2009 BMW 328xi oil drain cap

e90N00b · 10-01-2022, 01:31 PM

Hello I'm trying to do an oil change on my 2009 bmw 328xi (xdrive) but I can't seem to find the oil drain cap. The underbody looks different than what I've seen online. I'm unable to find the panel that reveals the oil drain cap so I'm thinking the whole pan might be gone forever.

I see one thing that looks like it fits a 17mm socket but I odn't want to touch it unless I know it's the oil drain cap for sure. Attached are pics of the underbody with what I think is the oil drain cap.

Pittz1 · 10-01-2022, 06:40 PM

I dont think you should be doing an oil change if you can't find the plug. Its staring right at you in the first picture.

Suvorovo · 10-05-2022, 09:32 AM

He's an e90 noob. Cut him some slack!

You should probably use a torque wrench for your oil plug given your lack of experience. Don't strip out your aluminum oil pan drain hole.

25NM/18ft lbs.
Don't confuse NM/ft lbs measurements on the torque wrench.

NorthernDancer · 10-05-2022, 11:05 PM

Well I don't see it altho I'm more familiar with E82. My E91 is new to me and I haven't done an oil change on it yet but I do have a picture of where it is-it's behind a small access "door", the same as the E82.
There does seem to be a pretty good oil leak from somewhere. If it's the oil filter housing gasket, that's a time bomb just waiting to happen and likely within a year.
Suggest you get your car looked at by a good BMW indy garage.

10-01-2022, 01:31 PM	#1
e90N00b Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328xi Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	2009 BMW 328xi oil drain cap Hello I'm trying to do an oil change on my 2009 bmw 328xi (xdrive) but I can't seem to find the oil drain cap. The underbody looks different than what I've seen online. I'm unable to find the panel that reveals the oil drain cap so I'm thinking the whole pan might be gone forever. I see one thing that looks like it fits a 17mm socket but I odn't want to touch it unless I know it's the oil drain cap for sure. Attached are pics of the underbody with what I think is the oil drain cap. Attached Images
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10-01-2022, 06:40 PM	#2
Pittz1 2018 M3 ZCP / 06 330xi 212 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 330xi 2006 / 18 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	I dont think you should be doing an oil change if you can't find the plug. Its staring right at you in the first picture.
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10-05-2022, 09:32 AM	#3
Suvorovo Lieutenant 281 Rep 524 Posts Drives: Creaky e90 330xi 6MT Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	He's an e90 noob. Cut him some slack! You should probably use a torque wrench for your oil plug given your lack of experience. Don't strip out your aluminum oil pan drain hole. 25NM/18ft lbs. Don't confuse NM/ft lbs measurements on the torque wrench. Last edited by Suvorovo; 10-05-2022 at 09:40 AM..
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10-05-2022, 11:05 PM	#4
NorthernDancer Colonel 890 Rep 2,313 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	Well I don't see it altho I'm more familiar with E82. My E91 is new to me and I haven't done an oil change on it yet but I do have a picture of where it is-it's behind a small access "door", the same as the E82. There does seem to be a pretty good oil leak from somewhere. If it's the oil filter housing gasket, that's a time bomb just waiting to happen and likely within a year. Suggest you get your car looked at by a good BMW indy garage.
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