First oil change

hotsand5 · 01-30-2006, 12:06 PM

I'm getting close to 1,500 miles and am starting to get worried about when I should get my first oil change. I talked to the dealer, and the service manager said not to worry about it, the car will tell me when to change the oil. I have always changed the oil for the first time on my new cars within the first 1k or 1500 miles, then 3k from then on. He said that if it would make me feel better, then just get one at around 5,000 miles, but I have to pay for it. They don't reset the oil meter, so that you can still get a free oil change when the car says so (could be every 7,500 to 10,000 miles!). I am posting a poll just to get an ideal what you guys think about this, and at how many miles you changed your oil for the first time.

vladinecko · 01-30-2006, 12:10 PM

your car uses synthetic oil which [is said] doesn't need to be changed until first 15,000 miles. if you want it done before 15k miles, you'll be charged.

some people like to change it right after their break-in period (1200 m) because, supposedly, lots of junk comes out that would be circulating in the oil otherwise (loose metal, dirt, crap that falls off, etc).

ksfrogman · 01-30-2006, 12:22 PM

Yep, synthetic oil does better than crude at maintaining its grade and viscosity, but it will still get dirty from particulate matter that gets past the air filter, and from any microscopic grinding of moving parts it comes into contact with. I'm buying, not leasing, and intend to keep my car for a long time. I'll probably change the oil at 3000 miles myself. A small sacrifice of time and elbow grease and a measly $50 on a near $50K car.

Ghunger · 01-30-2006, 12:25 PM

I've heard a lot of people comment that the engine opens up a bit after about 3k miles or so. I figure that would probably be a good time to do an initial oil change. Then I'll leave it to the regular oil change schedule.

epiphone3 · 01-30-2006, 12:35 PM

I am planning on changing mine immediately after Break-in is done (2000km = 1200 miles).

Synthetic oil is great... however, I do believe that there are things that gather up in the oil throughout the wear-in that are good to get rid of.

After the wear-in, I am planning on changing my oil regularily half-way between BMW scheduled services (i.e. BMW sched says every 25,000 kms and I will be doing every 12,500 kms)

I am also purchasing my car and plan on hanging on to it.

There is lots of speculation with respect to what oil does and doesn't do and how long you should wait. THERE IS ONE THING THAT IS FOR SURE: AN ENGINE HAS NEVER SUFFERED FROM RUNNING IN GOOD, CLEAN OIL. That is not speculation.

noflash · 01-30-2006, 12:43 PM

If you are going to change your oil at 1200, you may as well change the transmssion fluid and differential fluid as well. Same argument goes for those components as well.

HRC · 01-30-2006, 01:40 PM

I dumped my oil at 1301 miles. I've always changed around 1K or so.

Danny

epiphone3 · 01-30-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noflash

If you are going to change your oil at 1200, you may as well change the transmssion fluid and differential fluid as well. Same argument goes for those components as well.

I have actually heard that the differential in the E90 is some sort of low-friction type that should never have its fluid changed... E90Fleet mentioned this before, I believe?

noflash · 01-30-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epiphone3

I have actually heard that the differential in the E90 is some sort of low-friction type that should never have its fluid changed... E90Fleet mentioned this before, I believe?

I hate to start this up again, but BMW "Lifetime" fills are not universally accepted. BMW has also admitted that "Lifetime" means 100,000 miles.

Go ask you local independent foreign motor shop about "Lifetime" fluids.

Also, "Lifetime" fluids did not appear until Free Scheduled Maintenance did.

For further rants both pro and con -- search!

ben1364 · 01-30-2006, 05:05 PM

From the looks of this poll to date, I don't see myself recommending an 'off lease' E 90 to a friend! Yikes!

epiphone3 · 01-31-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noflash

I hate to start this up again, but BMW "Lifetime" fills are not universally accepted. BMW has also admitted that "Lifetime" means 100,000 miles.

Go ask you local independent foreign motor shop about "Lifetime" fluids.

Also, "Lifetime" fluids did not appear until Free Scheduled Maintenance did.

For further rants both pro and con -- search!

I realize the definition of "Lifetime" fills. That is why I will most likely do the manual transmission oil change at the same time as my post-break-in engine oil change.

