Your engine oil capacity refers to how much oil your car needs during its routine oil change. For a 2007 BMW 328i, you’ll need 6.9 quarts (or 5.3 liters) of motor oil to keep your 3-liter engine purring.

Note that your engine displacement isn’t the same thing as your oil capacity. Your car’s three-liter engine does not indicate that it takes three liters of oil.

What kind of oil does a 2007 BMW 328i need?

Alright, now we know how much oil your engine needs, but what kind of oil do you need to buy? Before you grab the first 7-quart bottle you see on Amazon, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s oil type.

BMW recommends that you use SAE 5W-40 synthetic motor oil to change your 328i’s engine oil. If you’re not well-versed in oil types, we’ll break it down.

SAE just stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the entity that codes and regulates different motor oil types. The two numbers indicate the oil’s viscosity, or thickness, at different temperatures.

The W stands for winter, and the “5” next to it means that this particular grade of oil maintains a low viscosity even at 0°F. Likewise, the “40” also indicates that the oil remains pretty thin even at your engine’s ultra-hot operating temperature of 212°F.

Basically, all this means is that this grade of oil will flow well under a variety of temperature conditions. You want something that’s right in the sweet spot of being thick enough to get the job done, but not too thick that it will gunk up and cause wear and tear on your engine.

For a 2007 BMW 328i, there are our top three motor oil picks:

Castrol 5W-40 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil

Liqui Moly High Tech 5W-40 Engine Oil

Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage Full Synthetic Motor Oil

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How often to change oil on a 2007 BMW 328i

Now that you’ve got a solid grip on how much and what kind of oil you need to buy, you’re ready to change your oil!

Experts recommend that you change your 2007 BMW 328i’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Or, if you don’t drive your car all that much, set a reminder in your phone to change it once every six months.

BMW oil change costs

can cost upwards of $200, so just keep that in mind as you plan your budget.

A 3,000 to 5,000-mile/six-month replacement schedule is a pretty broad range to work with. To make sure all is well under the hood, we’d recommend you keep your dipstick in your glove box and check your oil levels at regular intervals (like once every month or after every other refuel).

But, keep an eye (and ear, and a nose) out for the following signs that you need to change your oil:

Motor oil has a dark brown or black color

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty, like someone poured sand into it

Weird new noises coming from the engine

Smoke, oil, or burning smells coming from the engine

Decreased vehicle performance

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How to change your oil

Ready to roll up your sleeves and change your oil? We’ll teach you how! First, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

Jack stands

17 mm socket wrench

Drain pan

Funnel

6.9 quarts of SAE 5W-40 oil

With those at the ready, complete the following steps:

Put your car on jack stands

and run the engine for five to ten minutes.

Turn off the engine, engage the emergency brake, and

open your car's hood

Remove the oil filler neck cap

Go underneath your car. Place the drain pan beneath the trap door for the oil drain plug (directly in front of the catalytic converter)

Open the trap door and, using your socket wrench, remove the drain plug

Allow the old oil to drain out into the pan

Screw the drain plug back on and close the trap door

Place a funnel into the oil filler neck and slowly pour in the new oil

Replace the oil filler neck and close the hood

After doing all this, it’s wise to check your work. Turn on your car and let it run for a couple of minutes and make sure there isn’t any oil leaking out. If all is well, that oil pressure light on your dashboard should turn off!

But we’re not done quite yet! You’ll have to place the old oil into a sealed container and bring it to your local recycling center—do not just throw it away or pour it down any old drain.

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