Is anyone ONLY doing the included oil changes?

[trashcan]

Just curious how many people are going to stick with the 15k mile oil intervals only. It's concerning to me to feel like BMW is more concerned about their bottom line than the longevity of my engine.

[JohnL135I]

1000 miles first oil change, then every 5000 miles after that........

[3toM]

I think the overriding decision here is based on whether you are leasing or buying. If leasing (and plan to turn the car back in at 2-3 years) then follow BMW's schedule. It's their car. If buying, and planning on keeping long term, probably should consider some extra maintanence.

[Tom K.]

Perhaps another poll option - how many are having their oil analyzed so they really know what they are talking about?
Tom

[ScottyGams]

i voted BMW, but i will be doing a 3000 mile clean out initially. Its a lease, so screw em...

[JD135i]

Oil analysis at some different intervals is a great idea - if anyone does it let's hear some results. If I have time, I'll get a kit from these guys and do it myself:

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/index.html

Regardless of the analysis, I'll probably change the oil myself at 1,500 or 2,000 and then again at 7,500 or 8,000.

Here's my thinking on this: My last car was a 2004 B6 S4, the last year that those cars came w/ included maintenance. So, since Audi was paying for the service, Audi had long service intervals. I bought that car used, right after the first service was done. I waited the full "recommended" interval (15k, I think) before changing oil. The motor sounded very different and felt much smoother right after the oil change than it did when it went in for the service. (No, it was not low on oil before!) Again, no oil analysis, but I just didn't feel good about that. I felt that even with a naturally aspirated motor, my oil was not in good shape after 15k and I have to think the hot BMW twin-turbo will be just as hard on oil.

Just for peace of mind, I'll be changing oil at about 7,500 miles on my 135 as I hope to keep it a long time!

[SF_VR6]

dont you think that if you change your oil too soon before the first scheduled interval, you would not have given enough time for your engine to break loose the engine's metal shavings from the factory?

change at 1500 miles then at 7500 seems excessive, no?

[PA135i]

Originally Posted by SF_VR6

dont you think that if you change your oil too soon before the first scheduled interval, you would not have given enough time for your engine to break loose the engine's metal shavings from the factory?

change at 1500 miles then at 7500 seems excessive, no?

Good point. I plan on keeping my 135i a long time and plan on getting the oil changed every 7500. Course BMW will be doing every other for free. But, my intial oil change after break-in should be when? 1,000 1,500 2,000... when would be the best interval for the first break-in oil change?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Perhaps another poll option - how many are having their oil analyzed so they really know what they are talking about?
Tom

Or one to say that you're doing it yourself. I already did mine @3k miles and didn't pay anybody to do it for me.

[denial]

Originally Posted by larryn

Or one to say that you're doing it yourself. I already did mine @3k miles and didn't pay anybody to do it for me.

+1

[jbenington86]

i found us some good reading....with tests

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html

they tested syntheic oil...getting an oil sample tested every 1k miles...mobil1 made it to 18k miles with a filter change at 12kmiles on a camaro.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by JD

Regardless of the analysis, I'll probably change the oil myself at 1,500 or 2,000 and then again at 7,500 or 8,000.

Here's my thinking on this: My last car was a 2004 B6 S4, the last year that those cars came w/ included maintenance. So, since Audi was paying for the service, Audi had long service intervals. I bought that car used, right after the first service was done. I waited the full "recommended" interval (15k, I think) before changing oil. The motor sounded very different and felt much smoother right after the oil change than it did when it went in for the service. (No, it was not low on oil before!) Again, no oil analysis, but I just didn't feel good about that. I felt that even with a naturally aspirated motor, my oil was not in good shape after 15k and I have to think the hot BMW twin-turbo will be just as hard on oil.

Just for peace of mind, I'll be changing oil at about 7,500 miles on my 135 as I hope to keep it a long time!

Although the BMW's I've owned (all with synthetic oil) haven't felt any different after 7,500 mile changes, I agree with you about the "peace of mind". Also, as I seldom put over 8,000 miles a year on any one vehicle, they are generally covered by the free service.