My question is with regards to the differential oil only... I saw a post from E90Fleet a month and a half ago or so where he indicated that it was in fact bad for this new differential to ever completely drain its fluid.

E90Fleet... care to chime in?

SCA · 01-31-2006, 09:15 AM

I'm doing mine @ 1500. BMW used to do this across the line back in the day (1250 miles). Today only M cars get this treatment.

Someone here had their oil analyzed after a DIY oil change and there were quite a bit of mental shavings in the oil.

DEAN325i · 01-31-2006, 10:13 AM

had my car since early July, and havent changed the oil yet. got 10,500 miles. im gonna wait till it tells me to do it.

noflash · 01-31-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCA

I'm doing mine @ 1500. BMW used to do this across the line back in the day (1250 miles). Today only M cars get this treatment.

Someone here had their oil analyzed after a DIY oil change and there were quite a bit of mental shavings in the oil.

hotsand5 · 02-04-2006, 11:10 AM

.

sdorn · 02-20-2006, 07:08 AM

For you guys that change your own oil, where do you get the oil from? Does anyone use Mobil 1? I have heard that the BMW oil is actually only a partial synthetic rather than a full synthetic. What weight should you get?

What about the filter? Do you change the filter, or just wait for the free BMW service to do that?

View Poll Results: At how many miles did you change your oil for the first time?
<1,500 miles	11	14.10%
1,500-3,000 miles	7	8.97%
3,000-5000 miles	15	19.23%
5,000-7,500	11	14.10%
7,500+	6	7.69%
When the computer told me to	28	35.90%
Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll

