[John 070]

I got a chuckle that my oil was changed about 1800 miles and 2 mos. later. In a way I feel it's a waste of natural resources, but 7 quarts in the entire world is nothing.

This is why I think the low mileage don't reset the computer doesn't make sense. But then they said if you go over 6k you don't need an oil change, if you go 5,999, you do. I went 6,200 and apparently I needed one in August and another one in early Nov.! LOL

[fdriller9]

Ok....

[EDM92]

Cool story bro.

[FLA 335]

Doesn't sound right could be the dme is the issue... heard that there are several cases like this and some where oil is not changed for 19k...

[John 070]

I think common sense should prevail over any computer or BMW's CBS system. 15k is the norm, but 7,500 is recommended if you own and don't lease. Anything less is unneeded. But it really doesn't make sense to me to have for the 1 yr. free, low-mileage change, a 6k cut-off. If you go 6,001, you don't need a low-mileage change, but if you go 5,999, you do. It's really arbitrary.

[PTinVT]

I got two oil changes 1500 miles apart.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386827

I thought it was silly to the point where I almost insisted they not do it so soon from an environmental standpoint, but the dealer was like a) BMW is going to pay for it and b) the computer is telling us to do it... they seemed antsy about NOT doing it so I was like WTF and relented. I just hope some tech out back noticed and took the "used" oil home for one of his rides.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by John 070

I think common sense should prevail over any computer or BMW's CBS system. 15k is the norm, but 7,500 is recommended if you own and don't lease. Anything less is unneeded. But it really doesn't make sense to me to have for the 1 yr. free, low-mileage change, a 6k cut-off. If you go 6,001, you don't need a low-mileage change, but if you go 5,999, you do. It's really arbitrary.

That policy has been changed. BMW has gone back to the time based one year change, regardless of mileage. In some instances, that will result in some short mileage changes (i.e. driving 13k in one year, changing the oil, and then getting a CBS change at 15k), but most of the time, I suspect it works fairly well.

My 128i with mostly highway/back road use had a one year based free change at 13,700 and then the first CBS mandated free change at 19,300, only 5,600 miles later. While I also prefer to wait until 7,500~8,000 miles, I naturally took advantage of the "freebie".

It does seem that going back to a pure mileage based (and one year max.) change interval would simplify life for both us drivers and BMW service departments.

Of course, we followed the 10,000 mile recommended (non-synthetic) change intervals on my wife's Saab and were rewarded with a blown motor at 70,000 miles. We then switched to 5k intervals and the replacement engine (used with 50k miles) went south before it reached 65,000.

Tom