Re: My Saturday with the Bimmer...LONG (archive)

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I had the oil changed at one of those quik lube places and damned if those grease monkeys didn't strip the oil drain plug. Good thing it was caught and tapped in with a 19mm plug.

Ever since, I've either done it myself (no torque wrench, just a quarter turn after I hand tighten it) or have a BMW tech do it.

The occasional mess aside, it's so easy and fun that I did it again this Saturday as well. Five quarts of Castrol's finest 20W50. Dealer sells rebadged Syntec for about $1.16 cheaper than outside.

I bought this car (1994 540i) in December 1999 with 58xxx miles. It now has 73xxx and was starting to feel a little sluggish. Seeing how I don't have service records past 30xxx miles, I really couldn't tell how long it had been since an inspection II. So I went out and bought new plugs, air, oil, and fuel filters. Changed the oil and filter and air filter. Installed the new plugs. Took one look at the fuel filters, decided I couldn't figure out how to get the clamps off the old ones and that I didn't want to get covered in gas. I'll let the tech do that next week when I take it in for fluid flushes: power steering, brakes, coolant, automatic trans.

Also, I managed to cross thread the oil pan drain plug. DAMN. Guess I'll have the techs fix that too. Hopefully they can save my 8 new quarts of Mobil 1. It's not leaking but it won't tighten any more and it won't come out. This is the third oil change I've done on this car and the plug has always gone in easy before. It did this time too, but when I put the torque wrench on it it just kept spinning.

While reassembling the engine covers, I dropped a 10mm socket and a 3/8" extenstion in the engine compartment. It ended up on the heat shield that protects the passenger side exhaust header. Had to put it back on the ramps, crawl under the car, remove the heat shield (5 10mm screws - good thing I had an extra 10mm socket!). That was an hour long detour.

After it was all back together, I had to clean a bunch of tar off the driver side of the hood, front quarter panel, two doors, and my two new Breytons. AARGH! Don't know where I picked it up but it was nasty. Paint thinner took it right off. Then I washed it thoroughly. Off course now I have to wax that whole side of the car. Too tired to do that today. Think I might order some of the Griot's Garage Clay, Polish and Wax and do it next weekend. Any comments on the Griot's products?

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