I did a quick search and didn't find the answer I was looking for. So... here's another oil change question.

I changed the oil in my wife's mini today, and the oil filter canister was tight. It was difficult to remove or install by hand. I had to use the wrench to help. Is this normal? I'm used to handtightening my oil filters, and I was concerned, I might wreck the threads on the canister using the wrench, but it was almost impossible to tighten by hand, and I think it's on right, because it sits flush against the seat and doesn't leak. So, is it normally this tight?

Also, the manual recommends 4.5L, but I only put in 4.0 L and it was already a bit above the max line on the dipstick, anybody else have this experience?

Thanks for responses all!

I did a quick search and didn't find the answer I was looking for. So... here's another oil change question.

I changed the oil in my wife's mini today, and the oil filter canister was tight. It was difficult to remove or install by hand. I had to use the wrench to help. Is this normal? I'm used to handtightening my oil filters, and I was concerned, I might wreck the threads on the canister using the wrench, but it was almost impossible to tighten by hand, and I think it's on right, because it sits flush against the seat and doesn't leak. So, is it normally this tight?

Very normal, i'd say you were lucky that you only had to use a wrench and not a herd of oxen attached to the wrench :D BMW really tighten it.