it. I keep waiting for them to stock 0-40 in 5 gallon jugs, but no luck so far.

David Lessmann

September 23, 2010 at 2:28 PM

I applaud your efforts to stay with Castrol for your M3. I made the switch to Mobil 1 15w-50 for all my vehicles several years ago. It simplifies the household process of adding / changing oil, (no mistake in pouring the wrong oil in the wrong vehicle), and from what I’ve read Mobil 1 15w-50 is grudgingly approved for use in a BMW.

Appreciate the tip on cleaning the VANOS and pre-filling the filter housing to avoid oil starvation on startup. I’ll have to add both of these steps to my BMW oil change routine.

David Lessmann

February 6, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Does the Mahle filter you used come with the o ring for the bolt holding the cartridge cap in place? The cap on my 323 has a plastic shaft with two o rings on the end. BMW recommends replacing them with every oil change, but these o rings were not included with the filter cartridge, (it only contained the single large o ring that goes above the two small o rings). I wonder if the Mahle filter for my car would include the three o rings I need for an oil change.

    porschedoc

    February 6, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    What year is your 323? The mahle filters come with both the drain plug crush seals and the big o ring for the cap, and the little o ring for the shaft (the M only uses one on the metal shaft).

      porschedoc

      February 6, 2011 at 9:54 AM

      I should say that the mahle filter for the M comes like that, I would have to check the 323 depending on the year.

    porschedoc

    February 6, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Just figured it out, IIRC yours is around a 2000? The oil filter kits for some reason do not come with the o rings, but the o rings are available through WP. Probably worth ordering a couple o rings and filters so you have them for next time. They do still come with the oil drain plug cooper ring though.

      David Lessmann

      February 6, 2011 at 11:38 AM

      Hi Karl. You are correct my 323i is a 2000. I used a Wix filter which included a copper crush seal and large o ring. I’ll order a set of the small o rings from WP today. Thanks!

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