[Mk23]

Well I'm getting close to my 5000 mile oil change and I am thinking about changing it my self (will be my first). I got my oil and filter changed at 1200 miles so I'm not sure what to do at 5000. What does everyone recommend?

[juicedcubed]

335i is every 15k if im not mistaken.

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by juicedcubed

335i is every 15k if im not mistaken.

Wow, congrats for being the quickest response! Didn't even have time to get the poll up.

[juicedcubed]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

Wow, congrats for being the quickest response! Didn't even have time to get the poll up.

ya i dont have work till 12 so im kinda bored

[DrGP]

Originally Posted by juiced cubed

335i is every 15k if im not mistaken.

You are mistaken. There is an oil "sensor" that determines when your oil should be changed depending on your driving style and conditions. I think that anyone that trusts this sensor is asking for trouble. Your dealership should do a courtesy "free oil change" at every annual maintenance. A member had his oil changed at 18K WHEN THE SENSOR CAME ON. Had the oil analyzed and showed EXCESSIVE wear. IMHO, full synthetic can easily go 7.5K. You can stretch it to 10K, but after that you're pressing your luck. BTW, not all "full synthetic" oils are ACTUALLY 100% synthetic. Many will start having sludge build up after 7500 miles, other not. Oil is cheap! Change it often. Your engine will reward you with more trouble free miles. BTW, wait to change @ 6500 miles unless your yearly maintenenace is coming up shortly. At 5K you will only have 3800 miles on the oil that was changed at 1200 miles. That oil is still protecting without issues.

[Ronnb]

Besure to have BMW do the oil change early, and not yourself. You could run into problems with warranty. Ron

[g2artist]

Do it yourself, its just an oil change not rocket science.

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by Ronnb

Besure to have BMW do the oil change early, and not yourself. You could run into problems with warranty. Ron

Really? I could have warranty issues from my own oil with the BMW factory recommended brand oil and filter? How does that make sense?

And I'd prefer to do it at 5k so that I will remember at 10k to do it again, I have memory problems...

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

Well I'm getting close to my 5000 mile oil change and I am thinking about changing it my self (will be my first). I got my oil and filter changed at 1200 miles so I'm not sure what to do at 5000. What does everyone recommend?

Originally Posted by Ronnb

Besure to have BMW do the oil change early, and not yourself. You could run into problems with warranty. Ron

Not true.

Originally Posted by g2artist

Do it yourself, its just an oil change not rocket science.

+1!

Originally Posted by Mk335i

Really? I could have warranty issues from my own oil with the BMW factory recommended brand oil and filter? How does that make sense?

And I'd prefer to do it at 5k so that I will remember at 10k to do it again, I have memory problems...

With the 335 I'd change it every 5k miles, because of the higher operating temps generated by the turbos; although, changing at 7,500 miles would probably work fine.

And, as you say, if you go ahead and change it when you hit 5k miles it'll be easier to keep up with than if your wait 'til 6,200 miles.

Memory problems at 23, oh my. It only get worse.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

With the 335 I'd change it every 5k miles, because of the higher operating temps generated by the turbos; although, changing at 7,500 miles would probably work fine.

And, as you say, if you go ahead and change it when you hit 5k miles it'll be easier to keep up with than if your wait 'til 6,200 miles.

Memory problems at 23, oh my. It only get worse.

I go with 7,500 miles and change the filter at 3,750.

[742]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

Really? I could have warranty issues from my own oil with the BMW factory recommended brand oil and filter? How does that make sense?...

Just keep the receipts that can show that BMW oil or oil with BMW LL01 approval was used.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by Ronnb

Besure to have BMW do the oil change early, and not yourself. You could run into problems with warranty. Ron

False. Oil change is pretty simple and there's a DIY here to walk you through everything.

I bought my 335i, didn't lease it so I'm taking good care of her.

I changed the oil after the initial break in at ~1,200 miles. As expected, the oil was super black. (I did the same oil change at around the same mileage on my Evo and the oil was just as black).

I did another oil change at 5,000 miles...then 10,000 miles. I got the freebie at 15,000 miles. Did another at 20,000 miles, and 25,000 miles. Now I'm scheduled to go in tomorrow for the 30,000 mile inspection and oil change.

I ordered the oil change kit from Tischer BMW, who's a sponsor on the board BTW. Doing it myself saves about $40ish if I remember correctly. If you don't mind paying the $100ish price tag, you can just stroll into a dealership and asks for an oil change to be done as well.

[cgnahc]

My oil change at the dealer was around $200

[Turkishexpress]

Does anyone know if Mobil Full Synthetic is approved by BMW?