BTW, for anyone paying for a dealer 7,500 mile change; make sure you request only an oil/filter change, not what was known on previous models as an "Oil Service" - The oil/filter change will be significantly cheaper (ca. $100 for 7 quarts of BMW synthetic, OEM filter +labor).
Tom

[Jack in Jax]

If you want to treat your engine well, do an initial oil change by ~2000 miles. If you have your green eye shade on (and are leasing or plan to sell it before the warranty expires), then use the BMW maintenance sked.

Engines don't "know" about miles. Engines understand 'hours' and 'load'. New non-turbine aircraft engines I've broken in spec'd a first oil change at 25 hours. (Take-off and climb-out are max rpm affairs, not unlike an extended autobahn run). Marine engines I've broken in - diesels - all spec a 50 hour first oil change. BMW was - before it started paying the bill - no different, recommending a first oil change after ~ 30-40 hours of operation (approx. 1500 miles). So back to the first sentence: If you want to treat your engine well...

BTW...BMW says you have 'lifetime' differential gear oil. Those gears initially spin off machining residue, as well. And then there's the transmission...

Jack

[135-CS]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

i found us some good reading....with tests

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html

they tested syntheic oil...getting an oil sample tested every 1k miles...mobil1 made it to 18k miles with a filter change at 12kmiles on a camaro.

I think I would be doig intervals oil changes with mobil. For some reason Porsche, Evolution, Corvette and others sports cars use them...

[Crowley]

You bet I'll be doing many in between changes!!

Crowley

[TP 135i]

I did my first at 1800 miles.....
Plan to do one in between the recommended 15k by BMW.
So every 7.5K for me, and I pay for every other one. An extra $100 per year is well worth it in my opinion.

[ptack]

i found us some good reading....with tests

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html


Holy moley. Their final conclusion is that, following an initial oil change after 3000 miles (when most of the wear occurs), it might be possible for an engine to forgo any other oil changes provided they were using a high quality synthetic oil, a bypass filtration system and changing filters regularly. Maybe that isn't so surprising if you're a chemist and know how how advanced these formulations are.

It's quite possible that, with the exception of doing the first oil change relatively soon, BMW has it right in stretching the other oil changes out.

[Slay0r]

might b a dumb question, but if i choose to change the oil in b/w intervals, could bmw refuse to do their oil changes b/c i messed with it myself,...since they will b able to tell from the oil filter

b/c i just think 12-15k for an oil change is just wayyy to long specially for a higher end vehicle

[Mad Dragon]

You can change the oil and filter daily, and it won't have any affect on your maintenance warranty. If you break something while you're doing it, that's a different story. Buy the filter adapter (the part number is posted somewhere in the DIY forum), torque the drain plug and filter cap to 25 N-m with a torque wrench, and you won't have any problems.

Originally Posted by Tom K.

BTW, for anyone paying for a dealer 7,500 mile change; make sure you request only an oil/filter change, not what was known on previous models as an "Oil Service" - The oil/filter change will be significantly cheaper (ca. $100 for 7 quarts of BMW synthetic, OEM filter +labor).

An oil service on a CBS car is just an oil/filter change. The microfilter has its own spot on the key read checklist. I believe it is attached to oil services on our cars, but it is a separate item on the repair order with its own labor code. Either way, we won't change it out of interval unless it's due on the key read or the customer specifically requests it (and pays out of pocket).

[Kris]

Can anyone tell me what oil is recommended for the car? does it vary country to country?? I'm in Sydney, Australia

[Luvmybmw]

Originally Posted by TP 135i

I did my first at 1800 miles.....
Plan to do one in between the recommended 15k by BMW.
So every 7.5K for me, and I pay for every other one. An extra $100 per year is well worth it in my opinion.

Ditto...Took my 135i in around 1600 and plan to take her back around 7500.

[fshowcars]

what are the recommended bmw intervals?