I've had my Z3 since January (got it with 39000 miles on it), and I've only put on about 2000 miles. I only drive 4 miles per day back and forth to work. I just bought a AWD vehicle for the winter, as we have some really stupid drivers here in NJ and didn't want to chance one of them running into me when it snows. I figure I'll only have put less than 3000 miles on the car by it's year anniversary. What time interval should I use, as it would take me a couple of years to get to the 7500 mark?
15,000 Mile Oil Change Interval
- Thread starter newbold1
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If your parking the car in the winter I would change the oil just before I put her away for the winter, run it to operating temps and put her away, that is what I did with mine when I lived in Idaho.
As far as Bob's the Oil Guy, I do not disagree, but the biggest factor is how the car is driven. What is "street driving"? If that is all freeways at operating temps, I would agree. In Idaho my wife drove less than a mile to work, the car never got to operating temps and in those cases I would never go 10k, that is what I settled on the 7500 mark.
As far as Bob's the Oil Guy, I do not disagree, but the biggest factor is how the car is driven. What is "street driving"? If that is all freeways at operating temps, I would agree. In Idaho my wife drove less than a mile to work, the car never got to operating temps and in those cases I would never go 10k, that is what I settled on the 7500 mark.
Right on, Dan - how the car is driven.
A HUGE factor in oil "durability" has to do with raw gas contamination - in this case synthetics have no benefit. When the engine is cold and running inefficiently, i.e. frequent short trips, raw gas actually gets by the rings into the oil. It dilutes the oil and contaminates it, bad for the engine. Tests have shown that under these conditions, viscosity, additives, etc. are lost more quickly. Hence the need for more frequent changes.
A HUGE factor in oil "durability" has to do with raw gas contamination - in this case synthetics have no benefit. When the engine is cold and running inefficiently, i.e. frequent short trips, raw gas actually gets by the rings into the oil. It dilutes the oil and contaminates it, bad for the engine. Tests have shown that under these conditions, viscosity, additives, etc. are lost more quickly. Hence the need for more frequent changes.
I think too many people have this old train of thought where you should change your oil as frequent as possible.
I myself have been following the indicator and changing it on an average around once every 12k.
hence, my car runs great, and I'm up to 75k on it.
Synthetic oil is good and can go a good 15k. Also, I doubt a large established quality company like BMW would risk reputation by promoting false information.
Follow your computer!
![[hah]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hah.gif "Hah! [hah]")
I myself have been following the indicator and changing it on an average around once every 12k.
hence, my car runs great, and I'm up to 75k on it.
Synthetic oil is good and can go a good 15k. Also, I doubt a large established quality company like BMW would risk reputation by promoting false information.
Follow your computer!
![[nutkick]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_nutkick.gif "Nut Kick [nutkick]"){kind=icon}
I know this might be a silly question, but I have 17000 kms on my 04 330i, it is a leased vehicle that I will not be buying out (rolling into a new model ) so do not want to spend more on it then I have to, but on the other hand want to maintain it well. I was told by the dealership that once the service light comes on (about 24000kms) bring it in for oil and service, is this true?
When I start the car it tells me how many more kms until service, its now reading -50 should I bring it in, or wait for the display to show me the service light?
Thanks in advance for you advice.
Thief
) so do not want to spend more on it then I have to, but on the other hand want to maintain it well. I was told by the dealership that once the service light comes on (about 24000kms) bring it in for oil and service, is this true?When I start the car it tells me how many more kms until service, its now reading -50 should I bring it in, or wait for the display to show me the service light?
Thanks in advance for you advice.
Thief
It does light up upon start up........you're showing -50, take it in, its free.......I think you are misunderstanding Big Daddy on what lights up.........during the oil change, who knows, they may find something else, adjust something else, do a quality check, anything to keep it running good.......
The policy on the newer vehicles is to take it in sometime when it is 1000 miles or less. If your car is under warranty, the oil service will be free. Many of us take note of however many miles it says after the oil service and get an extra one after half of the miles are used. So if it says 15,000, we get an extra oil service at 7,500. It's not necessary to have to microfilter changed at the half-way point though so you should save about $40 there. (Cost around $80 instead of $120)
On many older models (90's), there are lights that indicate when you should take your car in for service. Once all the green lights are gone, a yellow light will come on. I would take it while there is still 1 green light. If the yellow light comes on, it should be taken in ASAP. If the red light comes on, don't drive it anymore except to take it in. On many of these models, it's recommended that you change the oil every 5,000 miles. None of these are covered under warranty.
Maaz
On many older models (90's), there are lights that indicate when you should take your car in for service. Once all the green lights are gone, a yellow light will come on. I would take it while there is still 1 green light. If the yellow light comes on, it should be taken in ASAP. If the red light comes on, don't drive it anymore except to take it in. On many of these models, it's recommended that you change the oil every 5,000 miles. None of these are covered under warranty.
Maaz
My indicator reads 0 and flashes, only I had the oil changed by the dealer at the 1yr point, at 8.5k now I have 12k any ideas? I checked the oil last night and it was a nice moderate brown.
I have no problem waiting another 4k my only worry is that they might not have changed the oil filter during that low-mileage oil change over the summer.
I have no problem waiting another 4k my only worry is that they might not have changed the oil filter during that low-mileage oil change over the summer.
Dutch's right. There's no such thing as "free oil change" in most of Europe. There's absolutely no reason why BMW would lie about the oil change interval. Furthermore, they would hate to risk the reputation of their engines in the long run. Elderly people do exactly what the authorized service tells them to do and trust me, many of them own brandnew BMWs. They never have the oil changed before the board computer flashes a warning in the dashboard. Synthetic oil change every 15,000 miles / 2 years (whichever comes first according to the manual) should be OK for models 2003 and up. My age is 37, BTW. ![[:)]](/images/smilies/smile.png "Smile [:)]")
I use Mobil 1 15W-50 synthetic oil. I always let my car get up to temperature ASWELL AS LET MY OIL GET UP TO TEMPERATURE (no joke). And on top of that I dont own a turbo timer so I always spend about a minute everytime I want to turn off my car just lettign it cool down before I actually turn it off. I chage my synthetic every 3000 miles.
There are many factors that contribute to the service interval (and oil change) data -- distance driven, driving style, etc. Are you an aggressive driver? Do you drive a lot in city traffic (stop and go)?
The interval for oil changes won't always be 15,000 miles. I'm due for my third oil change (per the indicator) in about 125 miles. I just turned over 40K miles, so that would put me at 40,125 miles for the oil change -- shy of the 45K you'd think if you applied the every 15K philosophy (15K x 3 = 45K).
I say obey the computer.
The interval for oil changes won't always be 15,000 miles. I'm due for my third oil change (per the indicator) in about 125 miles. I just turned over 40K miles, so that would put me at 40,125 miles for the oil change -- shy of the 45K you'd think if you applied the every 15K philosophy (15K x 3 = 45K).
I say obey the computer.