Oil Change Mystery?

BMWinAZ · 11-05-2018, 11:23 PM

Just completed my first oil change on the 2013 335i f30 I bought in the Spring. I have done oil changes on our r55 Mini and e90 328i before. Two things to note where differences exist to the write-ups, videos and Bentley Manual I have consulted prior to this "grand" adventure.

When I looked at the undercladding of the f30 a few weeks ago, I noticed the lack of exposed center front jack point as compared to the e90. When I tried to "feel up" the indentation in the undercladding that corresponds to that e90 jack point , there seemed to be nothing solid underneath. I asked my BMW mechanic about this last week when I brought the Mini in for brake fluid and he said that the f30 RWD cars lack that metal brace and do not have the center front jack point anymore. Luckily Harbor Freight had a good deal on decent ramps, so I could get the car safely into the air. Unfortunately, the ramps do not give me as much room under the car as my jack stands and getting to the oil drain plug was somewhat of an exercise in contortion (plus I couldn't use my beloved creeper).

This brings me to the second oddity. Both my mechanic as well as the Bentley manual mentioned that gasoline RWD f30s have a plastic sump and oil drain plug. The kit I had ordered using my Vin came with the oil, the Mann filter the rubber gaskets and the copper washer but no "consumable" plastic drain plug. So when I shimmied under the car and opened the little trap door, I was pleased to find a metal oil pan and metal drain plug. Is this because I have an MSport car, because it's an early (pre LCI) car, or because it's a 335i?

jsouth · 11-06-2018, 09:20 AM

My N20 engine (2013 328i) has the plastic oil pan and drain plug. Yours is a different engine.

I have gotten used to the oil change with ramps. No room for a creeper, but this car takes less time and trouble for an oil change than any I have ever owned. I've got 103,000 miles now and do all my own oil changes because I'm so far from a trusted service center, so I have done it many times.

vtown · 11-06-2018, 10:12 AM

Pretty sure there is a cross member under the front of the car that can support the car to jack it up. I fished around in the space above the "crosshairs" between the wheels and found what seemed like substantial metal cross-bracing. I have jacked my RWD 335 up by this point on at least 2 occasions with no ill effects.

This post support this. https://www.bmwcca.org/forum/index.p...-up-f30.13596/

F32Fleet · 11-06-2018, 10:28 AM

Buy a QuickJack?

Billfitz · 11-06-2018, 10:59 AM

A $1k+ jack for oil changes? Maybe if I did them monthly.

Orion4 · 11-06-2018, 01:23 PM

Your 2013 F30 N55 doesn't use a plastic oil pan or plastic drain plug. Your's in metal.

F32Fleet · 11-06-2018, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

A $1k+ jack for oil changes? Maybe if I did them monthly.

true, but think of the possibilities !!!

jh_f30 · 11-07-2018, 12:17 AM

To my knowledge, there is a front center jack point. To pinpoint it, put the front up on the ramps and get the belly pan off. Figure out where that corresponds to on the belly pan, maybe even marking the spot with some high vis paint or something. On mine, there's a small hole (possibly for drainage?) that seems to line up pretty well with it.

Or watch this:

BMWinAZ · 11-07-2018, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh_f30

To my knowledge, there is a front center jack point. To pinpoint it, put the front up on the ramps and get the belly pan off. Figure out where that corresponds to on the belly pan, maybe even marking the spot with some high vis paint or something. On mine, there's a small hole (possibly for drainage?) that seems to line up pretty well with it.

Or watch this:

I have watched this video a while ago. The car in the video is an xdrive, mine is RWD. The xdrive version has an obvious and visible front center jack point.

jh_f30 · 11-07-2018, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWinAZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh_f30

To my knowledge, there is a front center jack point. To pinpoint it, put the front up on the ramps and get the belly pan off. Figure out where that corresponds to on the belly pan, maybe even marking the spot with some high vis paint or something. On mine, there's a small hole (possibly for drainage?) that seems to line up pretty well with it.

Or watch this:

I have watched this video a while ago. The car in the video is an xdrive, mine is RWD. The xdrive version has an obvious and visible front center jack point.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...guide/GIcCEaOc

Billfitz · 11-07-2018, 08:11 AM

I drive onto a set of ramps, then jack stand the rear jacking points. You don't need to jack stand all four points unless you're pulling all four wheels.

