[bulldog_yyc]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Funny how Richwm has the most mileage on his car out of anyone on this forum. He's probably near 120,000 by now. I'm at 90,000 with oil changes about every 17,000 miles.

awesome! have a beer

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by turkish335

and your point is? the article mentions the ECU just uses fuel consumption as a proxy for increasing or decreasing the CBS countdown to the next oil change from the base value of 25,000km. While practical, its hardly an accurate indicator of the state of the oil in your engine.

Second, its for the N52 engine. The N54 may use different proxies to make the adjustment. Further, a turbo engine puts way more stress on oil than an equivalent NA engine. If you're tuned, its even more significant.

But hey, its your car, feel free to cheap out.

??

I was just letting you know how they do it. I change my Oil every 5-7k miles depending on how I drive, so im not trying to cheap out. I have 115,00 miles on my car I will be surprised if your car makes it to 100k. Oh and BTW I still have my original fuel pump can you say that now or at 100k.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by turkish335

awesome! have a beer

I Plan to, right after I change the oil this weekend.

[bulldog_yyc]

Originally Posted by Richwm

??

I was just letting you know how they do it. I change my Oil every 5-7k miles depending on how I drive, so im not trying to cheap out. I have 115,00 miles on my car I will be surprised if your car makes it to 100k. Oh and BTW I still have my original fuel pump can you say that now or at 100k.

why would you be surprised if my car makes it to 100k? Is it because I change the oil every 5000 with Motul?

LOL, you get first place for your high miles and original fuel pump. You may as well brag about it here as most people trade their car in for a new one once they are that high in miles, but you can continue to enjoy your "worn in" ride.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by turkish335

why would you be surprised if my car makes it to 100k? Is it because I change the oil every 5000 with Motul?

LOL, you get first place for your high miles and original fuel pump. You may as well brag about it here as most people trade their car in for a new one once they are that high in miles, but you can continue to enjoy your "worn in" ride.

Will you be surprised when mine does?

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by turkish335

why would you be surprised if my car makes it to 100k? Is it because I change the oil every 5000 with Motul?

LOL, you get first place for your high miles and original fuel pump. You may as well brag about it here as most people trade their car in for a new one once they are that high in miles, but you can continue to enjoy your "worn in" ride.

I drive 140 miles round trip a day for work and I need a reliable car. When they finaly get a HPFP that wont fail ill buy a 335 but for now ill stick to my -50 HP 330i that still is running fine and after my upgrades, handles better than when I bought it.

[Samuel L Jackson]

I also think that what kind of driving and where you live plays a role on "how long" the oil lasts. If you do a lot of stop & go, short trips, and live in a place with harsher climate, then I don't think your oil will last as long as somebody who does a lot of freeway driving in more moderate climates.

[Nick@aep]

Originally Posted by Samuel L Jackson

I also think that what kind of driving and where you live plays a role on "how long" the oil lasts. If you do a lot of stop & go, short trips, and live in a place with harsher climate, then I don't think your oil will last as long as somebody who does a lot of freeway driving in more moderate climates.

OT-

But your username is awesome. That is all.

[Samuel L Jackson]

^Thanks. That's actually what a lot of my friends call me.

[Costa]

Well I was dumb enough to listen to BMW and only change my oil when advised by the car (instrument cluster warning lamp) - at 25,000 kms.

Some history first:
- My car has been "burning" oil from day one every 5000 - 7000 kms, it has needed a 1 litre top-up - when the oil light has come on, I have gone in to get it topped up as per SA advice.
- My average daily mileage is about 50-60 kms

About a month ago, I got a red light that my oil was low again - usual crap. I didn;t have time to take it in for a top up so waited a few days. On my way to work a few days later my car started to idle erratically, to the point where it stalled at the traffic lights. I managed to drive the car to the $tealership - only just (stalled about 4 times, had to have foot on the accelerator at the traffic lights to keep the engine running).

When they opened up the engine they found "gunk" everywhere (like the picture earlier in this thread). It ended up costing me $850 for a complete engine flush and oil service.

It is now three weeks later and (I keep a closer eye on the oil level) I am noticing that the oil level is down a few notches. What now? Is my engine f***ed ?

Man am I regretting not changing the oil every 10,000 kms like I have done with every other car I have owned. I am so pissed with BMW - I fell for their BS.

I fully agree with the opinion that BMW has lengthened the period between oil services as a marketing ploy - they combine free servicing in the first 2 years (warranty period), knowing that most commuters like me will only do just enough mileage to have one service in that period. What a scam. BMW does not care about the longevity of our cars - if anything it is in their interest for you to replace it as soon as possible (IMHO).

NOT HAPPY!

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Costa

Well I was dumb enough to listen to BMW and only change my oil when advised by the car (instrument cluster warning lamp) - at 25,000 kms.

Some history first:
- My car has been "burning" oil from day one every 5000 - 7000 kms, it has needed a 1 litre top-up - when the oil light has come on, I have gone in to get it topped up as per SA advice.
- My average daily mileage is about 50-60 kms

About a month ago, I got a red light that my oil was low again - usual crap. I didn;t have time to take it in for a top up so waited a few days. On my way to work a few days later my car started to idle erratically, to the point where it stalled at the traffic lights. I managed to drive the car to the $tealership - only just (stalled about 4 times, had to have foot on the accelerator at the traffic lights to keep the engine running).

