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      07-24-2017, 11:50 PM   #1
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Oil Changes

I have a 2018 M2 on order, with delivery expected around mid-November, and I have some questions about maintenance, specifically oil changes.

I grew up in the UK, and have found some really big differences between cultures since I've lived in the US, and one of them appears to be regarding oil changes.

Back home in the UK, I never heard of anyone changing the oil in their cars outside of the recommended maintenance, and most cars have had a maintenance minder that somehow indicates when it's required.

In my early days of driving, maintenance schedules were much shorter, but as soon as synthetic oil became mainstream, car companies increased the maintenance periods to follow suit.

The last cars I had in the UK were a 2003 Honda S2000 (2.0 4-cyl), and a 1999 Peugeot 406 Coupé (2.9 V6). The 406 Coupé had a two year / 20,000mile oil change interval, the S2000 on the other hand, which has a much more highly strung engine, had a one year / 7,500mile oil change interval.

For the S2000, I bought my own oil, because Honda dealers weren't used to dealing with S2000s, and I felt that the standard oil might not be suitable, but I did stick to the intervals.

I now have a 2012 Jaguar XF (5.0 V8), and I'd says its engine is somewhere in between the Peugeot and Honda in terms of tune. Its oil change interval is one year / 15,000mile.

The M2 is a higher state of tune than the Jaguar, and I understand its oil change interval is one year / 10,000mile, which seems reasonable to me.

Having said that, in the US, I hear of people changing oil as often as every 5,000miles, and there are plenty of small garages which specialise in only 'oil change for $50'. My question is... who goes to those places?

My wife has a 2016 Honda Pilot, which we've owned since new, and the local Honda dealer often sends me promotional emails offering reduced cost oil changes. Again, the car tells me when I need the oil change... why is the dealer offering this kind of service, and who does this?

I only do about 7,500 miles / year, so I doubt I'm going to run into the milage requirement for oil changes in the M2, but I'm starting to wonder if I need to change the oil twice / year, or at 5,000 miles?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
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      07-25-2017, 01:16 AM   #2
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BMW recommend a 2-year/25,000km change for Australian M2s. They also specify an annual Vehicle Inspection so I will have the oil changed once a year at that point.
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      07-25-2017, 01:30 AM   #3
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If you are keeping the car for 10years +, then it may be worth doing intermediate changes but this is entirely dependent on many factors, how often you drive, how hard you drive, start stop driving, what the environmental conditions are like etc etc.

I read an article, I think it was castrol, where they carried out some real world testing on their oil, they left the oil in an engine for 1 year and 15000 mile, then they when removed oil and stripped the engine. They found that the tolerances were factory spec and oil quality was also.

I will personally stick to the interval BMW set as I believe they know more than me on this subject and the last thing they want is engine failures or blown turbos, it's bad press and would cause them a fortune.

If you track the car or drive really hard then it could be worth it but again the car would advance your oil change based on your driving conditions.

Save your money
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      07-25-2017, 01:59 AM   #4
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2018 BMW M2  [9.50]
Google "direct injection fuel oil dilution" and that's why you want to change early.

Just one of many examples:
http://www.lubricants.total.com/news...d-effects.html
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      07-25-2017, 07:48 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZPrime View Post
Google "direct injection fuel oil dilution" and that's why you want to change early.

Just one of many examples:
http://www.lubricants.total.com/news...d-effects.html
It's the oil company's that sell the oil to BMW with the guarantee that the oil will meet the specifications listed by BMW for the set maintenance duration. There are thousands of direct injection cars still on the roads some with 250000 miles plus and I bet over 50% of these cars stuck to the planned oil change frequency until it was out of warranty and these cars are still going.

I really think that you will save money and have no issues if you stick to what BMW are telling and guaranteeing you for. But it's everyone's personal preference and it's always good to read articles like the one you listed.
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      07-25-2017, 08:35 AM   #6
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Alternative BMW Maintenance Schedule (oil and filter excerpts)
Enhanced Maintenance Schedule by Mike Miller of Bimmer and Roundel magazines

Once BMW began paying for scheduled maintenance, lo and behold the “schedule” was revised. Now, magically, the cars hardly need any maintenance at all! The 1,200-mile break-in service was done away with except for M cars. Engine oil suddenly lasts 15,000 miles (dealers are supposed to use BMW synthetic oil).

This is an alternative to BMW’s factory-recommended maintenance schedule. It is not, “Mike Miller’s maintenance schedule.” It is actually BMW’s maintenance schedule, more or less, which was used prior to Free Scheduled Maintenance. It also represents my opinion, based upon my experience and that of my readers, tech advisors, and professional BMW technicians both dealer and independent.

