Keeping up with scheduled maintenance is particularly important with performance-oriented luxury vehicles like the 2011 BMW 335i. This includes keeping the right amount of oil in your engine. For your 2011 335i, you’ll need 6.9 quarts of oil.

A great perk of owning an older vehicle is lower

car insurance

costs, but unless you keep up with oil changes in your 2011 BMW 335i, you could wind up spending all those savings on repairs. To ensure you’ve always got the right oil at the right levels, we’ve created this guide just for you.

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How to save money on BMW 335i insurance costs

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2011 BMW 335i engine oil capacity

Keeping adequate oil in your vehicle means knowing your vehicle's oil capacity. For the BMW 335i, that capacity is 6.9 quarts or 6.5 liters.

When determining how much oil you need to keep in your engine, it’s important that you don’t confuse oil capacity with engine displacement. The total volume of air and fuel forced into a single cylinder is referred to as displacement, but oil capacity is the amount of oil required to keep your engine lubricated.

What kind of oil does a 2011 BMW 335i need?

Using the right type of oil is equally as important as keeping proper oil levels.

BMW

recommends

5W-30 Pento High Performance synthetic oil

for the 2011 335i. This oil is formulated specifically for high-performance turbocharged engines.

While the brand of 5W-30 synthetic oil isn’t terribly important, it is important that you always use full synthetic oil in your BMW. Your 335i’s engine was developed to run off of full synthetic oils, so using a synthetic blend or conventional oil can not only shorten your engine’s life and decrease performance but can also lead to costly repairs down the road. You may save yourself some money on oil now, but it will cost you in the long run.

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How often to change the oil on a 2011 BMW 335i

Knowing when you need an

oil change

is just as important as knowing what type and how much oil to keep in your car.

BMW recommends you change your 2011 335i’s oil every 15,000 miles. If you’re like us, you probably think that sounds like a really long interval between oil changes. Remember, just because this is your manufacturer’s recommendation, there’s nothing stopping you from changing the oil more often—doing so can even help further extend your engine life.

Whether you choose to change your oil more often or not, you should ensure you’re checking your oil levels at least once a month. When you check your levels, be sure to examine the oil on the dipstick as well. Get an oil change ASAP if you notice any of the following:

Black and/or gritty engine oil

Strange sounds coming from the engine

Odd smells

Decreased performance

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Basic car maintenance schedule

How to change your oil and filter

When you see how much a mechanic can charge for a

BMW oil change cost

, you’ll see why changing the oil on your own is a great way to save money. Plus, it’s a pretty easy (though slightly messy) task. Before you begin, take a moment to gather a few

essential car tools and supplies

, including:

8-quart bottle of 5W-30 oil and a replacement filter (because you’re filling both the oil reservoir and the oil filter, you’ll need a bit more than just 6.9 quarts)

A drain pan

A socket wrench

A filter wrench

A rag

Since your 335i has low ground clearance, you may also want to put your car on jack stands if you’re able.

Once you’ve gathered your materials, make sure your engine is warm (not hot) before you begin the oil change process. If you’ve been out driving for a while, let the engine cool until you can touch it without getting burned. If the car has been sitting, start it up and let it run for about five minutes.

Once your car is warm, it’s time to get to work:

Make sure your vehicle is turned off and parked/secured safely on a level surface

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

Start your car and let it run for a few moments, then check the oil level to ensure you’ve added the proper amount.

Your final step in the oil change process is disposing of the old oil. Do not pour old oil on the ground or throw it in the garbage. Instead, pour it into a plastic or metal container with a tightly-sealed lid and take it to a recycling center—if you’re not sure where to take your used oil, head to

Earth 911

to search local recycling centers.

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