[rcl]

Just got my first bmw 2 days ago, a 2011 328i coupe 6mt and I plan to change the oil, yet my dealer said it's "only" been 10k miles since the last change. Now I'm sketched out because I'm used to changing oil every 3-4k miles! Is 15k miles really normal, or even good for these bmw's? I'm new to BMW's, just trying to learn...lol I drive my car pretty hard and can't see the oil lasting that long. :0

[Phil325i]

if you're intending to keep your car then don't listen to him. 6-7K change interval will do nicely.

[evoix]

i would feel bad for anything over 3500-4000 miles. THere are studies that proves that the oil can last for over 10k miles but change it anyways.. Depends on the person.

IF you wait too long it can cause a lot of problems down the road. But totally upto you.

Engine feels smoother after changes and oil breakdown could happen prematurely.

[Efthreeoh]

My OCI has averages 17,500 miles and I'm running fine at 241,000.

[catcher22]

omg where have you been in the entire car world the past 5 years

most (almost all) new cars don't require oil changes at 3-4k anymore. that's real old school

BMW won't change it for you less than 15k, which is recommended by BMW/the manual. We (most on this forum I'd guess) recommend to change it within half that interval or even less.

[DUI Elite]

Under warranty, the computer once didn't tell me to change it for 18,500 miles. yeah...

no.

I've changed it every 7,500 like clockwork. 110k miles and counting.

[jwzimm]

While it likely will not do any harm to change it early I am a believer in the BMW OCI's now. If you use the proper LL-01 synthetic oil it can go for quite a long time. Plus these cars have an oil condition sensor that will monitor how the oil is wearing and adjust your oil change suggestion accordingly. I recently had a Blackstone oil analysis done on my car during it's 3rd oil change and all was fine with it.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=945030

[rcl]

Honestly for the average person who drives their car to work and back, it's probably fine. But I drive the car hard, with a mix of spirited driving, mountain runs, and track days. These consist of extended periods of time where the engine is at high rpm's of which I wouldn't want old/bad oil in the engine.

[Crusader]

The OBC looks at a lot of things, but I don't think it does an oil analysis in its computation of change interval. I think that the dealer will change oil at one year intervals regardless of mileage/etc, at least that used to be the case, with "free" maintenance. I change at 7500, a conservative choice based on experience, legend, and distrust. The spec oil isn't necessarily the best, it's just spec, and a BMW engine hasn't failed to lube issues while under warranty (E46 M3 rod bearings the exception) since Moby Dick was a minnow. Good synthetic, proper viscosity, changed at reasonable intervals and you'll be fine.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by rcl

Honestly for the average person who drives their car to work and back, it's probably fine. But I drive the car hard, with a mix of spirited driving, mountain runs, and track days. These consist of extended periods of time where the engine is at high rpm's of which I wouldn't want old/bad oil in the engine.

I live in the mountains of Central Virginia. I drive those type of roads every day. The last 10 miles to my house is as good as the 'Ring; probably better. At least two days a week I put her away at night with her smelling like burnt cooking oil and I can feel the heat from the brakes. I bought a BMW and I drive it like one. Modern cars do not need the oil changed every 3,000 miles despite what Jiffy lube says.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Crusader

The OBC looks at a lot of things, but I don't think it does an oil analysis in its computation of change interval. I think that the dealer will change oil at one year intervals regardless of mileage/etc, at least that used to be the case, with "free" maintenance. I change at 7500, a conservative choice based on experience, legend, and distrust. The spec oil isn't necessarily the best, it's just spec, and a BMW engine hasn't failed to lube issues while under warranty (E46 M3 rod bearings the exception) since Moby Dick was a minnow. Good synthetic, proper viscosity, changed at reasonable intervals and you'll be fine.

The CBS does do an oil analysis. The sensor in the oil pan determines oil level and oil quality. It is documented in the Bentley service manual and oil analysis by dielectric measure is quite common in industry for heavy equipment and production machinery.

