Hopkins Towing SolutionsFloTool 05034MI Extra Large Funnel

Perfect and easy to work with

I’ve always spent a considerable amount of money getting an oil change on my car. Laziness does prevail with me in most situations that require physical labor. This year, I decided to do what any sensibly stubborn, average, non-mechanic would do: After calculating how much money I would save on this endeavor if I did it myself, I decided to go on YouTube and find the least-shadiest video on how to change the oil on my car myself.My car: An old 2006 BMW 325i E90 (No, I did not previously go to JiffyLube for my oil changes. That would have been very bad.)The process for changing oil wasn’t difficult at all and I managed to do it in about an hour (including clean-up time – which is probably what takes the longest really).I decided it made sense to review the items I bought for this task in a combined write-up.Please see below:1. RhinoGear 11909 RhinoRamps Vehicle Ramps (Pair, 12,000lb. GVW Capacity) - (I got mine on sale at Advanced Auto Parts for $19). These are awesome and work well with a mid-sized sedan or a small SUV. These are great for small jobs that require you to get under the vehicle. RhinoRamps are very sturdy and safe. They also have enough traction to not slip around while you’re using them.Remember to always use wheel chocks with your RhinoRamps and that RhinoRamps are meant to be used on solid, flat surfaces. Don’t be that guy who tries to use this on an incline, on a muddy plane, while your car is tilted at a 45 degree angle to one side. That guy doesn’t live very long.2. Mann-Filter HU 816 X Metal-Free Oil Filter ($10.50 on Amazon). If your car is the exact model as mine, NO, you should not use the HU 925/4 X. You need the 816 X which is an exact fit. The 925 filter may look like it will fit but it won’t. It’s too long. The 925 is for later model E90s (not exactly sure what year model since I don’t have one. I think one way to check is that if the oil drain bolt at the bottom of your car is facing sideways, then you need the 816 X. If you have a later model E90, your oil drain bolt probably faces downward. That’s the one I think uses the 925 filter. The Mann-Filter comes with the gasket and o-ring which you will also need to replace when you perform your oil change.This is the only oil filter that I would trust for my car. If you’re a BMW enthusiast and have been scouring the filters for answers about your 2006 325i/E90 oil filter. This is it. Also, if you’ve read the forums regarding the Mann-Filters made in Mexico vs. Germany, where it is made does not matter. Mann-Filter has factories in both countries and guarantees that both locations follow the same quality standards. Just think about it. It’s an oil filter. How hard can it really be to screw it up?3. Oil filter wrench (got mine at the dollar store for $1.00 a few years ago). I’d get this in-store. It’s cheaper than ordering online.4. Wheel chocks. I purchased the YM W4194 Solid Rubber Wheel Chock, 8-3/4" Length, 4" Width, 6" Height - Pack of 2 wheel chocks for $18.88 on Amazon. These are pretty solid. A lot of people complained about the smell. At first, I was hesitant to buy these because of the reviews from others about the strong odor but decided to give it a shot anyway.Upon opening the package, these did have a strong odor but not bad enough that others had described. They did not fill my garage with a bad smell. I have them sitting on one side of an enclosed, two-car garage and I don’t smell them at all. These chocks worked great – even on the smooth surface of my garage floor.5. Mobil 1 96989 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart (Pack of 6) AND6. Mobil 1 98KG00 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart – For a 2006 325i E90, you need about 6.9x quarts of oil. I put 7 quarts. BMW only takes certain kinds of oil so you can’t just put any oil. I chose the Mobil 1 0W-40 European Formula as stated. I purchased both products on Amazon and spent around $27.99 for the 6-quart pack and an additional $7.98 for the extra quart. If you intend to use another kind of oil, do research before purchasing. Using the wrong type of oil will destroy your car.7. FloTool 42003MI Drain Container, 16 quart – This was a great buy. Despite the low profile of my car, I