Quick Oil Drain Valve

[JimD]

Has anybody installed a quarter turn ball valve from quickoildrainvalve.com in their bimmer? I saw the nice video on changing your own oil and it appears to show a drain plug on the side of the pan. So the oil comes out sideways instead of down. I have a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara with that sort of drain plug arrangement and I put the ball valve on it mainly to get a pipe nipple I could connect a short piece of clear plastic tubing to. Now to drain oil, I turn the ball valve 1/4 turn (no tools required) and the oil comes down the flexible tube straight into the catch pan. I tried deflectors and they were better than big messes but not nearly as neat as the new valve.

These valves are about $25, are made mainly of brass but have stainless steel balls and other hardware, and seem to be well made. The one I have on my Suzuki does not leak. They also eliminate the need for gaskets on the plug. With this sort of a drain valve, oil changes on the 128 look like the would be very easy.

I appreciate all the advice on this forum. I haven't purchased mine yet but I am getting the fever. I want a 128i convertible. Now if I just decide I want it bad enough to part with the money to get it....

Jim

[denial]

Like a fumoto valve? I was going to get one, just haven't picked one up yet. The only thing you have to watch out for is that the drain plug is recessed so you'll have to buy the adapter to fit a recessed drain plug.

[MadMan77]

I had a Fumoto valve w/ nipple on my STi and loved it. Just hooked up a hose, pulled the clip, turn the lever and let the old oil flow.

This has been discussed in the past on here and the only thing is you cannot get the valve /nipple to fit under the covers underneath the car. If you were to use the valve without the nipple it would spill oil onto the top of the covers and make a mess.

[singular]

These sound like really nice solutions, but I wonder what BMW would have to say about it with regard to their warranties and free maintenance.

[Artmasterx]

I have one on my crown vic, and it is way easier. it is a Fuyi-whatever...

However, I would not put on my 128i until the warranty expires... no good reason why I guess.