I've had 3 BMWs well past warranty 256K, 241K, and 160K, and my engines, changing at BMW's CBS extended OCIs, have not failed yet. BTW, whales are not born as minnows, they are mammals, calves to be precise...

[MrQuickR1]

15,000 mile changes proved to be fine.
However I stick with 7,500 mile changes.
Not only is it peace of mind but it keeps the internals cleaner.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by MrQuickR1

15,000 mile changes proved to be fine.
However I stick with 7,500 mile changes.
Not only is it peace of mind but it keeps the internals cleaner.

Well I've looked into my engine through the oil fill hole (top end), oil sensor hole (bottom end), and the VANOS solenoid holes (timing chain), and I've not found a bit of sludge anywhere.

[MrQuickR1]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Well I've looked into my engine through the oil fill hole (top end), oil sensor hole (bottom end), and the VANOS solenoid holes (timing chain), and I've not found a bit of sludge anywhere.

There you go...on my previous 328, I replaced the eccentric shaft sensor and did a DIY. Some were commenting on how clean the engine was after the cylinder cover was off. It was pretty damn clean.
That was a used bought car too. Previous owner went by BMW maintenance schedule, I went by mu schedule at 7500. Spotless engine.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I've not found a bit of sludge anywhere.

http://blog.bavauto.com/8476/bmw-and...nge-intervals/

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

http://blog.bavauto.com/8476/bmw-and...nge-intervals/

Yeah, that's been floating around on the net for a long time. I'm just reporting on over 650,000 miles of real world experience using BMW's recommended OCIs for a 1989 325i, 1997 Z3, and a 2006 325i. I've had the valve cover off of both the E30 (for valve adjustments) and the Z3 for a VCG replacement, both cars remained clean as a whistle.

I'm not trying to sell oil and filters to you, or oil change services. Just reporting facts.

[Chriztofor]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

http://blog.bavauto.com/8476/bmw-and...nge-intervals/

Castrol Synthetic oil 05-30 is not a long life oil, therefore he has sludge build up. Castrol 0-30 is Ll-01 approved.

[mejori]

I have a 2004 325I that i change the oil every 15,000 miles. I bought the car in late 2008 with 70,000 miles.. it now has 166,000 miles..runs great!!! I use mobil 1 0w40 (euro)

[freon480]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

My OCI has averages 17,500 miles and I'm running fine at 241,000.

Curious to what repairs you have needed over the years. I gonna hit 200k in next week or so. Ive been changing my oil every 4k 5k max. Curious if you are still using original vanos solenoids.. all I have had to replace so far is one coil pack the waterpump and my front driveshaft.

[paprmkr]

i was from the 3K oil change era... (yes I'm old). since i got my E38 i do it half intervals from the bmw recommends and I'm at 203K. with no major issues (where is a piece a wood when i need one). so on my E46 same and I'm at 170K, now with my new to me E92 i got last july i already changed it 2x.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by freon480

Curious to what repairs you have needed over the years. I gonna hit 200k in next week or so. Ive been changing my oil every 4k 5k max. Curious if you are still using original vanos solenoids.. all I have had to replace so far is one coil pack the waterpump and my front driveshaft.

Here a detailed account.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=788317

I've cleaned the VANOS solenoids twice first at 145K (when a trouble code appeared) and again at 200,000 (during my 200K tune up). I've decided a 50,000 mile interval for VANOS solenoid cleaning.

This you'll find interesting too:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926864

Other than the AC pump dying at 85K, it's been the normal E90 stuff (WP, T-stat, etc.)

[Cacicgt7]

I do mine close to 10K interval changes (no track days or any hard beating on the engine) and I've had some incredible reports on the used oil. I only changed it at 10K because at that point I'm changing almost every 6-7 months. My OCI tells me 16K though which I'm sure would still be fine.

Anyone changing their oil before 5K is literally just throwing money away.