2006 BMW 325i Engine Oil Capacity

Not sure what kind of oil your 2006 BMW 325i needs? Here’s your engine oil capacity and everything else you need to know.
Written by Natalie Todoroff
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
Driving a car as luxurious as a 2006 BMW 325i means giving it top-of-the-line treatment, including during its oil changes. Knowing the right kind of motor oil—and how much of it—to use will help maintain and extend your engine’s lifespan. 
A BMW is, among other things, a significant financial investment. Part of owning this snazzy of a car means staying on top of
car maintenance
tasks, like regular oil changes, to help protect your investment. 
If you don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place!
Jerry
, the licensed broker for
car insurance
, has put together this guide to what you need to know about your 2007 BMW 325i’s engine oil capacity. We’ll even walk you through how to change the oil yourself! As a bonus, we've included a tip for how you can reduce your
BMW 325i's car insurance costs
.
Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Get ahead of my car maintenance
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

2006 BMW 325i Engine Oil Capacity 

First things first, we’ll need to go over how much oil your 2006 BMW 325i really needs. 
The 3-liter engine ​​under your BMW 325i's hood needs 6.9 quarts (or 6.5 liters) of oil in order to run. The three liters refers to your
engine’s displacement
or the volume of space that the six cylinders take up. The 6.5-liter figure refers to your engine’s oil capacity or the amount of oil you’ll need during an oil change.   

What kind of oil does a 2006 BMW 325i need?

All right, now that we’ve covered how much oil your BMW needs, let’s move on to a different question: what kind of oil does it need?
There are tons of different kinds available for purchase, and they have important differences. The kind of oil you buy will make a huge difference in your engine. 
For the 2006 325i, BMW recommends that you use SAE5W-30 full synthetic oil. But what exactly does that oil type mean? Allow us to break it down piece by piece. 
“SAE” stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes and regulates oil types. The two numbers refer to the oil’s viscosity, or how thick it is, under various temperature conditions. 
The “W” stands for “winter,” and the 5 next to it tells us that this oil will flow well at 0°F. The 30 at the end also tells us that the oil will maintain a low viscosity even at your engine’s operating temperature of 212°F.
Using the wrong oil type can cause all kinds of damage and wear out your engine, so make sure to double-check the label before you buy your engine oil! 
For a 2006 BMW 325i, here are our top engine oil picks:
Pro Tip Engine oil is often packaged in 1- or 2-quart bottles, so make sure to double-check the size and order multiple bottles if needed!    

How often to change oil on a 2006 BMW 325i 

We’ve covered the what, so let’s get into the when. BMW recommends that you change your car’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Or
if you don’t drive often
, we’d recommend you set a reminder on your calendar for every six months
But sometimes, you’ll need to get your oil changed a little ahead of schedule—and your car won’t be shy about letting you know if this is needed. Watch for the following signs that it’s time to
check on your engine oil
:
  • Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black (clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda)
  • Motor oil has a gritty or coarse feel to it 
  • Strange new noises coming from the engine 
  • Smoke, burning, or oil smells coming from the engine 
  • Decreased vehicle performance
In addition to setting a reminder to get your oil changed, we’d also suggest you come up with a regular schedule (like once a month or after every other refuel) to whip out your dipstick and check your oil levels. 
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
icon4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars
icon4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

How to change your oil and filter 

Armed with knowledge about your engine oil capacity, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and change your own oil! Learning how to do it yourself isn’t that difficult, and could save you
the cost to get a professional BMW oil change
.  
First, you’ll need the following supplies on hand: 
  • Drain pan for excess oil 
  • 17mm socket wrench 
  • Filter wrench 
  • Jack stands 
  • Replacement oil filter 
  • 6.9 quarts of 5W-30 Motor Oil 
To begin, put your car on jack stands and let it run until it reaches its normal operating temperature (about 5 to 10 minutes). Turn your engine off and complete the following steps: 
  • Place the oil drain pan beneath the oil plug 
  • Open the access panel in the center of the skid plate 
  • Take your 17mm socket wrench and remove the oil plug 
  • Allow the old oil to drain out into the drain pan 
  • Replace the oil plug and tighten it to 20 to 25 lb-ft 
  • Take your filter wrench and remove the oil filter in the center of your engine compartment 
  • Replace the old oil filter 
  • Remove the oil fill cap and pour 6.9 quarts of 5W-30 oil inside
  • Replace oil fill cap 
Run your engine for a couple of minutes to check for any leaks. If all is well, that
oil pressure light
on your dashboard should click right off! 
And last but certainly not least: the cleanup process. Don’t just dump the dirty oil down any old drain! Place it in a sealed container and bring it down to your local recycling center for proper disposal. 

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance 

Just like how you change your oil every six months to keep your engine in the best shape, you should
shop for insurance every six months
to make sure you’re getting the best
BMW car insurance costs
.
You may be wondering, who on earth has the time to do all that legwork?
Jerry
does, that’s who! 
Shopping for your policy with Jerry can help save you tons on your BMW 325i policy. After taking just 45 seconds to answer some basic questions, the
trustworthy comparison shopping super app
will search high and low across more than 55 premium providers to score you a great deal. 
Plus, when your policy is up for renewal (about every six months), Jerry will automatically send you new quotes so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best deal. 
“Insurance companies originally charged me $189 while driving my BMW 300 miles per year. Thanks to
Jerry
, I only pay $56! I’m so happy.”  —Ray T.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
Try GarageGuard™

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings