A normal Saturday

For the first time in this four day weekend, we have not done a family outing. It is kind of a relief to just take care of little odds-and-ends errand wise.

I did the long-overdue changing of the oil on my car. This is normally not too difficult to do, but BMW has some really unnecessary complications. Most cars use an oil filter which is an all-in-one unit; sheet metal housing containing the filter element. With this car, the housing is reused. So, if it is tough getting it unscrewed you can't just put a screwdriver through it for extra leverage like you can with a disposable housing. The housing is set low in the engine bay and is surrounded by stuff on all sides, so a normal oil filter wrench is difficult to get in there. I have purchased several sockets--all of which come close to fitting but don't fit well enough. Once you get the housing off, you just drop in the new element and then change the three oily 0-rings inside the housing.

I have changed oil on normal cars and not gotten a drop of oil on myself or the ground, but that is just not possible with this car.

I also changed all three windshield wipers and rainexed the front an back window.

Fresh windshield wipers--ready for the next rain.