As you know, with the rising costs of BMW maintenance, it’s always cost-effective to DIY basic maintenance like oil changes.
Which is the most basic DIY anyone can perform. However, before changing the oil, it is crucial to know the right type of oil for your BMW 328i.
So, in this blog, we’ll discuss BMW’s recommended oil type for your 2010 BMW 328i engine.
Let’s delve right into it.
2010 BMW 328i Oil Type
For the 2010 BMW 328i BMW recommends using a SAE 5W-30 synthetic engine oil. BMW recommends using a synthetic oil in your BMW.
The 5W-30 is very crucial to keep your BMW running smoothly & efficiently while maintaining its reliability. This grade of oil provides pretty good protection against engine wear & tear.
So, always use synthetic oil for your engine health.
The other approved viscosities are the SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40, and SAE 5W-30.
Synthetic Oil VS Conventional Oil
So, I’ve seen many guys use conventional oil instead of synthetic oil. So, let’s see why you should only use synthetic oil.
Synthetic oil is best for high-performance-oriented engines, especially on BMW engines. This provides the best protection against any wear & tear, corrosion, etc.
Also Read: 2010 BMW 328i Oil Capacity Guide
See conventional oil is pretty cheap and mostly used in low-powered vehicles. Conventional oil is not suited for high-performance vehicles, because it is not processed well for high-performance engines. The conventional is sourced directly from the petroleum in the ground, without much processing.
And the synthetic oil is chemically processed specifically for high-performance engines like the BMW engine. This provides the best protection for the engine.
And if you use conventional oil you need to change the oil very frequently almost every 3,000-5,000 miles, which balances out the synthetic oil cost.
2010 BMW 328i Oil Capacity
Now before adding the recommended oil, you need to know about the recommended oil capacity. Because oil overfilling is as bad as a low oil level, so you always need to fill the engine with the recommended oil level to avoid any engine damage.
In your 2010 BMW 328i BMW recommends using about 6.9 US quarts or 6.5-6.6 liters of oil with a filter.
And many beginner car guys make the mistake of confusing the engine displacement of 3.0 liter with the engine oil capacity. The 3.0 liter is not the engine capacity, it’s the engine displacement.
How Often Does The 2010 BMW 328i Need An Oil Change?
Now you know your BMW oil type & its capacity, now you also need to know how often your vehicle needs an oil change.
You should change the oil on your 2010 BMW 328i every 7,500-10,000 miles or once a year according to BMW. However, I like to change my vehicle’s oil every 5,000 miles or 6 months whichever comes first.
This is a very good rule of thumb to follow because everybody has different local weather temperatures, different road conditions, traffic conditions, and driving habits. So, changing the oil every 5,000 miles is a very safe bet to play for your engine’s long-term health.
How To Change The Oil on Your 2010 BMW 328i?
So, after knowing everything about the oil change, now let’s see the step-by-step DIY process of oil change.
So, simply follow this simple step-by-step process, and you’ll be able to change the oil on your 328i, without messing up.
Also Read: BMW N52 Engine: All You Need To Know
First, let’s see the parts & tools we’ll need for this DIY.
Parts & Tools Needed:
- 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
- 17mm Socket Wrench
- Car Ramps
- Flathead Screwdriver
- Oil Drain Pan (10 ltr. capacity)
- Funnel
- Shop Towel
- Safety Glasses & Gloves
So, here the 2010 328i has an oil capacity of 6.9 quarts(6.5-6.6 Liters), which means you either have to buy 7 quarts or 7 liters of engine oil.
After gathering all the parts & tools, wear your safety glasses & gloves, let’s start the DIY.
Step By Step DIY
- First start your car for 10-15 minutes, so the engine oil can warm up to its operating temperature.
- Then get your car above the car ramps to lift it up & engage the parking brakes.
- Now go under your vehicle & find the oil drain plug. (use owner’s manual if needed)
- Then with the 17mm socket wrench, open the drain plug carefully and let the oil drain on the drain pan.
- The oil should be drained completely between 5-7 minutes.
- After the oil is fully drained, then clean the drain plug, and close the drain plug with the socket wrench.
- Now open the oil filler cap, by rotating it counter-clockwise.
- Then use a filler to carefully add 6.9 quarts of the recommended 5W-30 synthetic engine oil.
- After pouring over half of the last bottle, first check if the oil level is at the recommended level.
- If the oil level is at the recommended level, you should go to the next step, if not then add a little more and again check the level.
- Now after filling the recommended oil level, close the oil filler cap, by rotating it clockwise.
- This is the final step of inspection.
- So, clean the oil filler cap & drain plug area with a towel, and drive your car for about 10-15 minutes, then check if the oil level is ok and there’s no oil leakage.
If there’s no oil leakage and the oil level is on the recommended level, then you’ve just done a proper DIY oil change. Lastly, dispose of the old oil in your nearby Autoshop or any recycling center. By, doing this you could make some extra bucks, or get some discounted services from the auto shop. So, it’s a win-win.
For a complete step-by-step guide, visit here: 2010 BMW 328i Oil Change DIY Guide (Complete Process)
Conclusion
Now you know everything about your 2010 BMW 328i, and also you have a step-by-step DIY oil change guide.
The Oil change on a BMW can be very expensive, so the best way to cut down the cost is to DIY your oil change. So, from now on change the oil on your own, and save the labor cost. And invest that money in premium oil, which will keep the engine more efficient.
Best of luck for your DIY journey.
FAQ
The 2010 328i takes the SAE 5W-30 synthetic engine oil, to maintain it’s engines performance & reliability.
Yes, absolutely the 5W-30 is a very good grade engine oil for BMW, which is pretty good in every weather condition. The 5W-30 is also the factory engine oil approved for almost all BMW engines.
If you have a normal weather condition and driving conditions are also normal, then you should not worry about the little oil viscosity change. However, if you live in extreme weather or have heavy driving then you should switch to the factory-recommended oil.
The 2010 BMW 328i has an oil capacity of 6.9 US quarts or 6.5-6.6 liters with a filter.
You should change the oil on your 2010 BMW 328i every 7,500-10,000 miles or once a year (whichever comes first), which is recommended by BMW. However, I recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles or every 6 months.
Well sadly the 2010 BMW 328i doesn’t have a physical oil dipstick. Because post-2006 BMWs come with an electronic oil dipstick to check the oil level. And your 2010 328i comes with an electronic dipstick, which you can find on your iDrive dashboard.
There can be multiple reasons why you’re 2010 328i has an oil leakage, it can be because of any gasket failure, drain plug failure, overfill, etc. To find out the exact reason you should get your vehicle properly diagnosed by a professional.
You will find the oil drain plug on your 2010 BMW 328i under your vehicle, on the front side which should be covered. To access the drain plug you have to open the cover by rotating the plastic lock on that cover. If you have trouble finding the oil drain plug you should check your owner’s manual.
The oil filter on the 2010 BMW 328i is located under the hood, on the right side of the engine bay right in front of the engine. If you still have trouble locating the oil filter take help from your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
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