Modern BMW's and DIY maintenance
 

My family has a E70 BMW, and I was wondering how self maintenance unfriendly are they?

With all the electronics and sensors, is it still possible to do your own brake jobs and oil changes? I assume mechanically there is a way, but do I need to reset on-board computers with proprietary equipment?

doable but you need some special equipment or macgyver something


n52 oil filter change :badpokerface:

I can't even do a proper oil change on the 'ol e36 without McGyvering a reset for the oil change light. I wish you luck. lol

beware underbody plastic covers and neverending plastic tabs to rip off.

took me and my dad 45 min to do an oil change on their e46...that's not even considered modern anymore!
takes me 15 min on my celica including putting tools and bottles away lol

for the oil change light, just youtube/google it, there's a certain way you gotta mess around with buttons for the dash cluster computer

Any DIY you do, would need to be reseted with a scan tool. I'll list some that you need scanner reset. Oil change, cabin filter, brakes, spark plug, brake fluid, inspection, there are more. No way to do them unless you can find someone to reset them for you or you don't mind the service light.

E70's and other late model BMW's are a piece of cake. Resets are done through the cluster, no scan tool needed. There are some exceptions like resetting the inspection through I-drive or needing a scan tool if you neglect something (like letting the oil change count down to -5,000km).

For brakes just leave ignition on for a minute after replacing pads/sensors. Sometimes you may need to do a reset through cluster and sometimes the first try won't get it, so repeat.

Bimmerforums.com BMW Online Forum dedicated to owners suspension brakes handling power turbo

Find the E70 section, check there.

What is with these up high oil filters nowadays? With the filter location that high up doesn't that mean that on a cold start the oil has to go all the way up to the top of the engine then all the way back down to the bearings then back up to the valve train? Wouldn't that cause a lot more cold start wear when compared to a filter thats closer to the bottom of the engine?

I too have an e70 and am starting to perform my own maintenance as the 4 year warranty maintenance is now over. More people on the forums such as xoutpost and xbimmers are also in the same boat so you will see more and more days coming out. As mentioned previously, you don't need a scan tool to reset regular maintenance reminders. It is all done through the clusters. If you YouTube it, there are many videos showing you how to do this.
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Uh, you ever hear of a check valve?
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It takes me 20 minutes to change the oil in my car at home...
most of the time is jacking up the car and waiting for the oil to drain...

Never knew that BMWs had this "inconvenience"

ur valvetrain n bearings dont dry out over night now do they...?

:lawl:

With modern oil that film on all the lubricated surfaces would remain on the metal for weeks if not months.
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If your engine has a dipstick, get a top side oil exchanger. Works great with the E46 .. IIRC the e92 doesn't have a dipstick


A lot of the newer BMW engines do not have a dipstick, however.

You can also (usually) buy a BMW software/OBD adaptor combo on ebay, install it on a windows laptop, and have access to a ton of 'dealer only' functions -- including oil reset, etc.

That video wasn't that complicated.. its exactly how I change the oil on my two cars..

There is one piece of 'special' equipment, and he gives you the p/n and price ($20)..