[Coolieman1220]

So I did my 7500 mile change / year now i'm about 3 months into that and am at 10k miles. I noticed the next change is 13500 miles later so at 20k miles or a year (September) I was wondering if any of you guys changed your oil halfway through or are planning to. at 6 months. I know diesels can burn oil which is normal (have never removed my dipstick, the checking procedure seems to be a little different then pulling and reading)

Does diesel oil get contaminated that earlier change intervals will be better? I love this car and want to keep it forever hence best performance for longevity.

Should I change the filter or no? Also what kind of oil? I know the dealer will use their oil so i assume i should use that same to keep the blend the same. Although I'd love to throw some nice amsoil in it.

any advice or open to discuss? thanks!

[EYE4SPEED]

Subscribed - did my first at 5k using all BMW stuff. I plan on keeping the car, so now way I'd wait for their intervals. Interested to see what everyone else has to say.

[Quasimodem]

I once did an in between oil change, my car is almost out of warranty so I will be on my own now. Get supplies from tischer use LL04 and buy an extra quart for possible future use while u are at it (the engine takes 8 quarts with filter change). Enjoy....

[maswastage]

I changed mine at 1600 and again at 7500, and then at 7500 intervals from then on. The oil I use is Mobil 1 5W30 EP. I trust my brother on this subject, so I'm using this oil based on his advice. We did an oil analysis a few changes ago and it seemed to confirm this is the oil to use for this engine, and it is good for right around 7500 miles. He posted the oil analysis on another forum: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1851142

[MrClean]

Did my first change at around 1700, second at around 7500. I'm at about 11k now and the car is telling the dealer it needs service soon. I will probably change the oil every 7500 miles or so - it is easy except for the mass quantities of oil that these things hold.

Definitely change the filter if you're changing the oil.

My car is not burning any oil, so I'm not sure what you meant by that (burning oil) being normal for a diesel.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by MrClean

My car is not burning any oil, so I'm not sure what you meant by that (burning oil) being normal for a diesel.

probably cause they are called "oil burners" LOL

[WWONG]

Change the filter. Non-synthetic can last more than 3000 miles... up to 10k+ from what I've seen. It's the filter that eventually fails around 3kish and begins to contaminate the oil.

[jaybird124]

Originally Posted by WWONG

Change the filter. Non-synthetic can last more than 3000 miles... up to 10k+ from what I've seen. It's the filter that eventually fails around 3kish and begins to contaminate the oil.

True, but the detergents and additives are also depleted.

[bbbradley]

Spend the money for an oil analysis, otherwise you are simply guessing and playing the averages. For some people average works, for others it doesn't apply well.

[jaybird124]

Wish there was a DIY on flushing the urea tanks.

[ciomas]

i change mine every 15k km together with oil filter (bmw recommends having it changed every 30k km if Im not mistaken) I was told by a few mechanics its a good habit if you tend to push the car hard

[Socom]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

So I did my 7500 mile change / year now i'm about 3 months into that and am at 10k miles. I noticed the next change is 13500 miles later so at 20k miles or a year (September) I was wondering if any of you guys changed your oil halfway through or are planning to. at 6 months. I know diesels can burn oil which is normal (have never removed my dipstick, the checking procedure seems to be a little different then pulling and reading)

Does diesel oil get contaminated that earlier change intervals will be better? I love this car and want to keep it forever hence best performance for longevity.

Should I change the filter or no? Also what kind of oil? I know the dealer will use their oil so i assume i should use that same to keep the blend the same. Although I'd love to throw some nice amsoil in it.

any advice or open to discuss? thanks!

Any oil with BMW code LL04 will suffice.
In the US that basically means:
-Castrol SLX OE Prof 5w-30 available at BMW dealerships and maybe Audi/VW.
-Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30 (Pepboys, Autozone, etc)
-Valvoline MST 5w-30/5w-40 (NAPA, and probably others).
- Motul & Total (Has a few LL-04 but they're usually mail order only)

M1 ESP 5w-30 is the cheapest by far (~$7.50 quart) in my neck of the woods.

There are a few dozen or more oils but they're only available in Europe/Asia.

PS. Always change the filter.

[Jason@Tischer]

Here's a link to our 335d Oil Change Kit on the site, for those interested.