had no trouble sliding this drain pan under the car (while on the Rhino ramps – which do not give you much clearance.This oil container has a very small footprint and can be stored standing up to the side of my garage wall. It’s also easy to transport if need be. The container looks very durable and won’t crack if you accidentally drop it. The cap also seals very well. I tried turning the container on it’s side once it was filled with oil. It met expectations and did not leak one bit.8. Hopkins FloTool 05034 Super Funnel (Amazon - $5.76). You can probably manage with a regular funnel but having one of these longer funnels makes life so much easier – especially if you have to transfer old oil into small containers prior to disposal.This funnel has also come in handy with transferring other liquids to containers that have a small opening – just make sure that you wash and dry it carefully every time you use it. You don’t want residue of whatever you’re using it for to contaminate whatever you intend to use it for next.9. Shop Towels ($3-5, depending on how many you get and where you buy them from). I recommend getting these in-store. It will cost you a lot less than if you purchase them online.10. Ratchet and 17mm wrench socket. If you’re attempting an oil change on your own, you should already own a ratchet set which you probably use for other things.You can do the math for the cost for all the materials on your own. Minus the cost of everything you only purchase once, my total cost came out to around $48.00 (filter, oil). If you’ve been bringing your BMW to the dealership, then you can appreciate how much money you can save by changing the oil yourself.I also recommend wearing gloves. Don’t bother with a creeper if you have the same car as I do. The car is too low that you won’t have enough clearance to use a creeper if you just have it sitting on RhinoRamps.I’m not a mechanic or a car expert, so I won’t get into detail on each step of the oil change process.DISCLAIMER: How you change your oil is up to you. I’m not holding myself liable for any accidents or errors that you commit with whatever process you decide to follow.Here’s a concise breakdown of what you need to do (on a flat, non-slippery surface):1. Slowly set your car up on the RhinoRamps.2. Engage emergency brake.3. Place wheel chocks firmly and securely behind rear tires.4. Give your engine ample time to cool down so you don’t burn yourself.5. Pop the hood.6. Open the engine oil cover on your engine (the one that says Castrol on it).7. Use oil filter wrench to loosen oil filter cap.8. Remove and discard the old filter.9. Replace the gasket and o-ring on the oil filter cap.10. Lubricate the oil filter gasket and o-ring with some old or new oil.11. Put the oil filter cap back on and tighten it with the oil filter wrench.12. Slide under the car and locate the oil drain bolt.13. Use the ratchet to loosen the drain bolt.14. Once you see oil dripping, slide the drain pan under it, remove the bolt and let the rest of the oil drain.15. After the oil is drained (slow dripping), use the ratchet to firmly place the drain bolt back on.16. Slide yourself and the oil drain pan out from under the vehicle.17. Use the funnel to slowly pour all 7 quarts of oil into the engine oil compartment (the one that says Castrol).18. Close the engine oil compartment.19. Slide back under one more time to check for leaks.20. Close the hood (make sure you didn’t leave anything on the engine and you put everything back before you do this).21. Start the car and let it run for a few mins. Take a peak under to make sure that you’re not leaking any oil.22. Remove wheel chocks.23. Disengage emergency brake and slowly drive back off of the RhinoRamps.24. Reset your oil change light.25. Using the funnel and the empty oil containers, transfer the old oil into the empty containers.26. Bring old oil containers to your local auto parts store and dispose of the old oil.Congratulations! You have successfully completed an oil change on your 2006 BMW 325i E90.There are a bunch of YouTube videos on how to change oil on a BMW. I’d suggest watching a few before attempting the process. There are also videos on how to reset your oil warning light after you do an oil change. It’s pretty easy.Good luck and always practice safety first.