[1clean335i]

Looks like your doing the same oil change intervals as me I would just do oil and filter, and top off the fluids.

[742]

Originally Posted by Turkishexpress

Does anyone know if Mobil Full Synthetic is approved by BMW?

The 0W-40 is. Not the 5W-30.

[npolite]

Originally Posted by Turkishexpress

Does anyone know if Mobil Full Synthetic is approved by BMW?

https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English...l_1_0W-40.aspx

[nicknaz]

If you aren't keeping it past the warranty period just bring it in when the car asks for it. save your money

For a keeper I'd change every 5k miles with LL01 oil and new filter and do an oil analysis at each change to identify the appropriate interval between changes for your driving style (based on the amount of additives left in the oil)

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Memory problems at 23, oh my. It only get worse.

22 actually, but yeah it's not fun.

Originally Posted by wj4

Oil change is pretty simple and there's a DIY here to walk you through everything.

I ordered the oil change kit from Tischer BMW, who's a sponsor on the board BTW. Doing it myself saves about $40ish if I remember correctly. If you don't mind paying the $100ish price tag, you can just stroll into a dealership and asks for an oil change to be done as well.

I plan on ordering the Tischer oil change kit and follow the DIY. Just need to get some rhino ramps.

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

If you aren't keeping it past the warranty period just bring it in when the car asks for it. save your money

For a keeper I'd change every 5k miles with LL01 oil and new filter and do an oil analysis at each change to identify the appropriate interval between changes for your driving style (based on the amount of additives left in the oil)

I plan on keeping this car for at least 6 to 8 years. It's a wonderful car and is ideal for my type of driving. I don't see the need for another car until this one breaks.

Appreciate all the help everyone, this is why e90post is so useful.

[Tuned335i]

Originally Posted by Mk335i

I plan on ordering the Tischer oil change kit and follow the DIY. Just need to get some rhino ramps.

I love the comments from the guy who's running a tune (and likely doubling the boost PSI produced by the turbos with the accompanying higher engine & turbo oil operating temps) but promotes following the rediculous factory 15K mile oil change interval. That's one of the most misguided things I have seen posted here.

BMW knows that a 15K mile oil change interval isn't going to cause issues that would cause warranty claims within the warranty period, and they're paying for it so why would they want to change it more often?!? Any problems that crop up after warranty are owner-paid, so I doubt they're overly concerned about that.

Does anyone really want oil that's been in the engine for 10,000+ miles circulating through those tiny turbos? If the engine is tuned the oil issue is even more important. I never understood why anyone would skimp on oil & filter changes to save $50 every 5,000 miles...

But whatever. There are hundreds of posts on the the oil-change interval debate. Just use the wonderful function...

[NaTuReB0Y]

every 5k miles is the route that i'm taking.........$45 DIY

dealer changed it for free at 20k and 40k........

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Tuned335i

I love the comments from the guy who's running a tune (and likely doubling the boost PSI produced by the turbos with the accompanying higher engine & turbo oil operating temps) but promotes following the rediculous factory 15K mile oil change interval. That's one of the most misguided things I have seen posted here.

BMW knows that a 15K mile oil change interval isn't going to cause issues that would cause warranty claims within the warranty period, and they're paying for it so why would they want to change it more often?!? Any problems that crop up after warranty are owner-paid, so I doubt they're overly concerned about that.

Does anyone really want oil that's been in the engine for 10,000+ miles circulating through those tiny turbos? If the engine is tuned the oil issue is even more important. I never understood why anyone would skimp on oil & filter changes to save $50 every 5,000 miles...

But whatever. There are hundreds of posts on the the oil-change interval debate. Just use the wonderful function...

This is just utter crap. BMW has had extended oil service intervals since the mid '80s. My E30 called for oil changes usually around 9,000 to 12,000 miles and this was before widespread use of synthetic oil. I still have the E30 at 293,000 miles (I sold it to my neighbor in 2006 where he promptly cracked the head with leting it over heat - I bought the car back for $1 last October). It got oil changes when called for. We bought it new in November 1988. The engine still only uses a quart of oil every 3,500 miles (which is normal for that vintage of BMW). I also have a 1997 Z3 which I follow the service interval. It has 130K on it and runs like a top. I've looked inside the valve cover, and there is no sludge to be found.

BMW does not have some master plan to have their cars die from infrequent oil changes after the 50,000 mile warranty runs out. Do you really think they want to risk their reputation with engine failures at 51,000 miles? It makes no sense.