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by EYE4SPEED

Subscribed - did my first at 5k using all BMW stuff. I plan on keeping the car, so now way I'd wait for their intervals. Interested to see what everyone else has to say.

Thats what i'm saying!! Its such a great car!

Originally Posted by jaybird124

True, but the detergents and additives are also depleted.

Yeah i feel like with that amount of time passing and the fact that diesel oils can mix w/ fuel and be ok I'd want to have a cleaner engine.

Originally Posted by maswastage

I changed mine at 1600 and again at 7500, and then at 7500 intervals from then on. The oil I use is Mobil 1 5W30 EP. I trust my brother on this subject, so I'm using this oil based on his advice. We did an oil analysis a few changes ago and it seemed to confirm this is the oil to use for this engine, and it is good for right around 7500 miles. He posted the oil analysis on another forum: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1851142

Has he done any other analysis's as time has passed? on the d?

Originally Posted by jaybird124

Wish there was a DIY on flushing the urea tanks.

Flushing as to clean it or to fill it? I wish there was a way to remove them!!

It seems as the only oil we can use is that Castrol SLX low ash one. LL04 is just saying it works for Long life. Technically since we are doing a mid change halfway through we could put another oil in there thats not long life, as long as its low ash low sulfur to protect our DPF. right?

Thanks for all the useful information guys!

[Socom]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

..,..Technically since we are doing a mid change halfway through we could put another oil in there thats not long life, as long as its low ash low sulfur to protect our DPF. right?

There is no such thing. Every oil suitable for your vehicle will have at a min ACEA A3/B4/C3 ratings and by definition these will always be extended drain oils.

Like I said earlier:

"In the US that basically means:
-Castrol SLX OE Prof 5w-30 available at BMW dealerships and maybe Audi/VW.
-Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30 (Pepboys, Autozone, etc)
-Valvoline MST 5w-30/5w-40 (NAPA, and probably others).
- Motul & Total (Has a few LL-04 but they're usually mail order only)"

[Coolieman1220]

anybody experience any amount of oil consumption from these engines? from new to the first oil change I didn't notice any. Now after 5k miles from the last oil change (and a couple months) it could use about a half a quart according to the dip stick. Normal? Of those 5k miles, about 1,000 are hard highway miles. constant revs.

[Socom]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

anybody experience any amount of oil consumption from these engines? from new to the first oil change I didn't notice any. Now after 5k miles from the last oil change (and a couple months) it could use about a half a quart according to the dip stick. Normal? Of those 5k miles, about 1,000 are hard highway miles. constant revs.

16k miles and no oil usage.

What is the color of the dipstick (Red or Black) and how much oil did u use?

Red takes 8.2 quarts
Black takes 8 quarts.

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Socom

16k miles and no oil usage.

What is the color of the dipstick (Red or Black) and how much oil did u use?

Red takes 8.2 quarts
Black takes 8 quarts.

I'm not too worried about the consumption since diesels are allowed to burn oil. I'm in a cold climate these days too which might explain it. i have a red dipstick. didn't know there was a difference. the owners manual says the difference between the the max line and min is a quart. My line is right in the middle so thats why i assume half a quart.

[Socom]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

I'm not too worried about the consumption since diesels are allowed to burn oil. I'm in a cold climate these days too which might explain it. i have a red dipstick. didn't know there was a difference. the owners manual says the difference between the the max line and min is a quart. My line is right in the middle so thats why i assume half a quart.

Yep. If you only filled with 8 quarts when you did the oil change then the resulting .2 quarts would explain why the dipstick is not showing full. I just didn't want you to think that it was burning oil when it probably isn't.

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Socom

Yep. If you only filled with 8 quarts when you did the oil change then the resulting .2 quarts would explain why the dipstick is not showing full. I just didn't want you to think that it was burning oil when it probably isn't.

makes sense! how did you find out about the 2 different dip sticks?

[Socom]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

makes sense! how did you find out about the 2 different dip sticks?

AMSOIL which I verified with my own vehicle.

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Socom

AMSOIL which I verified with my own vehicle.

Amsoil is good stuff, used it in my previous vehicles.

After driving some more miles, of which some were hard fast miles i rechecked my oil and it's closer to the min line.

You guys been monitoring your oil levels with the d?