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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Mechanical Maintenance: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / Warranty > Change that oil



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      10-23-2005, 02:10 PM   #1
mc68386
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Change that oil

My 330 is just finishing break-in (1300 mi), and I needed to decide whether to do an early oil change. So I pulled the filter and checked out the oil. I figured if the oil looked good, I'd just change the filter. If the oil looked contaminated, I change oil and filter.

Anyway, the oil is darker, and has a strong crankcase (gasoline) smell. But most importantly, there is a very noticable amount of gold metal flakes in the oil. I tried to get pictures, but I don't have a great camera or a macro lens.
The lighter oil is BMW oil straight from the bottle.

My conclusion is that an oil change is worthwhile at this point. I'll be picking up some oil this week for a change next weekend (already got the filter.)
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      10-23-2005, 02:33 PM   #2
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Hmmm...thanks for showing that.

I was going to wait longer...I am at 2200 mi now. But maybe I should go ahead and change....wish there was a more standard answer on what to do.
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      10-23-2005, 03:01 PM   #3
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oil color doesn't really tell u anything. of course if it's entirely black, then it's obviously bad, but once the oil is subjected to heat, it already turns darker. the most accurate thing to do is to take your used oil for a lab analysis and people who have done that found that the oil is still fine after 10K or 15K miles.
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      10-23-2005, 03:27 PM   #4
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If oil isn't dark after just running the engine for a few miles, something is wrong. The metal is the part that has me worried...I might change after the winter.
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      10-23-2005, 07:06 PM   #5
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You don't need to change the oil so soon, these special "Synthetic" Oil suppose to help your new car break-in. Change it at about 9000 miles or higher depending on your driving habits.
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      10-23-2005, 07:25 PM   #6
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I'll change mine when the car tells me to.
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      10-23-2005, 07:35 PM   #7
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All these discussions regarding when to change oil and stuff are getting really confusing.
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      10-23-2005, 07:49 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LEDZEP
I'll change mine when the car tells me to.
My car IS telling me to - it says there are a bunch of metal flakes in it, and can I please have a fresh fill?
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      10-23-2005, 07:55 PM   #9
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I juat changed mine today too at 1390 miles. I would reccomend it, I noticed that it was pretty dark too and had micro shavings in it, going to change it again at 7500 then let bmw change it at 15K.
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      10-23-2005, 08:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mc68386
My car IS telling me to - it says there are a bunch of metal flakes in it, and can I please have a fresh fill?
you should take your findings to your SA and ask for an opinion. Most people wouldn't take the time to look. It might be normal as part of break-in.
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      10-23-2005, 08:46 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LEDZEP
I'll change mine when the car tells me to.
I'm with LEDZEP on this one. I bought the 6 year warranty and I'll probably sell after that so why worry?
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      10-23-2005, 09:42 PM   #12
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I've always been under the impression to NOT change the oil before the regular oil change interval during break-in. In otherwords, if the manual says to change the oil every 5,000 miles... then wait that long before changing the oil... ESPECIALLY during break-in, since engine parts continue to break-in even up to 10,000 miles. If you put new oil in the engine, you may not allow the valves to "seal" correctly, causing the engine to burn oil.

This has always been my impression.
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      10-23-2005, 10:16 PM   #13
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hmm. Metal shavings. Thanks for the info.

I am going to do mine after break-in period that manual states is over.
There is no harm for changing oil frequently or more than needed to be.
Its just your wallet that is going to suffer.
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      10-23-2005, 10:22 PM   #14
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Current M cars (E46 & E60) require an oil service at 1250 or 1500 miles, I can not remember which one.

BTW, in the 80s & early 90s all new BMWs were required to have an oil change at 1250 miles.
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      10-24-2005, 07:05 AM   #15
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Timeline to change the oil seems to be a big question for the BMW. It definitely makes you wonder going 15K to change oil.

If this helps, I bought a new VW beetle in May (no riding comparision but a great little car) and VW recommends not changing the oil for the first 5K and then every 10K.

Now, like most of us, I was suspect when VW refused to change the oil before 5K and went to my local mechanic for an oil change at 3,500. He confirmed, DO NOT change the oil in the VW for the first 5K. Like, BMW, VW is using synthetic oil and requires the oil to remain in for the entire 5K to for break in purposes.

So, I too am wonderning do I go all the way to 15K are change early. We do have warranties but it still makes you wonder.
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      10-24-2005, 10:24 AM   #16
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BMW tell us to change at 10000+ for a reason....why dump out the good wine and fill your glass with skanky beer?
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      10-24-2005, 10:34 AM   #17
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So when are E90 suppose to have their oil changes? My car says at 17k =S
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      10-24-2005, 10:39 AM   #18
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You guys could just change the filter if your worried about small shavings.
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      10-24-2005, 12:03 PM   #19
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My dealer said that if I was going to keep the car to change the oil around 7500 miles. Just to be safe I will. It's strange that everybody has different opinions about this. It's also strange that BMW says not till 15,ooo. I have to feel that BMW's people would know best but maybe they say 15k for the suckers that dont get the extra 7year 100,000 mile warranty and that's when we see the problems and they get paid?
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      10-27-2005, 08:12 AM   #20
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I don't know where I fall on this Great Oil Change Debate, but isn't it reasonable to expect that these visible particles are held by the filter? I mean my home furnace filter would catch stuff that size, why wouldn't the 06 BMW oil filter?
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      10-28-2005, 11:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado
I don't know where I fall on this Great Oil Change Debate, but isn't it reasonable to expect that these visible particles are held by the filter? I mean my home furnace filter would catch stuff that size, why wouldn't the 06 BMW oil filter?
I can't answer the why, but I can reiterate that the filter definitely can't catch these particles - they're just too small. And it's not just the BMW filter; all new engines get this stuff in the oil. See especially motorcycle boards, where there are those who advocate an oil change after 25-60 miles (!) since this is when almost all of the metal particles are produced. As I understand it, the particles come from the cylinder walls, which are pre-scored with a cross-hatch pattern to faciliate this quick wear which ensures a perfect fit between the piston rings and the cylinder walls.

Now, it's possible that these particles that the filter doesn't catch are so small, that they are really harmless to the engine - that is to say, the particles flow through all the tiny cracks in the engine without causing any extra wear. If this is the case, it would be a good argument for leaving the initial oil in for 15,000 miles. However, I've never seen any argument from a reliable source that this is the case, so my position is still that an early change (1500 mi in my case) is worthwhile if you're keeping the car past the warranty period.
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