Traditionally, BMW performed a break-in service at 1,200 miles on new cars, which included changing the engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil or automatic transmission fluid, and differential oil. With the advent of Free Scheduled Maintenance, BMW stopped performing break-in services except on M cars.

I have seen that the engine and driveline oils in new modern BMWs are literally full of metal at 1,200 miles – as has always been the case with any new car. For this reason, I recommend a 1,200-mile break-in service.

Oil and Filter Intervals BMW recommends their Castrol 5W-30 synthetic motor oil in all BMWs except contemporary M cars, for which they recommend their Castrol 10W-60 synthetic motor oil. The factory oil change interval is controlled electronically, but is presently about every 15,000 miles. If you are running BMW’s oil, I recommend an oil and filter change interval between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

---

Although I've followed the computer for my past three 3-series and used premium fuel, I've decided to change the oil and filter in my M2 every 5,000 miles and only use Shell V-Power fuel even though it's not tracked and only used locally on nice days (garaged for the three winter months).

When I took it in recently for an oil and filter change at 5,000 miles, it turned out to be free since it was within 3 months of the computer scheduled September recommendation.

If you can afford it, I'd say go for more frequent service intervals. It can't hurt and the records will help if/when you sell the car.
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      07-25-2017, 09:40 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RAM_E90_F87 View Post
Alternative BMW Maintenance Schedule (oil and filter excerpts)
Enhanced Maintenance Schedule by Mike Miller of Bimmer and Roundel magazines

Once BMW began paying for scheduled maintenance, lo and behold the “schedule” was revised. Now, magically, the cars hardly need any maintenance at all! The 1,200-mile break-in service was done away with except for M cars. Engine oil suddenly lasts 15,000 miles (dealers are supposed to use BMW synthetic oil).

This is an alternative to BMW’s factory-recommended maintenance schedule. It is not, “Mike Miller’s maintenance schedule.” It is actually BMW’s maintenance schedule, more or less, which was used prior to Free Scheduled Maintenance. It also represents my opinion, based upon my experience and that of my readers, tech advisors, and professional BMW technicians both dealer and independent.

Traditionally, BMW performed a break-in service at 1,200 miles on new cars, which included changing the engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil or automatic transmission fluid, and differential oil. With the advent of Free Scheduled Maintenance, BMW stopped performing break-in services except on M cars.

I have seen that the engine and driveline oils in new modern BMWs are literally full of metal at 1,200 miles – as has always been the case with any new car. For this reason, I recommend a 1,200-mile break-in service.

Oil and Filter Intervals BMW recommends their Castrol 5W-30 synthetic motor oil in all BMWs except contemporary M cars, for which they recommend their Castrol 10W-60 synthetic motor oil. The factory oil change interval is controlled electronically, but is presently about every 15,000 miles. If you are running BMW’s oil, I recommend an oil and filter change interval between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

---

Although I've followed the computer for my past three 3-series and used premium fuel, I've decided to change the oil and filter in my M2 every 5,000 miles and only use Shell V-Power fuel even though it's not tracked and only used locally on nice days (garaged for the three winter months).

When I took it in recently for an oil and filter change at 5,000 miles, it turned out to be free since it was within 3 months of the computer scheduled September recommendation.

If you can afford it, I'd say go for more frequent service intervals. It can't hurt and the records will help if/when you sell the car.
Good write up and I agree, if you have the money do it for piece of mind. But, if you don't do it I think it would be fine, that's just my opinion.

One thing to note, BMW have now changed from Castor to Shell Oil and I was quoted Ł360 for oil and filter change, the oil alone is Ł160.
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      07-25-2017, 11:06 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nezil View Post
I have a 2018 M2 on order, with delivery expected around mid-November, and I have some questions about maintenance, specifically oil changes.

I grew up in the UK, and have found some really big differences between cultures since I've lived in the US, and one of them appears to be regarding oil changes.

Back home in the UK, I never heard of anyone changing the oil in their cars outside of the recommended maintenance, and most cars have had a maintenance minder that somehow indicates when it's required.

In my early days of driving, maintenance schedules were much shorter, but as soon as synthetic oil became mainstream, car companies increased the maintenance periods to follow suit.

The last cars I had in the UK were a 2003 Honda S2000 (2.0 4-cyl), and a 1999 Peugeot 406 Coupé (2.9 V6). The 406 Coupé had a two year / 20,000mile oil change interval, the S2000 on the other hand, which has a much more highly strung engine, had a one year / 7,500mile oil change interval.

For the S2000, I bought my own oil, because Honda dealers weren't used to dealing with S2000s, and I felt that the standard oil might not be suitable, but I did stick to the intervals.

I now have a 2012 Jaguar XF (5.0 V8), and I'd says its engine is somewhere in between the Peugeot and Honda in terms of tune. Its oil change interval is one year / 15,000mile.

