I know the car monitors various stats and changes the bar at start up to indicate when to do the next service. However, I've always been a every 3K miles kind of guy, esp. now that I have got so much sunk into this one car. I imagine if I took it to the dealer after 3K miles but w/out the service light on, he would shoo me away. I could change it myself, but that defeats the purpose of the service inclusive deal that comes w/the car. I'd like to just trust the car ECU, but BMW is only on the hook for the first 36K miles, and I'd like to get 100K out the car.
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I'm working on getting M5 shots
[This message has been edited by SilverSBlack5 (edited 18 February 2001).]
Silver...
My car has 7500 miles on it, and I've changed the oil/filter 3 times...and I'll change it once more before the service bars call for it...I do it myself, and the 20 minutes of time and the $50 for the oil and filter, is well worth it for the piece of mind it gives me...I know synthetic oils have a much greater service life, but like you, it's hard to break old habits...with the service intervals bmw calls for, the engine will easily make it to the end of the warranty period...but what about beyond that? These oil changes are cheap insurance...
Data point: My 2000 M5 went over 13,300 miles before the service interval indicator called for the first oil service. By that time I had already changed the oil four times at my expense.
The first Inspection I was done last Thursday at 26,600 miles. There was still one light remaining but the dealer agreed to do the service anyway.
I do 3000 mile oil changes. This car is a keeper. My wife is telling me we can't afford to keep it now that I have a BMW sales job, but I tell her we can live in the car, but we can't drive the house. When the TV is installed in the nav system I'll be that much closer to living in the car. ;-)
Small world... How have you been? We met at O'fest last fall. How was your looong trip back? Are you BMW sales consultant now? If so can you give us some inside info about allocations & selling in general?
Thanks.
Max
Quote:
Originally posted by RKS: Data point: My 2000 M5 went over 13,300 miles before the service interval indicator called for the first oil service. By that time I had already changed the oil four times at my expense.
The first Inspection I was done last Thursday at 26,600 miles. There was still one light remaining but the dealer agreed to do the service anyway.
I do 3000 mile oil changes. This car is a keeper. My wife is telling me we can't afford to keep it now that I have a BMW sales job, but I tell her we can live in the car, but we can't drive the house. When the TV is installed in the nav system I'll be that much closer to living in the car. ;-)
13,000 miles If I took any of my other cars in for a problem and told the service department last time I changed my oil was 13K miles ago they would void the warranty right there on the spot Well, that settles that, I'll be doing my own small maintenance. Now I've got to figure out the best way to get the screwy weight Castrol (I think) oil recommended in my engine bay...
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I'm working on getting M5 shots
[This message has been edited by SilverSBlack5 (edited 18 February 2001).]
To the best of my knowledge, the ONLY place to get the Castrol Racing Syntec 10W60 (for pre 03/00 cars) is through your authorized BMW Service Center. It's a BMW-spec, and made in Germany--the label text is mostly Deutsche. I loaded up on some for ~$7/qt, but I've read where others have paid between $9 and $11/qt.
I too was brought up with the idea of changing the oil every 3000 miles, but the reality is that the synthetic oil is good for 5000 to 15000 miles depending on your driving style and road conditions. The only way your going to break down the oil in 5k miles is if your on the race track alot. The filter may need changing before the oil requires a change.
Of course, for peace of mind, changing every 3k miles is just fine, but there is probably no real benifit on the long term engine life. You will get 100k+ miles out of this car with 10k mile oil and filter change. Thank you synthetic oil producers and BMW.
Almost all oils, even conventional non-synthetic ones, are good for 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Changing oil at 3,000 mile intervals is only a PR misinformation campaign of the 1980s by francise type oil/lube retailers such as Jiffy Lube, Quick Lube .... Every since my first car, most all manufacturer's(domestic and import) recommended oil change interval was every 7,500 miles. I don't think that has changed for most manufactureres up til now. I try to change my oil every 5,000 t0 7,500 miles which turns out to be about twice what the BMW computer recommends. I too plan to keep my car for 100,000 miles or so and have no doubt I am changing the oil enough . IMHO changing your oil every 3,000 miles is a waste of money and resources . In fact, it subjects your car to higher chance of an oil change jockey forgetting to tighten the drain plug which could be disasterous.
Just another thought on oil changes. Doesn't the engine run a bit "dry" for the first few seconds after an oil change before the oil pump can get fully primed? If so, you could actually increasing the wear with too frequent oil changes. Since all of us use a synthetic oil, I'm fairly certain recommended intervals won't be unduly wearing on the engine.
If I took any of my other cars in for a problem and told the service department last time I changed my oil was 13K miles ago they would void the warranty right there on the spot 
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