[KevinC]

Originally Posted by droptop335

It amazes me how someone can have one or maybe even a few bad experiences with a company, and then make sweeping generalized statements about every location the company operates. Jiffy Lube has both company-owned AND franchised locations across the United States. Every owner or Manager has control over how his or her shop is operated. And yet, they're all "butcher shops", and shouldn't be allowed to touch your car.

That's absolutely correct. They're butchers and worse, CROOKS, right up to the corner office at corporate. Have you not seen the scandal that broke in LA? Upper-upper management knew damn well what was going on and condoned it.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

.... I have to cover 2 quarts on my own: $12 and then the dealer said the oil filter is different for synthetic oil so that was another $10 So it ended up to be $64. Still lower than most of the other dealers, but the coupon did not save much.

That crap about the filter being "different" for synthetic oil is an out-and-out lie. Call them on it, write the owner of the stealership (this is how that nickname stuck in the first place) and copy BMW USA. That's blatant fraud, pure and simple. Unbelievable. Maybe the asswipe owns a few Jiffy Screw franchises too.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Richwm

Well you go ahead and only do the free oil changes and come back here after 100k miles and whine about all the sludge in your motor causing pour performance and overheating.
If you are going to spend $40-$50K on a car you should take care of it. If your going to keep it for under 50K miles or you are leasing it don't worry about it, it will be the next persons problem. BTW I also have a 2001 E46 330i with 135K miles and it still runs as good as it did when I bought it and the oil was changed every 7500 miles. Oh and one more thing my Ford pickup gets the same oil as my BMW's Mobil-1 and at the same interval.

Rich

Well then you are extending the oil service interal for the F150 by 50%. My 1999 F150 calls for oil changes at 5,000 mile intervals. My 18 year old 325i that I sold last year to my neighbor is at now 270K+ miles with BMW recommended oil change intervals (12,000). No sludge in the motor.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by tadders

So each time I read about this I get more and more surprised by the attitudes. I know this is a much loved and debated topic and I should probably post this reply elsewhere, but I guess I gotta get it out and here it is.

Firstly, the service interval hasnt been set so BMW can save money on maintenance. Anyone that has been around these cars for any length of time would know that the service interval has been around the 10-15K mark for at least 10 years. BMW has only been 'including' maintenance for the last 3-4 that I know of.

Not only are these cars well engineered, which I think no-one disputes, but they are also rigoursly tested to ensure that they are capable of having a long life and thus where the maintenance schedule comes from. I appreciate there are problems, but most if not all are more likely production issues and could not be avoided by over zealous maintenance.

I moved from Europe a few years ago and the concept of a 3K mile 'service' amazed me - this does not happen in the UK where I am from. You take your car in either when it asks to be taken in or every year or every 10-15K miles. I still own a 99 Z3 in the UK, it has 15K miles on it. I bought it brand new, it has been to the dealership exactly when it asked to be. So far it has had 2 oil changes, 2 brake fliud changes and 4 new tires. Thats it! Since the car doesnt get used much now I spend most of my time out of the country, I took it into the local BMW dealer recently to get her checked out. Came back with a free car wash and vaccuum, nothing required. Bear in mind, if some are to be believed this is when they could have charged me for the incredibly bad way I have treated my car because I am 20 oil changes short.

I honestly believe that American car manufacturers/car oil companies have conditioned you all into believing that every engine needs this ridiculous schedule they have set forth for you. I have no doubt that the big engines that are predominent in many american cars may require it, maybe not even those anymore, but in the past. It still amazes me how BMW can get 215+HP out of a 2.5 liter engine, yet my wifes amercian SUV has a 4.6 V8 with 300BHP?

You have accepted that these guys can make a awesome car, why cant you accept that they know them better than you?

I apologize if I have offended anyone with this post, that was not my intention at all. I guess I have read about this stuff so many times something needed to come out.

Summary, I will be taking my car into the dealership for maintenance as it asks me to do so. No sooner, no later. I trust their schedules, plus my experience tells me this is OK. This will be 3 series number 4, BMW number 12.

I couldn't have said it better myself. 1989 E30 - 12,000 miles between changes - now at 270K+ miles. 1997 Z3 - 116,000 miles w/11K between changes. Both running perfect.

[742]

Originally Posted by droptop335

The exact same thing can be said about a dealership network...even more so as they are all corporate-owned rather than franchised...However, people here are touting one dealership over the other, and nobody is saying that all dealerships are not to be trusted. What's the difference?