I had purchased this same funnel from my local Advance Auto Parts a while back for a transmission job, and I thought I'd get another from Amazon as it is a great add-on item and it's very handy to have around. The plastic construction is pretty solid - the Amazon one feels exactly the same as the Advance Auto one. The funnel's large capacity helps to prevent overflow, and the narrow mouth tapers down making it perfect for transmission fluid refills (or anything that has a narrow mouth). There's a tab at the top that allows you to hold or stabilize the funnel with your fingers - nice touch (no pun intended).FYI the Amazon price fluctuates periodically. I bought mine at $2, even though it's now over $4.

It is almost 72° incline, maybe a little less. Phi. I make phi pyramids, so I notice this stuff. The diameter is precisely 12 cm. The funnel is long, 44 cm or 17" approx. For anyone whose hobby is numerology, those measurements are interesting. If you are going to use it to pour oil, I guarantee you won't spill unless you don't pour the oil into the funnel or try real hard on purpose to spill. The funnel is hard black plastic and comes with a hard plastic hanging tab for storage in your garage on a cup hook.

The first thing I noticed about this Hopkins FloTool Super Funnel was the$144 price tag, which Amazon had generously (indeed, amazingly) reduceddown to just $4. Wow. That's 97% OFF, boys and girls. Yeah!Yet another benefit of being an Amazon customer.As soon as it arrived, I eagerly opened the box, breathless in anticipation ofmy $144 "Super Funnel". I wondered what special powers it might have thatset it apart from mere standard funnels and made it a "super funnel".I quickly discovered why this masterpiece of craftsmanship usually warrantsa $144 price tag.First of all, the black plastic from which it is made can only be described as"exquisite". Like fine obsidian, or a black sapphire, its depth of color andhigh gloss are simply mesmerizing. Not like that cheap European plastic...this plastic super funnel hails from none other than... The Orient.That's right, the exotic Far East is the origin of this elegant work of art."Made In China" is proudly proclaimed upon its sleek body, and one canonly imagine the generations of craftsmen in the fine Oriental funnel shopsbeaming with pride at the thought of their handiwork being appreciatedaround the globe.Beyond a superficial appreciation of its stunning good-looks, when you pickit up, the superb balance is immediately noticed. It rolls smoothly from handto hand without any trace of a wobble or imperfection. You can rest assured,this is no "cone of uncertainty" as the meteorologists say... this is the embodimentof a standard of excellent to which few funnel craftsmen ever aspire, let alone attain.Now, I know what you're thinking: "Yeah, yeah... but can it funnel liquids?"Oh sweet mercy... can it ever funnel liquids! You name it... this thing can funnel it:water (yes...both hot and cold),milk (skim, 2%, whole, and even buttermilk),wines (red, white, blush, and also champagne),all manner of oils, from olive oil, to motor oil, to lamp oil, to aromatherapy oils,juices, carbonated beverages, as well as beers both pale and dark,vinegars ranging from plain white to apple cider to fine aged balsamic.And ... are you sitting down?... I kid you not, this thing even funnels... fine beach sand!Dude... that's not even a liquid! Un-freaking-believable.It's like a funnel from some other dimension of reality... or maybe... from the future.And the cherry on the sundae... it's got a little tab at the topwith a hole in it, so you can hang it from a nail.(Obviously, you will want to display it on your wall when it is not in use).I would not hesitate to buy this funnel at the full M.S.R.P. of $144,but at this absurdly low price of $4... well, Amazon is just giving them away.I know what all my friends and family are getting for Christmas next year,and I suspect there will not be a dry eye to be seen when they opentheir gifts and see this masterpiece.Yep... this here is what they call "a game changer"... a "paradigm shift".It won't be long until Apple starts pumping out a competing product,no doubt called the "iFunnel", and priced at $299.It you're smart... you'll jump all over this Hopkins Super Funnelbefore Amazon realizes the crazy mistake they've made in pricingthis treasure at four bucks.UPDATE: Amazon has recently removed the "$144.00 Retail Price"designation from this product's listing, and adjusted the actual saleprice from just $4.00 up to $17.17! It seems my glowing praise went tothe distributor's head, and they were convinced it was indeed under-priced.