2000-2006 BMW M3 Oil & Filter Change

The E46 M3 has four factory jack points (two per side), but you can also jack up the car using these two center points (one in front and one in the rear). Then you can easily place jack stands under the lift pads on the sideskirts/rocker panels.

Open the hood to access the engine bay.

Disconnect the throttle position sensor (simply pinch the clip and pull).

Remove the oil filler cap by unscrewing it counter-clockwise.

Use a 13 mm socket to loosen the oil filter housing bolt.

Remove the bolt and set it aside. Some oil will drip, so have a shop rag or towel ready.

Beneath the car, remove the small round plastic cover that hides the oil drain plug (it's located in the middle of the aluminum underpanel, near the front center jack point).

Use a 6 mm hex/Allen socket to loosen the oil drain bolt, but don't remove it completely.

Position your oil drain pan below the bolt so that it will catch the used oil as it flows out.

Remove the bolt and allow the oil to drain.

With the bolt removed, discard the old washer and replace it with the new one.

Reinstall the drain plug and torque it to 18 ft lbs.

Reinstall the plastic cover hiding the drain plug.

Replace the rubber O-ring on the oil filter housing cap.

Give the new O-ring a light coating of fresh oil.

Replace the washer at the top of the oil filter housing bolt.

Replace the small rubber O-ring at the tip of the oil filter housing bolt.

You may need a pry tool to remove the old O-ring.

Replace the oil filter.

Put the cap back on the oil filter housing, and torque the bolt down to 24 ft lbs.

Using a funnel, pour about 5.75 liters of fresh oil into the oil fill hole.

Check the oil level and top up as needed. (The car should be level to the ground for an accurate reading.)

Close the oil filler cap.

Plug in the throttle position sensor.

Close the hood and lower the car. Re-check the oil level after a short drive and top up as needed.