01-30-2006, 12:06 PM	#1
hotsand5 hotsand5 49 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i 6spd Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	First oil change I'm getting close to 1,500 miles and am starting to get worried about when I should get my first oil change. I talked to the dealer, and the service manager said not to worry about it, the car will tell me when to change the oil. I have always changed the oil for the first time on my new cars within the first 1k or 1500 miles, then 3k from then on. He said that if it would make me feel better, then just get one at around 5,000 miles, but I have to pay for it. They don't reset the oil meter, so that you can still get a free oil change when the car says so (could be every 7,500 to 10,000 miles!). I am posting a poll just to get an ideal what you guys think about this, and at how many miles you changed your oil for the first time. __________________ -2006 BMW 330i-Sapphire Black- Tera Leather-Aluminum trim- 6spd manual- Sport- Premium- Cold- Navigation- Euro. delivery -2005 Yamaha Warrior 1700 102cu"
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01-30-2006, 12:10 PM	#2
vladinecko Brigadier General 277 Rep 3,924 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [0.00] 1994 BMW 325i [0.00]	your car uses synthetic oil which [is said] doesn't need to be changed until first 15,000 miles. if you want it done before 15k miles, you'll be charged. some people like to change it right after their break-in period (1200 m) because, supposedly, lots of junk comes out that would be circulating in the oil otherwise (loose metal, dirt, crap that falls off, etc). __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - IB/Beige/Sycamore Wood/6MT/EDC/ZPP2/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/iPod-USB/Enh. Audio 2008 E92 335i - Montego Blue/Black/Gray Poplar/6MT/ZPP/ZSP/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/HDRadio/iPod-USB - *Sold* 2006 E90 330i - Mystic Blue/Black/Aluminum/6MT/ZPP/iDrive/PDC/Heated Seats/Sat. Prep - *Sold* 1994 E36 325i - Boston Green/Beige/Automatic/ZPP/Heated Seats/Premium Sound - *Sold*
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01-30-2006, 12:22 PM	#3
ksfrogman Major General 570 Rep 6,750 Posts Drives: E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Yep, synthetic oil does better than crude at maintaining its grade and viscosity, but it will still get dirty from particulate matter that gets past the air filter, and from any microscopic grinding of moving parts it comes into contact with. I'm buying, not leasing, and intend to keep my car for a long time. I'll probably change the oil at 3000 miles myself. A small sacrifice of time and elbow grease and a measly $50 on a near $50K car. __________________
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01-30-2006, 12:25 PM	#4
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I've heard a lot of people comment that the engine opens up a bit after about 3k miles or so. I figure that would probably be a good time to do an initial oil change. Then I'll leave it to the regular oil change schedule. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
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01-30-2006, 12:35 PM	#5
epiphone3 Lieutenant Colonel 111 Rep 1,772 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	I am planning on changing mine immediately after Break-in is done (2000km = 1200 miles). Synthetic oil is great... however, I do believe that there are things that gather up in the oil throughout the wear-in that are good to get rid of. After the wear-in, I am planning on changing my oil regularily half-way between BMW scheduled services (i.e. BMW sched says every 25,000 kms and I will be doing every 12,500 kms) I am also purchasing my car and plan on hanging on to it. There is lots of speculation with respect to what oil does and doesn't do and how long you should wait. THERE IS ONE THING THAT IS FOR SURE: AN ENGINE HAS NEVER SUFFERED FROM RUNNING IN GOOD, CLEAN OIL. That is not speculation.
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01-30-2006, 12:43 PM	#6
noflash Captain Caveman 148 Rep 1,715 Posts Drives: '06 325eyeyiyi Join Date: May 2005 Location: midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	If you are going to change your oil at 1200, you may as well change the transmssion fluid and differential fluid as well. Same argument goes for those components as well. __________________ E90 325i Monaco Blue, Black Leatherette, Sport, Cold Weather, Xenon, Sat Prep, 18" BBS RGR Mods: Polorized Film for Business CD, added lumbar, rock chip on hood
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01-30-2006, 01:40 PM	#7
HRC MAUI BUILT 485 Rep 7,781 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NORCAL iTrader: (10) Garage List 2002 E46 325i [0.00] 2012 E70 35i [0.00]	I dumped my oil at 1301 miles. I've always changed around 1K or so. Danny __________________ Arctic/Blk Leather/Alum.Trim/MT/ZSP/Sunshades/Blk Lines/M3 Illuminated Knob/Alcantara Performance Wheel/M-E-Brake Handle/Euro Fog Switch/Koni Yellows/H&R Sport Springs/19" VMR V718's w/PS2 Tires/M-Tech Body Kit/Carbon Fiber Spoiler/Bimmian Interior Bulbs/OEM Eye Glass Tray/SSK/Alcantara Boot/Split Armrest/OEM Dual Rear Power Outlets/Rear Ashtray Delete/OEM Alum. Pedals/Osram 6000K/Brex Rings/LED Side Markers/BMS Power Box
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01-30-2006, 05:05 PM	#10
ben1364 Captain 14 Rep 940 Posts Drives: E90 330iA Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX iTrader: (0)	From the looks of this poll to date, I don't see myself recommending an 'off lease' E 90 to a friend! Yikes!
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01-31-2006, 09:15 AM	#12
SCA Brigadier General 565 Rep 3,742 Posts Drives: Multiple BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 🇺🇸 iTrader: (0)	I'm doing mine @ 1500. BMW used to do this across the line back in the day (1250 miles). Today only M cars get this treatment. Someone here had their oil analyzed after a DIY oil change and there were quite a bit of mental shavings in the oil.
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01-31-2006, 10:13 AM	#13
DEAN325i LTBMW 106 Rep 1,068 Posts Drives: 2008 AW e92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ladera Ranch, CA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	had my car since early July, and havent changed the oil yet. got 10,500 miles. im gonna wait till it tells me to do it. __________________ tuned by LTBMW
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02-04-2006, 11:10 AM	#15
hotsand5 hotsand5 49 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i 6spd Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	. __________________ -2006 BMW 330i-Sapphire Black- Tera Leather-Aluminum trim- 6spd manual- Sport- Premium- Cold- Navigation- Euro. delivery -2005 Yamaha Warrior 1700 102cu"
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02-20-2006, 07:08 AM	#16
sdorn Lieutenant 26 Rep 491 Posts Drives: 2006 Jet Black 325i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	For you guys that change your own oil, where do you get the oil from? Does anyone use Mobil 1? I have heard that the BMW oil is actually only a partial synthetic rather than a full synthetic. What weight should you get? What about the filter? Do you change the filter, or just wait for the free BMW service to do that? __________________ 2008 Sparkling Graphite 535i 2009 Land Rover LR2 2003 Porsche 911 Turbo (SOLD) 2006 Jet Black 325i (SOLD) 2001 Bullitt Mustang (450rwhp - SOLD)
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