Changing car oil in Germany

I got a quote today to change oil in the car for 120 Euro!

How hard is it to unscrew a bolt and stick a bucket under the pan? What a rip off!

I've heard that changing oil oneself is illegal in Germany due to environmental concerns. True? Or is this a nasty rumor to protect the guilty?

You've got to be kidding me? It's illegal to change your own oil in this country too? Screw 'em. Wait until midnight and do it yourself.

Calm down Hoddy! It's only oil, nothing worth going to war over!

Randy, whilst such a law wouldn't come as a surprise in Germany (there are rules and regulations for EVERYTHING) I think you are wrong. It is not illegal to change your oil yourself. But it is illegal to dump the old oil. You have to take it to a registered dump, like a garage, and you may even have to pay a fee.

Well what a relief that is Jake. You just saved the Western world from my wrath.

To follow-up, Jake... you are correct. I confirmed with the garage and the Tüv, and in the future... I'll be doing oil changes myself. Let's see, 15 minutes of work - savings of 120 euro. That makes my time worth, hmmm... 480 euro an hour.

Now if I can only bill that amount to the Tüv, who made me wait an hour and a half after an appointment to start work. Geez, if they don't want to start at the confirmed appointment, why make me show up? I'm flexible - I can reschedule for anytime that not wasteful... grrr.

Randy, don't bother with making an appointment next time. Just show up (preferably in the middle of the month) and you will get much quicker service. We spent less than half an hour waiting last week at the Tüv in Ebersberg. Total time spent about an hour.

Can you change oil for cars having OBC (on-board computer) yourself? Or taking it to just any garage (not specially for your car)? Can they reset the board for you?

Inputs are appreciated.

What (do you think) the OBC has to do with the oil?

Check out your owners manual, I have had 2 cars that told me when to change the oil and both of them had manual resets. But of course its something like turn radio on 3 times while holding drivers door open, then start engine, turn on heat, turn on radio, sing ice ice baby, turn off heat, turn off car.

Lots of cars have a system in them that tells you when to have the oil changed, or rather have the car serviced, which often just means oil and filters, which is based on how the car is used, not just the mileage. These need to be reset after the work has been done. Whether any place can do this is beyond my knowledge!

don,t forget to change the oil filter as well,because that's actually more important than the oil change.you can get a filter at any OBI store for about 6euros.

To resurrect an old thread. Where specifically in the Schwabing area could I take used oil? (Gas stations, etc?)

Oil changing places and they charge you for the disposal fee.

According to Die Münchener Branchenbuch you can take it here: Altölentsorgung

one semi-related follow up... can I take brake fluid and coolant to the same places?

You can drink those ones