[LEA69]

Hey guys, its me again.... my car reached 13000kms and the oil light was on so I looked thru my manual and round out that i needed to top it up just under a litre. OK, so I pop the bonnet and right in front of me there is a sticker saying 'BMW recommends CASTROL oil'. So I ring BMW and ask what model number/ code of Castrol oil i should get and he said that I had to come into BMW and pick one up..... how much? $30.... the guy said that BMW use a 'special' blend of castrol oil... and that I shouldnt just go out and by off the shelf oil for my car...yadda yadda yadda... I'm a chick right.... i know how to drive but dont know much about engines etc...so i rock up that arvo and what do i get:

1 stock standard castrol oil that you can buy off the shelf- no BMW logo or endorsement on the bottle.....

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For my $30, it came in a nice black zipper vinyl black BMW bag, with wet towelettes, gloves and instructions in a neat little packet...........






WHAT THE HELL??? its oil! I just paid $30 for all that crap when all I did was open the lid, pour 500mls in and put the bottle away!!!??? Super Cheap auto sell that exact same oil for $13.95.

Man I feel like an idiot! I could have just bought me oil and lunch on the way!
Mate, dont get me wrong, I do enjoy the luxuries in life but come on... its like buying satin pouches to pick up dog poop rather than using a scoop - waste of money????!!!

[astra]

omg you're a chick????

[uhaulball]

that is once sexy car...

[moO moO nEL]

Wait a sec...
Why paid $30?
My car has the same warning light on today and I just drove my car back to the dealership after work and they top it up for free.
Also booked next week to fix sunroof rattles and the broken cup holder...and picked up a nice new X5 brochure.

[Chris.G]

You got suckered in Well ppl learn from there mistakes BMW Artarmon charged $500 for the first oil service i told them to get stuffed and complained to BMW Aus and afterwards i was charged around 15-20 dollars (i forgot now) instead.

Dealerships are mostly called Stealerships these days for a reason

[moO moO nEL]

Originally Posted by Chris.G

You got suckered in Well ppl learn from there mistakes BMW Artarmon charged $500 for the first oil service i told them to get stuffed and complained to BMW Aus and afterwards i was charged around 15-20 dollars (i forgot now) instead.

Actually I went Artarmon today. I think they have changed.

[LEA69]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!


and yes Astra... im a chick as well!!!

[LEA69]

BMW service said that the oil is a consumable part so they wont do it for free...... bugger

[1q2w3e4r]

Change dealers, M's are notorious for oil consumption. My SA has given me a couple of litres of top up oil for my M3 for no charge as you could only get the oil through BMW dealers as it's specific for the M3 and now M5/6 engines.

[eml]

moO moO nEL, you mean the up-and-coming X5? hmmm, gotta visit the dealers soon then.

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

Change dealers, M's are notorious for oil consumption. My SA has given me a couple of litres of top up oil for my M3 for no charge as you could only get the oil through BMW dealers as it's specific for the M3 and now M5/6 engines.

LOL if you own an M3 and are buying a 335 from your dealer, they should chuck in a gold plated Rolex

I had the same problem on mine - needed half a litre top up so I took it to the dealer and told them that I was told that it wouldn't need oil so they need to fix it and got it back an hour later, all topped up, no charge.

You just have to be firm with dealers, otherwise they'll try it on (in BMWs way, they try it on politely LOL)

[docbeemer]

hi lea,
OMG which dealer did you go to? I've done 4500 kms on my 335 and I'm in three minds as to when to change the oil and filter (the whole new engine break in thing)- at about 5000, 10000, or when the car tells me to. The dealer/mechanic you went to sounds like a snake oil merchant- not good if they want to sell you a car down the track. It shits me when dealers treat people like rich idiots just because they drive nice but expensive cars esp BMW and even though they are not rich or idiots

[moO moO nEL]

Originally Posted by eml

moO moO nEL, you mean the up-and-coming X5? hmmm, gotta visit the dealers soon then.

Yes the up-and-coming X5
The brochure and price list is there but they still can't organize a car sitting in the showroom.
According to the sales rep, all the Feb production quotas are already sold...by people without seeing the actual car.

[eml]

Originally Posted by moO moO nEL

Yes the up-and-coming X5
The brochure and price list is there but they still can't organize a car sitting in the showroom.
According to the sales rep, all the Feb production quotas are already sold...by people without seeing the actual car.

in that case, this means a visit to the dealers soon (actually, sooner that soon).

[LEA69]

this was Doncaster BMW , Melbourne East suburbs

[docbeemer]

That's where I got my car and got my last one (E39) serviced! I'm a bloke- I wonder if they would try that same crap with me? :mad: I guess we'll soon see. I need to go in and get the handbrake cable tightened so I'll ask them then.

Originally Posted by LEA69

this was Doncaster BMW , Melbourne East suburbs

[astra]

Originally Posted by docbeemer

hi lea,
OMG which dealer did you go to? I've done 4500 kms on my 335 and I'm in three minds as to when to change the oil and filter (the whole new engine break in thing)- at about 5000, 10000, or when the car tells me to. The dealer/mechanic you went to sounds like a snake oil merchant- not good if they want to sell you a car down the track. It shits me when dealers treat people like rich idiots just because they drive nice but expensive cars esp BMW and even though they are not rich or idiots

i first changed my oil at 10,000kms

[astra]

Originally Posted by docbeemer

That's where I got my car and got my last one (E39) serviced! I'm a bloke- I wonder if they would try that same crap with me? :mad: I guess we'll soon see. I need to go in and get the handbrake cable tightened so I'll ask them then.

i'm a chick, and they don't try crap on with me anymore... they did to start with...

[docbeemer]

I've read all the posts in the main section on when people are changing their oil and there seems to be no real concensus. I remember reading an article in a great website called "The truth about cars". They are even more cynical than I am so I love reading their articles. Anyway, say that with new engines, the tolerances are so good and early wear characteristics so slight (they quoted a study done in this regard) that early oil changes are essentially unnecessary. Despite this, I am leaning towards 10,000 k's.

Originally Posted by astra

i first changed my oil at 10,000kms

[docbeemer]

It's so cool to see some aussie chicks who are passionate about their cars. Sometimes I wish my girlfriend was more like that. Keep it up girls

Originally Posted by astra

i'm a chick, and they don't try crap on with me anymore... they did to start with...

[astra]

Originally Posted by docbeemer

I've read all the posts in the main section on when people are changing their oil and there seems to be no real concensus. I remember reading an article in a great website called "The truth about cars". They are even more cynical than I am so I love reading their articles. Anyway, say that with new engines, the tolerances are so good and early wear characteristics so slight (they quoted a study done in this regard) that early oil changes are essentially unnecessary. Despite this, I am leaning towards 10,000 k's.

piece of mind...

[docbeemer]

Yeah, and the extra (paranoid) care we give to new cars. Eg I wash my car every 2 weeks

Originally Posted by astra

piece of mind...