Do I have to change the oil filter as well as oil?

[Bump]

Decided to do an oil change today as I've had the car 6 months and it had lived on guernsey so never gone over 35mph for 20 years before I brought it over to uk.

I've revved it probably more than ever before so while it had a change 6 months ago it's done a lot of motorway driving since, just starting to loosen up a bit on 74k.

Thing is the bloody oil filter removal tool I bought is way too big to grip - thanks 'halfrauds professional range', professional what? idiot?

anyway, oil's draining out the car, filter is only 6 months old anyway. my question is:

it won't do any harm to use the old filter still, put the new oil in and drive to get a filter removal tool that actually works before I put the new filter on will it?

I don't have much choice other than to cycle for miles..

cheers

[dazleeds]

screwdriver thru the filter job done

[Bump]

does that really work?

[TheHeap]

is it a standard type filter? if so why not use a set of grips or sen a screwdriver through it?

[daimlerman]

I would stab the old filter with a large screwdriver and spin it off.
When you fit the new one,put a smear of oil on the seal to help next time.

[Bump]

yes standard filter

hmm, I don't have any grips, may go the screwdriver route then.

[bpowell555]

I put a screwdriver through mine, fncker wouldn't budge, actually bent the screwdriver. May have been a classic "loosening" scenario but managed to get it off after that using both hands wearing latex gloves - replacement is screwed on hand tight not wrench tight as the garage must have done

Its difficult anyway to get a decent leverage angle with the screw driver and have a long driver at the same time. I did it standing in a mates pit but from the top would be a real pita. A better fitting wrench would be the best bet, my chain wrench again may of loosened it but was cr@p really.

Took a bit of cursing to get it off then worried the thread might be the opposite direction and could have fubarred the filter mount lol

[Bump]

thanks all btw - it's like a 24hr e30 helpline here!

[capri_rob]

is it a 325i ? If it is Good luck getting the filter off without burning your hands on the exhaust manifold if you didn't loosen it slightly before running it up to temparature before dropping the oil out

[felix27]

14mm socket and my just comes out (4pot owner tring to find a benefit)

[Bump]

325i yes.

Despite working on the car all weekend to get the carpet and interior back in, I'm not going to be able to drive it til I get the right friggin tool. Which frankly is just about what I feel like at the moment.

after lying underneath the car in the heavy rain - on ground clearly not quite flat so there is a constant stream of water running into me - trying to hammer the screwdriver in, it still won't budge.

I give up, I'm out of enthusiasm on this one. I got the right tool for the job but why doesn't the bloody tool go small enough to grip the filter?!

[Bump]

is it one of these things you have malcolm?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/48077/Van ... r%20Wrench

seriously annoyed with halfords today

[StuBeeDoo]

What you need is something like this.
eBay link
Mine are about 2ft long. I have to get under the car to do it, but it's no problem now.
IIRC, I got mine from Halfrauds. I had to get them when I went from the 2.0 with the filter directly mounted to the engine block to the cooler type on the 2.7. Never had a problem with the 2.0 I could always get the filter off by hand - even with the engine hot - but the 2.7 with the cooler has been a problem from day 1 - I always have to resort to the wrench.

[capri_rob]

I've got one of these :
http://www.uktools.com/product_info.php ... 5mm-p-1518

Mine is a Sykes Pickavant one and is decent quality and has never failed yet.

[leeparkes]

Try an old (strong) leather belt, loop it through the buckle to make a noose then slip it over the oil filter,twist it round (the right way) then pull so it grips the filter so the harder you pull the tighter it gets and twists the filter off

Dont pull too hard or you could punch yourself on the nose

[daimlerman]

is it one of these things you have malcolm?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/48077/Van ... r%20Wrench

seriously annoyed with halfords today

That's what I have in my toolbox,more you turn,tighter it gets until the filter gives!
You think you have problems,I am trying to get all the electrical bits to work on project cabbie!
Get one thing working,something else stops...

[billgatese30]

I've got one of these...

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range ... A09F9AFE29

I got the 'heavy duty' aluminium one. Never let me down yet.

