[Oilburnerfan]

Coming from a VW TDI I wonder how you guys change the oil on the 335d. Do you use the:

1) Top side method using a vacuum pump to suck the oil?

or

2) Traditional bottom side method by dropping the bottom cover?

[montr]

I do it from the top with a TopSider
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...isSearch=33226

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Oilburnerfan

Coming from a VW TDI I wonder how you guys change the oil on the 335d. Do you use the:

1) Top side method using a vacuum pump to suck the oil?

or

2) Traditional bottom side method by dropping the bottom cover?

2. IMHO, it's the only real way to do a change. Looking at all the baffles and things in the oil pan, I have little confidence that a top-side will get all the old oil.

[DieselOG]

As much as I wish I could trust it enough to change it from the top side, I worry about old oil and other gunk not getting drained well enough

[rulonger]

#2

[DieselOG]

Ive aways used a vacuum pump on the 350 mercruiser in my boat, which is the only feasible way to change it but when I rebuilt it a few years back I was amazed at the gunk that was built up in the pan, now I seafoam it every other oil change.

[nwsnowboarder]

I just changed mine last weekend from the bottom side, (I have a lift available to make it easy.) You don't have to remove the whole cover, there is a nice little flap that opens right under the drain plug.

Isn't it odd that BMW put the drain plug on the bottom of the pan? Even though the under engine fairing is there, I feel it is a bunch more exposed than having it on the side of the pan. I also have one of those oil drain valves, but didn't like the idea of something sticking down so I have never installed it.

[digitaldav]

I always thought you get more oil out from drain plug until I tested with my topsider. After using the topsider I then removed drain plug and to my surprise not 1 drop came out of pan. To get those results you do need to be certain the tube just touches the bottom of pan or else the tube will bend and not reach the very bottom.

[lnxguy]

Always the bottom. I don't just crawl under there to drain oil, it's nice to do a visual on stuff as well.

[Oilburnerfan]

Thanks for the info guys.

What about the Mightvac version for those that to the topside oil changes?
MV7201 Fluid Evacuator Plus

[E91 M Sport]

It's funny, no matter what brand/model one has if there's a thread regarding drain plug or topsiders they all read like this one

[DSB335d]

Originally Posted by Oilburnerfan

Thanks for the info guys.

What about the Mightvac version for those that to the topside oil changes?
MV7201 Fluid Evacuator Plus

I have the MV7300. I've used it for oil changes, also works well for brake fluid reservoir when you are doing a fluid flush. I feel like it takes way too long, I'd rather just put the car on ramps and drain it from the bottom.

[chau]

#2

[Oilburnerfan]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

I have the MV7300. I've used it for oil changes, also works well for brake fluid reservoir when you are doing a fluid flush. I feel like it takes way too long, I'd rather just put the car on ramps and drain it from the bottom.

Are there ramps that will work with the M Sport? That front end sits mighty low.

[Mik325tds]

I too was always of the opinion that the drain plug method was superior to the topsider. So I tried both methods against each other: Drained oil and then tried getting more from top: Nothing. Used Topsider on the next oil change and then opened the drain plug: Nothing. So both methods should work just the same. I still prefer the drain plug because it is faster and gives me the chance to inspect some things (e.g. harmonic balancer pulley).

[DSB335d]

Originally Posted by Oilburnerfan

Are there ramps that will work with the M Sport? That front end sits mighty low.

Race Ramps.

I just use some plastic car ramps from the auto parts store; but mine is a non sport.

The race ramps are pricey though. You could use the basic plastic ones and drive up onto a short piece of 2x10, then onto the ramps.

[JTC1]

TopSider for me, but I'll probably mix in one from underneath every once in a while.

[Oilburnerfan]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Race Ramps.

I just use some plastic car ramps from the auto parts store; but mine is a non sport.

The race ramps are pricey though. You could use the basic plastic ones and drive up onto a short piece of 2x10, then onto the ramps.

THX

[Hoooper]

Ramps dont work well on a slippery floor. My floor is epoxy with flake and I can only drive about halfway up the ramp before the ramps slide back. So I drive up enough to fit the jack under and use the jack to finish it off. It would have been nice if BMW designed the front middle jack location to be far enough forward that at least a low profile jack could get to it. Then again, they obviously didnt intend to make the car easy to jack up and work on, if anything it was designed to be a pain.

[rulonger]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

Ramps dont work well on a slippery floor. My floor is epoxy with flake and I can only drive about halfway up the ramp before the ramps slide back. ...

I also have an epoxy floor in my garage and have had the unpleasant "ramp just shot out from under one tire" feeling. I have fashioned two chocks out of 2x4s that extend from the front wall of my garage to the back of the ramps (about 4 feet) so that the ramps cannot slide. Once the car is up on the ramps, I remove the chocks to gain access the the underside of the car with the creeper or the floor jack.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

Ramps dont work well on a slippery floor. My floor is epoxy with flake and I can only drive about halfway up the ramp before the ramps slide back. So I drive up enough to fit the jack under and use the jack to finish it off. It would have been nice if BMW designed the front middle jack location to be far enough forward that at least a low profile jack could get to it. Then again, they obviously didnt intend to make the car easy to jack up and work on, if anything it was designed to be a pain.

The black one does makes it all the way to the central jack point without doing anything else and with the lower m-sport bumper too. It is a long jack to store though and heavy at 113 #. I love mine.

To the OP's question, always been a drain from the bottom guy. A couple earlier posts make my same point of checking for other problems while under there.

[lnxguy]

That's a beauty jack.