It's amazing how fast....
 

an oil change can be done when you set your mind to it.

This evening I did my red E38 when I got home from work.

Suck old oil out (via a vacuum extractor)
R/R filter
Drop in new oil.
Reset service light

Under 20 minutes.

:)

When I drove the 2002 all the time, I was able to do a complete tune up (oil/filter/plugs/points/rotor/cap/timing/adjust valves) in ~45 minutes. Hehe - I miss doing that actually. I don't drive the car that much so - It seems that I get to the 'tune-up' stage about every three years now. :(

I always figured if I could have purchased the oil in a 6 quart container, I would have been able to do it in under 10. The only thing that took any time (besides waiting for the oil sucker) was opening and closing 6 quart bottles.

Of course, for the new car . . . no dipstick. *sigh*

That's why you open the bottles in between pumps of the oil sucker. I also would pull the old oil filter while the sucker was sucking and then prime and seat the new filter but not snug down the oil filter housing until the sucking was actually done.

I love love love BMW's oil filter arrangement. F'ing brilliant. I don't know why more companies don't adopt it. It saves a lot of time due to the complete lack of cleanup.

Isn't it right on the top side of the engine? That is a great idea.

I have to contort my body, reach around and go through the wheel well on both Hondas. It's difficult and annoying. And I end up with oil all over the lower suspension.

The Armada had a slick little tray thingy that would channel the dripping oil directly into your drain pan, which was a thoughtful idea. You still had to remove the skid plates (I refer to that term loosely) to get at it filter. but once you're there, it's super easy to remove.

:+1. I do drain the oil the old fashioned way.

You should see the contortions you have to go through on an Atom to change the stock oil filter. Here's a hint:

http://www.tmk.com/atom/oilchange/6F5S5643-l.jpg

For the whole song-and-dance, click here.

This is one reason peoply buy the remote oil cooler option - it relocates the filter to the chassis frame.

:ack:

:+1

To be fair, this is a perfectly reasonable location when the engine is installed in the cars it is designed for - just reach between the radiator and the engine and there it is.

But changing the application from front-engine front wheel drive to mid-engine rear wheel drive puts the filter in a nasty location. Hence the remote cooler + filter kit:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/DSC03453.JPG

http://www.tmk.com/transient/DSC03454.JPG