[Motorchoco]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

+1

BMW doesn't want their cars to last forever, because that's bad for business. I especially love how they tell us engine warm-up is not necessary. "Just redline the engine on a cold morning to warm it up!" Jk they didn't really say that, but I bet they wanted to.

BMW is not the only one who said that. Many other manufacturers and independent engineer also said extensive engine warm up (>30seconds) is not necessary if you are just driving normally.

Don't know why...

[w2]

Originally Posted by Motorchoco

BMW is not the only one who said that. Many other manufacturers and independent engineer also said extensive engine warm up (>30seconds) is not necessary if you are just driving normally

I think the logic is that it is harder on the engine to let it idle at low RPMs for a long time than it is to just start driving, because the engine doesn't warm up very fast when the engine is at idle, so you spend a lot of time operating the engine in the cold. If you just start driving, it may initially be a little harder on the engine as it runs at higher revs, but it also warms up much faster. In essence, instead of doing a little damage for a long period of time, you do slightly more damage for a much shorter period of time.

I seem to remember reading that the drive program for the AT keeps the revs higher than normal while the engine is warming up in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to reach operating temperature.

[visor]

Originally Posted by Motorchoco

BMW is not the only one who said that. Many other manufacturers and independent engineer also said extensive engine warm up (>30seconds) is not necessary if you are just driving normally.

Don't know why...

For normal city driving, it's not necessary to "warm up" the engine, ie. idle for 5 minutes, before driving. Two reasons for this:

1. Modern fuel injected engines and ECU's have better control of the engine when cold.

2. Modern catalytic converters are placed right after the engine, so that they get activated and reach operating temp much sooner.

However, if you're intending to really boot it and reach redline, then you should drive moderately for at least 10 minutes or until the oil temp shows 110 degrees C.

[2kaccordocoupe]

I only put 7 to 10k a year max on my car. The once a year change is sufficient for me.

[visor]

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

I only put 7 to 10k a year max on my car. The once a year change is sufficient for me.

Not whether the once a year oil change is sufficient, but whether the dealership will even let you do it before the OBC says it is due.

[335ifanatic]

Even though my car is leased I feel so guilty not giving my baby an oil change. I've already racked up 6000+ km's since I leased my car a few months ago and I think I might just pay for a mid km change.

[hubble bubble]

Originally Posted by Motorchoco

Since we are on this topic...
My car just hit 1800km... should I do an oil change right after the break-in periods (2000km?) and before I try pushing the engine?


btw, try going to different dealers for service, a lot of times the previous dealer forgot to reset the oil timer and when the next dealer service your car, they give you another oil change again.
Happened to me twice on my car

Did you buy the car? Are you planning on keeping it more than 4 years? If you answered yes to these questions, you should really do a breain period oil change. And then do it again at 12,000ish kms. If you don't plan on keeping the car long, the $120 you spend in between "BMW paid" maintenance will benefit the next owner, not you.

I plan on keping my car for a while, so I am follownig the old maintenance schedules, before BMW's "free maintenance" was followed.

There are lots of reputable shops that can do the work for a little less $, and most will also recommend the old maintenance schedule.

[visor]

Originally Posted by m-technik

Be sure to keep us posted! I'd be curious (and probably a little pissed off) to hear if your results differ from mine.

So, I just got an email from my SA at BJBMW reminding me to go in for my 1 yr oil change. I told him that I was only at 9400km and he says no problem, just bring it in!

[Carbon4]

T&C does do annual oil changes. I just got mine done @ 17K (actually a few weeks before my annual anniversary).

I did try to bring it in at the 6 month period and was more than willing to pay out of my pocket, however service rep told me to save my money as a) the computer indicated there was tons of life left in the oil b) in his opinion is was really unnecessary.. and he left the decision up to me if I wanted to.

So I took their advice and waited until the 1 year mark. He seemed sincere enough about it.

After all the bad rap T&C has been getting, I haven't had a problem with them at all (so far)

[Inzane]

Originally Posted by visor

Not whether the once a year oil change is sufficient, but whether the dealership will even let you do it before the OBC says it is due.

"Let you" as in covering it under the free maintainance? Or let you at all?

I can't see how they wouldn't "let you" get the oil changed more often if you were willing to pay for it yourself. Are they going to try to void the warranty for changing your oil TOO OFTEN?

[lay624]

hmm.. seems as tho i'll let my car be a rotten lemon.. still didn't change the oil haha.. but its a lease ,wont buy it back for sure =P

[CHCCubs]

Originally Posted by Carbon4

T&C does do annual oil changes. I just got mine done @ 17K (actually a few weeks before my annual anniversary).

I did try to bring it in at the 6 month period and was more than willing to pay out of my pocket, however service rep told me to save my money as a) the computer indicated there was tons of life left in the oil b) in his opinion is was really unnecessary.. and he left the decision up to me if I wanted to.

So I took their advice and waited until the 1 year mark. He seemed sincere enough about it.

After all the bad rap T&C has been getting, I haven't had a problem with them at all (so far)

That's good to know and confirms what they told me about annual oil changes when I bought my car a few months ago.

[yooooooo]

Originally Posted by visor

So, I just got an email from my SA at BJBMW reminding me to go in for my 1 yr oil change. I told him that I was only at 9400km and he says no problem, just bring it in!

awesome. i'll be going to BJ for oil changes then. i will probably be less than 10k km / yr

[Me_Hi]

Wow...there will be lots of crappy used BMW's out there with oil changes every 20 000 k's on them. I guess the strategy of automakers of selling cars with included maintenance every year that will make cars run only for 10 years is working. With "lifetime" automatic transmission oil I guess they can't go more than that even if you do change your engine oil when you should. BMW like others are in the business in making $. With today’s advanced technology, if you will do the maintenance the old school way, cars will last 15 or 20 years. That’s not good for business. So that’s why they tell you no need to change your oil, so you can come back and buy a new car. Look in the parking lot of Mr. Transmission; some are 5 years old cars, just when this “included maintenance” were adopted by most carmakers. This is like brushing your own teeth only once a week. If they can convince you that it's ok, everyone will do it. After 20 years we'll still have perfect teeth, (fake but perfect)

[perfectg]

Originally Posted by visor

So, I just got an email from my SA at BJBMW reminding me to go in for my 1 yr oil change. I told him that I was only at 9400km and he says no problem, just bring it in!

awesome, I should be expecting an email soon too then. It'll be a year in 28 days and I just hit 7500 kms.

[que2k]

Originally Posted by perfectg

awesome, I should be expecting an email soon too then. It'll be a year in 28 days and I just hit 7500 kms.

I got a letter from my sales guy about 1 month before the year was up.

Had 7800km's on the car, he said doesnt matter about what the CPU says its due for scheduled maintenance and its all covered.

[2kaccordocoupe]

Originally Posted by visor

Not whether the once a year oil change is sufficient, but whether the dealership will even let you do it before the OBC says it is due.

My dealer said once a year is cool regardless of what the CBS says... My moms X5 is the same deal, she only puts 12 to 14k a year and also gets the oil changed yearly no questions asked.