[arts711]

So I called up a dealer nearby to schedule service for an oil change and rotation and they basically advised against bringing it in until the computer indicates it around 10k.

I'm seeing more and more cars rely on computers and sensors to determine when an oil change is needed. Now I may be just not used to the "new-school" way of doing things and used to change oil well before 10k so I'm asking if anyone on here has any proven numbers/facts, etc of whether 10k is really ok for the oil. Is changing it before hand just for peace of mind.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

[pikcachu]

i would do one in the middle around 5k and then get the 10k free....

you can always get your oil analysed like with blackstone labs the first 10k oil change and then make your own conclusions....it depends on how you drive too...

[DanG]

BMW does 10k or one year which ever comes first. I got a free change at 8k because my car was a December build and sat for three months waiting for the launch date.

[Killramos]

I had my oil changed in September at my cost as a precaution before winter. Now the service indicator says i shouldn't get it changed until September again. I will still be requesting my 1 year service be done in April.

Service inclusive is not "free" its included in the price of the car. It is not good will.

[skitsos]

Don't wait for that. When the car is brand new you should be doing the oil change much sooner. I did mine at 2500 miles at a BMW dealership. The only down side to doing it early is that they will charge you a fee for doing it early, because whenever you do it at the 10k scheduled time it is free under warrantee. I would recommend doing it earlier for a new car though because the engine is brand new which means more crap being piled up in the oil. I change mine twice a year once after summer, and the next time after winter is over. And I don't put many miles on my M235i, I just want to keep my engine running in the best condition possible for its life time. In my opinion spending the extra $$$ for early oil changes will be well worth it years down the road in preventing problems with your engine and other components. So I would go back to that shop/dealership and tell them to change the oil in your car. The first oil change needs to be done much sooner because of the issues I already stated.

[pikcachu]

Yes it's 1 year or whatever the CBS says which it will not let it go much over 12000 but it could tell you do it earlier too.....

I did one at about 2300... bought oil and filter and did it myself

[cbbplanet]

It also depends on how hard you drive your car. I have a hour commute to work everyday and my average mph is 20mph.. i think i just let my car slide on the freeway 90% of the time.

[kd0t]

If you were to do your own oil changes, does BMW care if you don't use OEM filter?

[zkeeper]

The debate always rages about this...but for me, it was in first 1000 miles just to get any swarf out of there. BUT whenever one does it, many builders just do not think it wise to go 10K---just because the dealer says it so...or you get it free. If you can afford the car, you can afford the extra oil change "at customer request." Just peace of mind for me anyway...others just don't care, and I don't want their car.

Re: filters? Not in any way being negative, but why would you consider anything but OEM on a new car under warranty? If there WAS some warranty work, why chance dealer saying, "well you put in a non BMW filter." Not worth it. Dealer has them for sale and they don't cost a whit more than any other. Just a thot to consider, if you are going to do a change at home or at a trusted indy shop between dealer scheduled changes.

[chaddy74]

Every 5K on a turbo car is best !!

Originally Posted by pikcachu

i would do one in the middle around 5k and then get the 10k free....

you can always get your oil analysed like with blackstone labs the first 10k oil change and then make your own conclusions....it depends on how you drive too...

[Liquidpaper]

I decided to do a 5k interval for my car -- I go to the track a lot, so it's for the best. I don't think the system in the car really measures the oil -- it just wants you to get it changed around 10000 miles. Could be wrong though.

If you just want to use BMW's free oil changes, you can go whenever -- it doesn't need to be 10k miles.

[skitsos]

Lol my car is not even on the 5k mark yet and I am about to get my second oil change in for my M235i. I don't even track the car (yet) because here in Iowa there aren't really places near by to do that fun stuff. like i said earlier i do it in the fall, before winter and then another time in spring, before summer time comes around. I just like keeping my car and engine in the best condition! Especially when most of my mods will be on the way very soon!

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

I decided to do a 5k interval for my car -- I go to the track a lot, so it's for the best. I don't think the system in the car really measures the oil -- it just wants you to get it changed around 10000 miles. Could be wrong though.

If you just want to use BMW's free oil changes, you can go whenever -- it doesn't need to be 10k miles.

dealers will usually only honor the oil change when the CBS says so....

which is millage based on how car is driving and other weather conditions or after 12 months from the last change, whichever occurs first

[chaddy74]

Dont actually agree here !! Each oil and filter change and in my case spark plug change at 20K is listed in the service memory on the dash. So in the future if a perspective buyer was to ask all service history is recored and recognised by BMW. I think 10K or a year in a high performance turbo engine is sort of silly. Again just my opinion from experience .

Originally Posted by pikcachu

dealers will usually only honor the oil change when the CBS says so....

which is millage based on how car is driving and other weather conditions or after 12 months from the last change, whichever occurs first

[pikcachu]

I'm just saying that in the US BMW will only do the oil change for free covered by the 4year 50miles program if the computer says it needs it.... whether you want to do oil changes on your own it's up to you....

[mike@tpc]

I see no reason to do it any more often than BMW says too. But, I won't be keeping my car past the warranty either. And before anyone says it, I bought my car for me, not for the next owner.

[allthatisntnow]

The way i see it, BMW doesn't want to have to honour warranty work, nor do they want cars breaking down just outside warranty (within a reasonable time and milage period - everything has a usable life) and prevent repeat custom. Im sure the engineering team that designs the engines will know their tolerances better than the owners (at least you'd hope) so don't see any reason to deviate from their recommended guidelines on oil changes. If it were 30 years ago, maybe regular changes would benefit, but materials, manufacturing processes and the oil itself have come a long way since then.

If you were running a tune, had uprated components and were stressing the engine more towards its limits, then it probably would warrant it. But stock should be fine.

You'd probably do more unnecessary wear and tear to your oil filler and drain plugs than good to the engine replacing the oil so frequently. As long as the car isn't burning oil and you don't redline it when cold, i fail to see the reason to change oil outside of service. But, each to their own and if it gives people peace of mind then thats all that matters.

[tccox]

Recently got message, service due so carried it in for free oil change at 7700 Miles.They reset the computer after doing the oil change and now it says next oil change due in 8000 miles. I thought that BMW Recommended 10,000 mile changes. Has the interval been reduced to 8000 ?

[allthatisntnow]

Originally Posted by tccox

Recently got message, service due so carried it in for free oil change at 7700 Miles.They reset the computer after doing the oil change and now it says next oil change due in 8000 miles. I thought that BMW Recommended 10,000 mile changes. Has the interval been reduced to 8000 ?

As far as I'm aware its condition based, so the computer dynamically changes the interval depending on how the user drives it. My service indicator is currently reading 11000 till next service. Currently have 6800 on the clock.

Edit: It also has a time parameter on it too if milage isn't reached by then.

[alz0rz]

Originally Posted by tccox

Recently got message, service due so carried it in for free oil change at 7700 Miles.They reset the computer after doing the oil change and now it says next oil change due in 8000 miles. I thought that BMW Recommended 10,000 mile changes. Has the interval been reduced to 8000 ?

Depends on how you drive it.

[AlexGT]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Yes it's 1 year or whatever the CBS says which it will not let it go much over 12000 but it could tell you do it earlier too.....

I did one at about 2300... bought oil and filter and did it myself

pikcachu , would you mind sharing with me what oil did you use? Thank you man

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by AlexGT

pikcachu , would you mind sharing with me what oil did you use? Thank you man

I just got the BMW oil and filter from the dealer....