Without a doubt there are sleazy, unscrupulous dealerships. The two key differences are that poor dealerships are relatively easy to identity and the basic business model for a healthy dealership calls for a long term relationship with its customers.

And in the end BMW does care about the service its dealerships provide and does try to quantify it.

I am picky about who works on my cars--to the point that it heavily influences my purchase decisions. It is not difficult to find reputable dealerships and independents. But how does one seek out a reputable quick lube operation?

To continue the restaurant analogy, I can find reviews of all the major restaurants in my area. Any health problems will be known very quickly. On the other hand with a fast food franchises all I have is the reputation of the name. And if 5% of McDonalds gave their customers food poisoning the entire chain would be out of business. McDonalds knows this and they manage their business accordingly.

[TRICKE90]

WTF? Changing the oil on an E90 is extremly easy and fun as well. If you change the oil yourself then you would'nt have to worry about going to Jiffy Lube or any of the others. Personally I have heard way to many horror stories to even consider going to one of these places where they pay some kid who doesn't give a rat's ass about your expensive BMW minimum wage to change your oil. I have to much invested in my car to let anybody but me change my oil.

[fragadellic]

Originally Posted by magmd

This is what BMW of San Diego charged me when I got the first oil change done at 10K miles.

Filter : $12.08
Synthetic oil: $4.05/quart x 7 ($34.65)
Labor $25.43
Waste fee: $1.43
Tax: $3.43

Total: $77.22 --- 45 minutes for oil change and free car wash

Hope this helps.

JESUS CHRIST your car is BSM and you let the dealership wash it?

Are you out of your friggin' mind? But I am sure your dealership hand washes it with two buckets, two sheepskin wash mitts, etc...I am sure you have nothing to worry about!!!

[E90330iS]

Cool info on buying the oil filter at bulk! Do the Oil Filters get "old" when stored over time? Or it is totally fine?

[Ander]

Reseached a Maserati for purchase recently. Dealer service averages $1,200 USD for basically oil, filter, and fluid change.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by Ander

Reseached a Maserati for purchase recently. Dealer service averages $1,200 USD for basically oil, filter, and fluid change.

Holy shiite.. does that "fluid change" include a hand job for the owner??

[jon@themshop]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

Cool info on buying the oil filter at bulk! Do the Oil Filters get "old" when stored over time? Or it is totally fine?

No it doesn't get old so it's fine.

[e90fanatic]

i bought my own oil from morristown bmw...bought like 3 changes worth of oil. I am due for my third oil change...the only problem is where to do it at? Anybody have any recommendation for NJ oil change places that are reliable?

[trick50]

Anyone know where I can buy the oil filters in bulk at a deep discount.

[e90fanatic]

anybody want oil filters? I bought 20 of them from Morristown BMW for $7 and now I got no use for it. Local pickups $5 each. Other locations, 15 for $80 shipped

[malter2.0]

I use Amsoil grade IV 100% synthetic 5w-40 in E36 M3. Oil is actually rated for 25k miles. I still change it every 7k because oil is completely black and you can tell that it doesn't flow well.

Even though new BMWs are scheduled for 15k oil change intervals, bear in mind that no oil filter is rated for that interval. You may not require an oil change, but you need to change an oil filter every 5k.

Of course it also depends what kind of driving you do. If you are mostly on highway you can easily extend oil and filter intervals. Extended idling, lots of starts, short trips etc...you need more frequent changes.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by BK

FWIW, it was $120 when I did it. Try an independent BMW shop, it'd probably be less than $90.

Remember, our cars take 7 QTs of oil. Just for the oil and the filter, you're looking at $50-60. You can also DIY.

You're absolutely correct. You're paying a few bucks an hr more for the dealer shop rate. In my area a indy was charging $95-100, and dealer was $120.

[Brandon26pdx]

The filter is the only major part where going to the dealer would be easiest or most convenient way to get it. I would use the OEM filter P/N at the parts desk...I dont think any better filters are on the market yet for the N52/54.

The dealership/OEM oil is re-badged Castol Softec 5W30. Unless they're giving you a good deal it's probably overpriced. Mobil 1 is also "approved" by BMWNA and can be had at far more reasonable prices through auto parts stores. Off the record there are better oil options out there that aren't "approved" by BMWNA, but I'm not going to get into that.

A reputable european shop should charge like $25-30 labor to do the change, so between $70-80 is what it should cost. If you can DIY thats awsome, but I realize this isnt feasible for everyone. (For me it's not)