When they opened up the engine they found "gunk" everywhere (like the picture earlier in this thread). It ended up costing me $850 for a complete engine flush and oil service.

It is now three weeks later and (I keep a closer eye on the oil level) I am noticing that the oil level is down a few notches. What now? Is my engine f***ed ?

Man am I regretting not changing the oil every 10,000 kms like I have done with every other car I have owned. I am so pissed with BMW - I fell for their BS.

I fully agree with the opinion that BMW has lengthened the period between oil services as a marketing ploy - they combine free servicing in the first 2 years (warranty period), knowing that most commuters like me will only do just enough mileage to have one service in that period. What a scam. BMW does not care about the longevity of our cars - if anything it is in their interest for you to replace it as soon as possible (IMHO).

NOT HAPPY!

You didn't say how many km's you have on your car but I suspect you have a problem with your car that's not related to extended oil changes.

[memento]

costa - your car has been burning oil from day 1. that doesn't sound like an oil change interval issue.

[Dvdman]

Do you guys take all your tunes or intakes off when you get a oil change?

[ENINTY]

Three pics of my engine from last weekend's oil change at 90K miles. I've change my engine oil at the recommended intervals, about every 17.5K. Clean as a whistle.

[Perfectus]

Huge pics! But I agree with the cleanliness statement.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Perfectus

Huge pics! But I agree with the cleanliness statement.

I guess I should have gone down to 2 or even 1 Meg. Anyway, just trying to put some real data out to back up my earlier posts.

[nicknaz]

I tracked down a copy of the maintenance schedule document written by Mike Miller. I completely agree with the last section of the doc (pasted below). If you aren't trying to join the 200,000+ mile club then changing the lubricants more frequently won't benefit you

It has to be recognized that the benefits of good drivetrain lubricant maintenance do not accrue until the car matures. The difference between the car that ran 15,000-mile oil change intervals and never had it's gearbox or differential oil changed (as per BMW instructions) and the one that ran high-end synthetic lubricants and had it's driveline maintained in contravention of BMW's instructions, is the strong likelihood that the second car will be running strong at 200,000 miles whereas the first car will likely have a worn out drivetrain. BMWs, and most modern cars, will run 100,000 miles just fine with zero maintenance.

So, if you're maintaining the car religiously only to sell it at 75,000 miles then you're a good guy for helping out subsequent owners. That's nice, but to realize the fruits of your diligence, you need to keep the car for the long haul.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

I tracked down a copy of the maintenance schedule document written by Mike Miller. I completely agree with the last section of the doc (pasted below). If you aren't trying to join the 200,000+ mile club then changing the lubricants more frequently won't benefit you

With all due respect to Mike Miller, it takes a long time to accumulate 200,000 miles on a car. I know, I’ve driven two of mine to 250,000. I have a 1989 E30 that we bought new in November 1988 and I followed the maintenance schedule recommended by BMW. 10,000 - 12,000 oil changes, trans and diff oil changes at 30,000 miles, coolant changes every two years, brake fluid changes every year. Valve adjustments every 30K. The car (I still have it) is now at 293,000 (about 40K of that was accumulated by my neighbor when I sold it to him in 2006). The diff started making noises and the clutches would shutter at about 240,000 miles (I used redline diff oil), the trans seems okay, but it is worn. The cylinder head cracked (why my neighbor sold it back to me and he let some kid drive it through a cow fence, which trashed the body).

Even at the miles I drive now on my E90, about 38K a year, I'll have it for 7 years; I'm planning to go 250,000 miles on it. 99% of people like to get a new car way before 200,000 miles. At the average of 12,000 miles a year most people barely get over 120,000 miles on their car after 10 years when they want something new anyway. Even my E30, after driving it for 250,000 got a bit long in the tooth for me; I was a bit bored with it. Cars get better with each new generation.

If you changed the fluids every 7,000 miles, engine, diff, trans, in your E90 it might go 500,000 miles. But what's the point; if you don’t own it after 120,000 miles why do you care if the following owners drive it to 500,000 miles? Any regular car (BMW 3-Series) with 200,000 - 250,000 miles is not worth much regardless of the maintenance schedule it was subject to. The difference between an over-maintained and a regular-maintained car is probably $1,500 at $200,000+ miles. The cost of the extra maintenance and the ability to prove the extra maintenance will extend the longevity of the used car (official service records) is most likely more than $1,500 dollars.

[Richwm]

I guess we will have to look back at this post in three years and see how are cars did with me doing my oil changes at 7500 and you doing them at 15k. I also plan on going at least 250k on this car. BTW I am also doing about 36-40k a year.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Richwm

I guess we will have to look back at this post in three years and see how are cars did with me doing my oil changes at 7500 and you doing them at 15k. I also plan on going at least 250k on this car. BTW I am also doing about 36-40k a year.

I should hit 250K about January 2014. Maybe we should go to BMW when the time comes and have the engines evaluated. My car actually used less oil this last interval than the previous one. I usually loose about a quart over 17,000 miles. This time my low oil level did not trigger. It usually triggers about 250 miles before the oil service indicator comes on.

[Samuel L Jackson]

Do you guys do mostly freeway or stop-and-go driving?

[jdsboston]

I am quite interested in the brand of oil and weight you guys hauling 20K+ miles/ year are using? What have you guys chosen after all those miles and changes ENINTY and Richwm? Cheers. Oh and sorry if you already mentioned this earlier - If so I just missed it.

/Josh