[Bump]

Try an old (strong) leather belt, loop it through the buckle to make a noose then slip it over the oil filter,twist it round (the right way) then pull so it grips the filter so the harder you pull the tighter it gets and twists the filter off

excellent idea thanks!

so, just back from trying that.

I now need an oil filter removal tool and something to hold my trousers up

I really am giving up for today

[Brianmoooore]

A screwdriver that is long enough to go in one side of the filer and out the other can't fail to loosen it!

[Bump]

You think you have problems,I am trying to get all the electrical bits to work on project cabbie!
Get one thing working,something else stops...

oh I've got those problems too! buggered up the handbrake light end connection and can't remember how it all goes back together, reversing lights not working and, to top it all, being the absolute king ****wit I installed the new carpet yesterday perfectly, really chuffed with it, then realised I buried the cig lighter coinnections underneath, took out the carpet again, then tore it putting it back in. gutted. clumsy. idiot. to. end. all. idiots.

on the plus side I painted my seat rails which look good.

one step forward 3 steps back.

pub.

[daimlerman]

Handbrake warning light you can live without,cigarette lighter socket is useful for other things,reverse lights could be the connector by the gearstick(wire comes up through the rubber gaiter,trace that one ..)
Where's the carpet torn?Will you see it with seats/mats in?
Dead easy to fix someone else's problems!

[Bump]

Handbrake warning light you can live without

true, but I need to get it working again because I just do. does anyone have a pick of how the wiring should be at the handbrake end please? I mean under the rubber boot.

cigarette lighter socket is useful for other things

fixed.

reverse lights could be the connector by the gearstick(wire comes up through the rubber gaiter,trace that one ..)

not that. must be the switch on the gearbox I think it is? they have worked intermittently but not anymore.

Where's the carpet torn?Will you see it with seats/mats in?

I'm so embarrassed to say I have torn it in the most obvious place. I actually felt depressed when it happened as it just tore like a sheet of paper.

it's the drivers side of the center consule coming down from where it goes round the air vent. fixed it pretty well, prob can't see it in a photo but I know it's there!

I really cannot beleive it. I think half of it is a carpet with small tears from removal will only stand so much being moved about for cleaning and being re-fitted.

the other 50% is me being an utter spactard

going to live with it and see if I don't notice it for a while. I'm picky though.

oh yeah meant to say I got the oil filter from screwfix today - that's a proper chunky tool!

[Brianmoooore]

This is the parts diagram for the handbrake switch, which (although it's shown on its side) should give you some idea of how it goes: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=61&fg=35
To attach the wire, push the brass piece at the top down, and slide the wire through a hole in the plastic.
Reverse light switches can be unreliable, so that could well be the problem with them.
There must have been something fundamentally wrong with your carpet - I've always found them indestructable, including one that spent two years under water!

[gudgeon]

Last time I did my oil filter it was so tight that the screwdriver, through both sides, was ripping the metal apart. Then I couldn't touch it with my hands 'cos it was like razor wire.

Got it off eventually but was starting to get a bit worried. I suppose in the end you could just get a vice-grip around the centre pipe.

First time that's ever happened to me, usually screwdriver is simple. If I had the money to buy a special tool for oil filters, I'd buy something else.

[Messenjah]

i have several oil filter removal tools

one of these is good ....


or one of these so you can stick a two foot long breaker bar in it to use as a handle if its really stuck

[Brianmoooore]

Two foot long breaker bar is also useful for battering the muppet who overtightened the filter in the first place!

[gudgeon]

Two foot long breaker bar is also useful for battering the muppet who overtightened the filter in the first place!

In my case that would be me. Could give the breaker bar to my wife, that might work.

[Bump]

Nothing fundamentally wrong with the carpet, just me being clumsy I'm afraid brian. Thanks for the oem link, doesn't make any sense just now out of the car but I'll Get there

Got the filter off at last. The 3 pronged tool tore the metal it was on so tight.

Car runs a lot better with fresh oil I must say. Surprised it makes such a difference.