11-05-2018, 11:23 PM	#1
BMWinAZ First Lieutenant 104 Rep 328 Posts Drives: 2013 335i, ‘08 328i, ‘03 316ti Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: US & Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 Mini Cooper Cl ... [0.00] 2003 BMW 316ti [0.00] 2013 BMW 335i [0.00] 2008 BMW 328i [0.00]	Oil Change Mystery? Just completed my first oil change on the 2013 335i f30 I bought in the Spring. I have done oil changes on our r55 Mini and e90 328i before. Two things to note where differences exist to the write-ups, videos and Bentley Manual I have consulted prior to this "grand" adventure. When I looked at the undercladding of the f30 a few weeks ago, I noticed the lack of exposed center front jack point as compared to the e90. When I tried to "feel up" the indentation in the undercladding that corresponds to that e90 jack point , there seemed to be nothing solid underneath. I asked my BMW mechanic about this last week when I brought the Mini in for brake fluid and he said that the f30 RWD cars lack that metal brace and do not have the center front jack point anymore. Luckily Harbor Freight had a good deal on decent ramps, so I could get the car safely into the air. Unfortunately, the ramps do not give me as much room under the car as my jack stands and getting to the oil drain plug was somewhat of an exercise in contortion (plus I couldn't use my beloved creeper). This brings me to the second oddity. Both my mechanic as well as the Bentley manual mentioned that gasoline RWD f30s have a plastic sump and oil drain plug. The kit I had ordered using my Vin came with the oil, the Mann filter the rubber gaskets and the copper washer but no "consumable" plastic drain plug. So when I shimmied under the car and opened the little trap door, I was pleased to find a metal oil pan and metal drain plug. Is this because I have an MSport car, because it's an early (pre LCI) car, or because it's a 335i?
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11-06-2018, 09:20 AM	#2
jsouth Second Lieutenant 112 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Weatherford, OK iTrader: (0)	My N20 engine (2013 328i) has the plastic oil pan and drain plug. Yours is a different engine. I have gotten used to the oil change with ramps. No room for a creeper, but this car takes less time and trouble for an oil change than any I have ever owned. I've got 103,000 miles now and do all my own oil changes because I'm so far from a trusted service center, so I have done it many times. Last edited by jsouth; 11-13-2018 at 03:55 PM..
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11-06-2018, 10:12 AM	#3
vtown Private First Class 99 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Pretty sure there is a cross member under the front of the car that can support the car to jack it up. I fished around in the space above the "crosshairs" between the wheels and found what seemed like substantial metal cross-bracing. I have jacked my RWD 335 up by this point on at least 2 occasions with no ill effects. This post support this. https://www.bmwcca.org/forum/index.p...-up-f30.13596/
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11-06-2018, 10:28 AM	#4
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3570 Rep 10,351 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Buy a QuickJack? __________________ "Drive more, worry less. " 435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
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11-06-2018, 10:59 AM	#5
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8242 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	A $1k+ jack for oil changes? Maybe if I did them monthly.
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11-06-2018, 01:23 PM	#6
Orion4 Lieutenant Colonel 481 Rep 1,572 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sport Line Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (0)	Your 2013 F30 N55 doesn't use a plastic oil pan or plastic drain plug. Your's in metal.
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11-07-2018, 12:17 AM	#8
jh_f30 Lieutenant Colonel 1306 Rep 1,827 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sportline Auto RWD Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	To my knowledge, there is a front center jack point. To pinpoint it, put the front up on the ramps and get the belly pan off. Figure out where that corresponds to on the belly pan, maybe even marking the spot with some high vis paint or something. On mine, there's a small hole (possibly for drainage?) that seems to line up pretty well with it. Or watch this: __________________ 2013 F30 335i RWD ZF Melbourne Red ~Remus Sport Axleback~VRSF Chargepipe~VRSF Catless Downpipe~GPlus FMIC~HR Sport Springs~Active Autowerke OBD Flash Tune Stage 2~
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11-07-2018, 08:11 AM	#11
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8242 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I drive onto a set of ramps, then jack stand the rear jacking points. You don't need to jack stand all four points unless you're pulling all four wheels.
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