I just bought a 2004 325ci last april. Does anyone know when I should get a oil change?? Some say that I should do so every year. But I only have 7500 miles on the car. What if I dont drive my car for 2 yearS?? does that make a difference? Just want to know when would be a good time for oil change. BMW says do an oil change every 10000 miles, but do you think I should do it sooner than that?? I need some feedback. Thanks.
oil change?
- Thread starter happy2000hk
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You really change your oil only based on mileage, not time (unless it gets to extreme points). I believe BMW's program is to change the oil every 15,000 miles but a lot of people recommend changing it every 7,500 miles (meaning you pay for every other oil change), especially since you own yours (rather than leasing it).
BMW has a low-mileage oil change also .Thats every year regardless of mileage , for those people who dont drive as much . So your warranty will be oil change every 12mths and/or 15,ooo miles. since most of us find that alittle long between changes so we pay for one or two in between. you only use synthetic oil in your bimmer so you can go 7500m.
On another note isn't funny that the oil company has us soo brainwashed in believing you must change your oil every 3months/3k. I personally think that their marketing depts. have done a great job for the bottom line of these oil company's. Some will say that after 3k "dino" oil has significant breakdown. I question who's doing the testing and what's their opinion of significant..are these guys in the lab coats getting paid by the oil companies ? probably.
I mean come on , they have so many diff. oils out there ., high mileage , truck oil, 4X4 oil , new care oil , heavy traffic oil, oil for white cars only , oil for cars driven on saturdays..well you get my point ...I mean come on [slap] Its a conspiracy . a C, O, N, spiracy...![[paranoid]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_paranoid.gif "Paranoid [paranoid]")
hope I didn't get too far off of the thread but my advice is do your homework and make educated decisions..
On another note isn't funny that the oil company has us soo brainwashed in believing you must change your oil every 3months/3k. I personally think that their marketing depts. have done a great job for the bottom line of these oil company's. Some will say that after 3k "dino" oil has significant breakdown. I question who's doing the testing and what's their opinion of significant..are these guys in the lab coats getting paid by the oil companies ? probably.
I mean come on , they have so many diff. oils out there ., high mileage , truck oil, 4X4 oil , new care oil , heavy traffic oil, oil for white cars only , oil for cars driven on saturdays..well you get my point ...I mean come on [slap] Its a conspiracy . a C, O, N, spiracy...
hope I didn't get too far off of the thread but my advice is do your homework and make educated decisions..
If i owned a new BMW I would change the oil at 7,500 regardless. Oil changes and long engine life go hand in hand. If it was leased, I would do it at 15,000... I mean in a lease who cares? You're not keeping the car...
Anyway get it changed at 7,500 and go to a shop that KNOWS how to do BMW oil chages. Your neighborhood Jiffy Lube is probably fine for my Ford (I do my own oil changes, but in theory...), but for your BMW I wouldn't chance it. Usually a shop that can reset the service thing would be good enough, and of course make sure the oil they are using is an OEM viscosity synthetic oil.
Anyway get it changed at 7,500 and go to a shop that KNOWS how to do BMW oil chages. Your neighborhood Jiffy Lube is probably fine for my Ford (I do my own oil changes, but in theory...), but for your BMW I wouldn't chance it. Usually a shop that can reset the service thing would be good enough, and of course make sure the oil they are using is an OEM viscosity synthetic oil.
Oil changes are a personal preference and there are many different thoughts. I change mine in all my cars and truck every 3 - 4k. I use synthetic oils as well. Those that say oil doesn't break down, or who guage their change based on mileage only may be right for there circumstance. My cars get driven a lot for very short distances and at times never reach operating temps. When this happens oil gets contaminated with fuel that washes down the cylinder walls. This is very bad for your bearings and other engine componets. Other things affect your oil as well, dusty conditions, cold temps and storing in a warm garage, cold start ups, and stop and go driving. To each his own, but I will continue to change mine often. Cheap insurance.
Check the computer. WHenever you start your car, the computer should let you know how many miles left til your next oil change. I'd say do it once more at the halfway point of whatever your computer says. Supposedly it's 15,000 miles, but depending on driving conditions, it could be much earlier. My "free" scheduled one is currently says 11,000 miles. Since I only have 3,000 miles, my oil is expected to last 14,000 miles instead of 15,000. Not a big difference now, but the gap might become significant later on.
I agree 150% . Also, the reason you should change oil at least annually even if you don't hit the mileage goal is because exhaust gases break down in oil to form acids. Those acids then can etch the metal surfaces. Oil manufacturers add chemicals to help neutralize these acids, but they don't last forever.
jonnyz16 said:
I mean come on , they have so many diff. oils out there ., high mileage , truck oil, 4X4 oil , new care oil , heavy traffic oil, oil for white cars only , oil for cars driven on saturdays..well you get my point ...I mean come on [slap] Its a conspiracy . a C, O, N, spiracy...
Lol, "oil for cars driven on Saturdays"
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]"){kind=icon}
Hey MrE., Merry Xmas !
there was an episode of Truckin' on Spike tv that just mad me laugh.It was the one where the host , Stacy, was pluggin a oil on his show . He said they finally made an oil for us 4X4 enthusiast . It was a well known brand and it said 4X4 on the container . I like the show alot , it comes on after horsepower tv . And the host seems very knowledgeable ...he just had to keep his sponser happy I bet..![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
Aloha
there was an episode of Truckin' on Spike tv that just mad me laugh.It was the one where the host , Stacy, was pluggin a oil on his show . He said they finally made an oil for us 4X4 enthusiast . It was a well known brand and it said 4X4 on the container . I like the show alot , it comes on after horsepower tv . And the host seems very knowledgeable ...he just had to keep his sponser happy I bet..
Aloha