Like all BMWs, the 2011 BMW 328i offers drivers top-notch quality, impeccable engineering, and excellent dependability—all for affordable prices. Even the most reliable vehicle, however, still needs you to do your part in keeping the wheels rolling. Part of that maintenance means knowing what its total engine oil capacity is.

Changing your own oil is an easy entry-level bit of maintenance that everyone can learn. If you’re looking to start doing the oil changes for your 2011 BMW 328i, though, make sure you’re aware of what type of engine oil it needs as well as what its total oil capacity is.

Of course, you can find that information in the owner’s manual. Just in case you’ve misplaced the manual, though,

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2011 BMW 328i engine oil capacity

First things first, before you can go draining and refilling your BMW’s oil, you need to know how much oil it actually needs.

The 328i has a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with a total oil capacity of 6.9 quarts. You may sometimes hear the term oil displacement, which a lot of drivers mistakenly assume is the same as oil capacity. Displacement refers to the amount of oil that the car’s cylinders take, while its capacity refers to the total amount that it can hold—as well as the amount you’ll need to add during oil each change.

MORE: How much should an oil change cost?

What kind of oil does a 2011 BMW 328i need?

Just as important as the amount of oil you need to add is the type of oil. Not all engine oils are the same, and using the wrong kind can be disastrous.

There are many different types of engine oil and sorting through them can be a little overwhelming. What you’re looking for, when shopping for 2011 BMW 328i engine oil, is 5W-30 grade synthetic motor oil.

What exactly does that mean, and why is it so important to stick with exactly that kind of oil?

Basically, the 5W-30 tells us exactly what that particular oil’s thickness or “viscosity” is. If you don’t get oil with the manufacturer’s recommended viscosity, then it will not have the correct consistency and it will not lubricate the engine properly.

Also, notice the “synthetic” portion of the recommended oil. This means that the BMW 328i uses high-tech synthetic oil as opposed to conventional oil. It’s vital that you do not ignore this part, try to use conventional oil, or (worst of all) switch back and forth between synthetic and conventional—doing so could cause serious damage to your engine.

While some car models allow for a little wiggle room in terms of what type of engine oil you use, the 2011 BMW 328i does not. Sometimes, if your bearings are worn down (indicated by chronically low oil pressure), you can use 5W-40 oil. For the most part, though, you should be using exactly 5W-30 grade synthetic motor oil. If you’re not sure where to start looking for a product that meets those requirements, try one of these:

The original: If you’re at all uncertain about which type of oil to use, you can’t go wrong with BMW’s own

BMW SAE 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

—it’s what the 328i is designed to use and what comes standard straight out of the factory.\

Best for high-mileage cars: Not interested in buying BMW’s brand oil? You can get the

Mobil Full Synthetic 5W-30 High Mileage

oil made by Mobil 1. It’s basically the same product and it’s great for high-mileage cars!

On a budget: If you’re just looking for the cheapest engine oil that will do the job, go with Castrol’s

EDGE Euro Car 5W-30 A3/B4 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil in a 2011 BMW 328i

So, now you know what oil to use and how much of it to use—the only thing left to figure out is when you should use it. How often should you actually change the oil in your BMW?

Conventional wisdom holds that synthetic engine oils need to be changed every 7.500 to 10,000 miles—which is precisely what BMW recommends for the 2011 BMW 328i. If you or a previous owner has made the mistake of switching your 328i over to conventional oil, then you’ll need to change it every 3,500 to 5,000 miles.

That’s all well and good, but it still leaves you with a 2,500-mile window, which is a little less than precise. Unfortunately, there can be that big of a range as to when your oil is exhausted. What you’ll want to do, is regularly check your oil—either once a month, or at every other refueling.

If you notice that your oil is low, extremely dirty, or contaminated with debris, then you should go ahead and change it. Also, if you notice any unfamiliar noises, strange smells (burning, smoke, etc), or if your vehicle’s performance declines, it’s also probably time for an oil change.

MORE:

How much does a BMW oil change cost?

How to change your oil and oil filter

When the time for an oil change does come, you’ll need to make sure you have to proper tools and equipment for the job. Here’s what you’ll need:

Socket wrench

Drain pan

Filter wrench

Replacement oil filter

Seven quarts of 5W-30 grade synthetic motor oil

When you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to change your oil! Here are the general steps that you’ll follow:

Start the engine and allow it to run for 5-10 minutes until it reaches normal operating temperature.

Shut off the engine and pop the hood.

Remove the oil fill cap.

Underneath the engine, remove the oil drain bolt and washer, taking care to hold the drain pan underneath.

While the oil draining, remove the old oil filter. Then wait for it to finish draining.

Install a new oil filter.

Replace the oil drain bolt/washer and tighten.

Refill your BMW’s engine with the fresh 5w-30 synthetic oil.

Once you’re finished, you can check the dipstick to confirm you’ve added the right amount, look for any leaks, and let the engine run for a few minutes—just to make sure there aren’t any unexpected complications.

Carefully clean up after the oil change and properly dispose of the old oil, and that’s it! You’ve just completed your first BMW 328i oil change!

MORE:

Essential car tools and supplies

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Staying up-to-date on your BMW’s regular oil changes is critical for your vehicle’s health—and taking care of the changes yourself is a great way to save some money!

Another bit of routine maintenance—and one that often gets forgotten—is doing regular maintenance on your

car insurance

policy.

It’s recommended that you reevaluate (and possibly switch) your car insurance coverage at least every six months. Car insurance rates change often with the market, and putting off your policy review could leave you paying way more for your coverage than it’s worth!

As a matter of fact, more than 62% of drivers overpay for their insurance, simply because they haven’t checked competing prices and found that there are better deals available.

Don’t worry—your regular insurance reviews only need to take a few minutes when you use the free policy comparison

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