The M2 is a higher state of tune than the Jaguar, and I understand its oil change interval is one year / 10,000mile, which seems reasonable to me.

Having said that, in the US, I hear of people changing oil as often as every 5,000miles, and there are plenty of small garages which specialise in only 'oil change for $50'. My question is... who goes to those places?

My wife has a 2016 Honda Pilot, which we've owned since new, and the local Honda dealer often sends me promotional emails offering reduced cost oil changes. Again, the car tells me when I need the oil change... why is the dealer offering this kind of service, and who does this?

I only do about 7,500 miles / year, so I doubt I'm going to run into the milage requirement for oil changes in the M2, but I'm starting to wonder if I need to change the oil twice / year, or at 5,000 miles?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
This is related to oil quality. I've heard some interesting facts about the recommended 0w oils BMW is now using. They shear QUICK with heat. I think one of the best preventative maintenance items we can change on this car is oil. Switching to an ester based 5w-30(preferably not euro rated) is a huge step. The new oils were designed around emissions, not all out performance.

I say euro rated doesn't matter but it depends on the manufacture. Some with actually step up quality in order to meet those guidelines, while some great companies may have pull back from their ideal mixture. I don't think a(Euro rated) oil means better any longer. These ratings can also be focused towards emissions. Any oil made from a super high ester based stock is going to be superior. Some products that come to mind are the standard Redline 5w-30 and Motul 300v. As far as weight, Redline recommends the 5w-30 for best wear, flow and heat protection. The 0w-30 is great for LOW temp climates. My oil temps actually dropped 5-10 degrees when the engine is heat soaked at cruise.

If you want to stick with the BMW 0w I would change every 3-5k depending on your driving style and climate. Im guessing you could push a ester 5w much further.

And absolutely do not throw a 10w in there haha.
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      07-25-2017, 03:58 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kiysersosae View Post
If you are keeping the car for 10years +, then it may be worth doing intermediate changes but this is entirely dependent on many factors, how often you drive, how hard you drive, start stop driving, what the environmental conditions are like etc etc.

I read an article, I think it was castrol, where they carried out some real world testing on their oil, they left the oil in an engine for 1 year and 15000 mile, then they when removed oil and stripped the engine. They found that the tolerances were factory spec and oil quality was also.

I will personally stick to the interval BMW set as I believe they know more than me on this subject and the last thing they want is engine failures or blown turbos, it's bad press and would cause them a fortune.

If you track the car or drive really hard then it could be worth it but again the car would advance your oil change based on your driving conditions.

Save your money
BMW doesn't want engine failure.... within the warranty period...
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      07-25-2017, 11:10 PM   #10
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Thanks very much for all of the feedback, but this does raise another few questions...

1. If I choose to use for example Redline 5w40, will this void the warranty?
2. Can I ask the dealer to use my oil rather than his?
3. If you're changing oil more regularly than the service reminder tells you, are you also changing the filter at the same time?
4. I've changed oil and filter many times on previous cars before, but my Jaguar requires . a kind of pump to suck the old oil out; there is no sump plug. How difficult is changing the oil (and filter) on the M2?
5. If I want to change the oil (and maybe filter) myself before the regular service reminder tells me, how can I know when it's going to go off again a week after I did the change, and the dealer is going to want to change my brand new oil!?!
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      07-26-2017, 11:10 AM   #11
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Two data points on this subject:


1) I know of three examples of //M cars that had factory maintenance (longer oil drain intervals) and exhibited oil sludge and deposits at the 60,000 mile+ time frame. Two motors were S54 engines. One was an S65 engine.

2) An engine builder I know (rebuilds hi-perf cars, to include BMW, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche) has said that, with BMW's reliance on oil pressure/oil flow for the VANOS system and other very complex mechanical/electromechanical operations w/in the engine, fresh oil and exact viscosity (0W-30) are critical. His advice was "don't change the viscosity and keep the oil as clean as possible."
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      07-26-2017, 12:02 PM   #12
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Another question on the subject:

At what point would a dealer not cover a scheduled maintenance oil change since the intervals are ~12000 mi? If I decided to bring the car in at 7k-8k miles would they decline the free service?
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      07-27-2017, 02:09 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asmith918 View Post
Another question on the subject:

At what point would a dealer not cover a scheduled maintenance oil change since the intervals are ~12000 mi? If I decided to bring the car in at 7k-8k miles would they decline the free service?
I had mine done at 7500. They seemed surprised that I would want to do an oil change before the free maintenance one. I said I would pay out of pocket for peace of mine because I'm the one who has to deal with the car out of warranty, not them. I told them not to reset the maintenance estimate date so I will get a free one at that time. I don't claim to know if it matters or not to do more regular oil changes on the M2, but it seems like a small cost to me so in the back of my mind I am not always wondering if I should have done it or not...
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