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
. 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
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 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:
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
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.
RECOMMENDEDThis 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👍