2003–2018 BMW Z4
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| Part Name | Part Number | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil filter kit with O-rings and crush washer | — | — | |
| BMW LL-01 approved synthetic engine oil | — | — |
💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping
Follow these steps carefully
Start the engine and let it idle for two to three minutes so the oil warms slightly and flows freely, then shut it off and set the parking brake. Warm oil drains far more completely than cold oil, carrying suspended contaminants out with it. You are ready when the car sits level and the engine is warm but not scalding hot.
Drive the front wheels up onto sturdy car ramps or lift the front with a floor jack and support it on jack stands at the factory jacking points. Confirm the car is stable by rocking it gently before getting underneath. The step is done when you have safe, comfortable access to the engine undertray.
Unfasten the 8mm screws around the perimeter of the front undertray and lower it out from under the engine. Keep the screws together in a tray because they are easy to lose in the gravel of a driveway. You are finished when the oil pan and its 17mm drain plug are fully exposed.
On the M54 the cartridge filter lives in a black plastic housing on top of the engine; fit the 36mm socket and loosen the cap two or three turns without removing it yet. Loosening it first lets the oil trapped in the filter drain down into the pan instead of spilling across the engine bay later. The step is complete when the cap is loose and oil has had a minute to drain back.
Position the drain pan under the oil pan, then remove the 17mm drain plug with the socket and let the oil stream out fully, keeping your hands clear of the hot stream. Allow at least ten minutes of dripping so the full roughly 6.5 liters empties out. You are done when the flow has slowed to an occasional drip.
Lift off the loosened filter housing cap, pull out the old paper cartridge, and remove the old O-rings from the cap grooves. Lightly oil the new O-rings with fresh oil, seat them in their grooves, drop in the new cartridge, and thread the cap back on snugly. Completion looks like the cap seated squarely with fresh, lubricated seals and no pinched O-ring visible.
Fit a new aluminum crush washer onto the 17mm drain plug and thread it into the oil pan by hand to avoid cross-threading the soft aluminum threads. Tighten it to a firm snug with the torque wrench; do not overtighten. You are finished when the plug is secure with a fresh washer and the threads started cleanly by hand.
Place the funnel in the oil filler neck on the valve cover and pour in approximately 6.5 liters of BMW LL-01 approved synthetic oil, pausing to let it settle. Pour steadily to avoid glugging and spilling oil across the engine. The step is done when the full measured quantity is in and the filler cap is back on.
Wait a minute for the oil to settle, then pull the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert it fully, and confirm the level sits between MIN and MAX. Start the engine, let it idle for a minute, shut it off, and look under the car at the drain plug and filter housing for any drips. You are done when the dipstick reads correctly and both sealing points are bone dry.
Reinstall the undertray with all of its 8mm screws so the engine bay is protected again. Reset the oil service reminder using the instrument cluster button procedure for the E85. The job is finished when the tray is secure, the reminder is cleared, and the engine bay is clean.
Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
2003–2008
2003–2008
2003–2018
2003–2018
2003–2018
2019–2024