[MarkAngelo]

Hi there,

How often do you guys take your BMW to the dealer for an oil change? A BMW enthusiast friend of mine tells me I should always get an oil change every 3k miles. But BMW America tells me to just bring the car in once a year...

Do you think they'll cover my oil changes under the maintenance plan if I want to do oil changes earlier than the recommended time.

Thanks for your time,

Mark

[ndog14]

Go when your computer tells you to. If you feel that it is to long change the oil yourself. I know my dealer changes it every 7.5k for me. I go in when the computer tells, they reset the computer, then tell me to come in 7.5k, I go in and they don't reset the computer until the 15k mark. And the process repeats.

[Kolyan2k]

up to you, to be on safe side every 7-8k, per BMW every 15k. many people get free oil change at 15k and pay for one in-between, or better yet do it yourself. Dealer is not gonna do oil change for free unless computer tell them it needs oil change.

[F3_BMW]

I try every 7k but that took me a year last time.

[MarkAngelo]

Thanks for the comments.. Do any of you hear valve ticking noise? I thought it's only around during cold starts, but I can still hear loud ticking from the engine when it's warm. I've read that some N54 engines get their lifters replaced under warranty...

[fun2drive]

N52's have lifter issues typically N54's do not.
3K oil change with BMW synthetic oil or Castrol synthetic oil a total waste of money. As stated the oil changes should go to at least 7500 miles or longer.
Your car your choice....

[Crusader]

3K is excessive, a left-over from early dino oil days (there was a time when an oil filter was optional). The service interval usually goes for around 15-16K (mine 19K!?!?), but BMW will also do it annually regardless of mileage. In between would be prudent, say 7.5K, and its your nickel; but I think it's worth it only IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP THE CAR.

So if you're on a lease, or will likely trade/buy, sell/buy before the car hits 100K, it's most economical to follow service recommendations. The effect of more aggressive oil change intervals only starts to show well past 100K. Or, if you've a particularly desirable enthusiast-oriented bimmer optioned "right," a fellow enthusiast might pay a bit more for the added maintenance when it's time to sell the car.

[zeeman335]

For those who change it in between, how is the quality of oil? Like at 7k or 8k miles?

[Crusader]

Unless you send it off for analysis, there's really no way to determine the quality of the oil. It comes out darker than it goes in. That's generally the case with any internal combustion engine.

You might want to Google Mike Miller's "Old School Maintenance." Mike is the tech advisor for BMWCCA and their magazine "Roundel" and also "Bimmer" magazine.

[NoTempoLimitN54]

Mike Miller is recommending 5k intervals for the N54. I think it will depend on your driving style and conditions (temperature, etc.). But I think 15k is too much unless you do mostly highway driving and live in in a warm climate where it rarely gets colder than 50º F.

I did an oil analysis on my E92 335i's oil at 4.3k interval. This was the "stock" oil. It was still in good shape and Blackstone said it could go another 2k miles. But I live in SoCal and drive 16+ miles each way on my commute, getting my oil fully warmed up to 240º F.

Im going to do two 5k intervals to clean the engine out, then switch to 7.5k intervals confirmed with oil analysis.

I plan to keep my 335i and expect it to run just as good at 100k as it does now at 47.7k.

Originally Posted by NoTempoLimitN54

Mike Miller is recommending 5k intervals for the N54. I think it will depend on your driving style and conditions (temperature, etc.). But I think 15k is too much unless you do mostly highway driving and live in in a warm climate where it rarely gets colder than 50º F.

Sounds about right...here are my results after an 8k mile run of RLI Bio-SynXtra HD 5w40:

[F32Fleet]

Go to BITOG oil analysis -diesel and look for a recent post on "What is normal wear".

Read it.

[capo1m]

Every 4k I drive spiritedly and although it mAy seem excessive i don't mind investing $80 in a $50k car every so often to keep the engine going a little bit longer and have clean oil. Can't be harmful but otherwise for a normal non maintenance freak 7500 is fine

[F32Fleet]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/used-o...hat-is-normal/

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Socom

Go to BITOG oil analysis -diesel and look for a recent post on "What is normal wear".

Read it.

Socom, excellent find, thanks for posting.

[bjf66]

Sorry to hijack the thread, my car is due for the first annual service in a few weeks. I only have 8000km on the ODO, is there any way to get BMW to change the oil without me paying?

[techwhiz]

If it's been a year, they will change it anyway. 15K miles or one year.

[bjf66]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

If it's been a year, they will change it anyway. 15K miles or one year.

Cool, that's what I suspected, thanks!

[jmunjr]

I have a question, my gf's 2013 335i she got in December now has 8700 miles and her car is telling her the engine is very low on oil. If she takes it in to the dealer what will they do, change the oil completely or add oil to the engine? Will they try to charge her for it? I figure if an engine loses oil before the maintenance schedule it should be free.

Also, are the 335i engines known for burning a lot of oil? thanks

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by jmunjr

I have a question, my gf's 2013 335i she got in December now has 8700 miles and her car is telling her the engine is very low on oil. If she takes it in to the dealer what will they do, change the oil completely or add oil to the engine? Will they try to charge her for it? I figure if an engine loses oil before the maintenance schedule it should be free.

Also, are the 335i engines known for burning a lot of oil? thanks

Do the macho boyfriend thing and top it up for her!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jmunjr

I have a question, my gf's 2013 335i she got in December now has 8700 miles and her car is telling her the engine is very low on oil. If she takes it in to the dealer what will they do, change the oil completely or add oil to the engine? Will they try to charge her for it? I figure if an engine loses oil before the maintenance schedule it should be free.

Also, are the 335i engines known for burning a lot of oil? thanks

How about you just read the owner's manual and figure it out for yourselves. Did you really have to come on the internet, find E90 Post, register (so you could post), just to ask how to add oil to the engine?

Not flaming here, just trying to teach a little self reliance.

[NoTempoLimitN54]

Does anybody know if the CBS oil change intervals change when you add the factory PPK software? I remember reading somewhere that it changed the intervals to 7.5k, but I can't find that anywhere now.