[Jim Dolan]

Called Lauderdale Imports. I asked about all the current issues. No bulletins on car yet. I have to pay for all fluids including oil.

Service should take about 1 hour.

Any comments??

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Jim
07/00 M5 Titanium over Red

 

[MEnthusiast]

you shouldnt have to pay for any of the fluids.

the 1200 mile service does not include an oil change but you can always pay for it.

the dealers are supposed to top off oil for free.

dont let them do it.

ME

 

[Parkerfe]

Originally posted by Jim Dolan:
Called Lauderdale Imports. I asked about all the current issues. No bulletins on car yet. I have to pay for all fluids including oil.

Service should take about 1 hour.

Any comments?? Go ahead and pay. I have had my oil changed at 1200, 5000 and 10,000 miles so far all at my expense. The BMW service light has not indicated an oil change yet even though I have 12,000 miles on the car. A BMW NA engineer told me that the new extended oil change intervals is a result of a directive from the EPA rather than consideration for the life span of your engine. The EPA claims that the U.S. is producing too much used motor oil to dispose of and that car manufacturers needed to extend oil change intervals accordingly. It sounds unreal but something to be expected from the government. I remember when I had my 91 M5 and the BMW dealer told me that I needed to change my oil more often than the service indicator which was around 7500 miles I believe. Its amazing how BMW has changed it policy for no apparent reason other than the EPA directive. Bottom line, you can never change your oil too much if your going to keep the car. If you're only leasing the car and are going to get out of it in less than 50,000 miles, don't worry about it. The engine would last 50,000 miles without a single oil change. I wouldn't want to be the 2nd owner though.

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[marlin]

Jim,

The 1200 miles service is free. The transmission and differential fluids are replaced.

Oil service, as stated in prior post is an extra.

07/00 M5 Titanium/Silverstone

[email protected]

 

[GradX]

Chris BMW in Atlanta did not charge me for oil.

They did recommend, however, that I buy an extra quart and check it periodically.

 

[stevem]

I would check the oil everytime you fuelup. At least for the first 5-6K miles.

I did not check mine until ~1900 miles and the OBC displayed "check engine oil". At 1900 miles I needed almost two quarts. Scared the sh*& out of me, I started looking for leaks before I found out the engine is burning it.

I now have 6k miles and have used two more quarts.

I check my oil everytime I fuel up. Plus it gives me a reason to open the hood and look at that fine piece of engineering under the hood.

stevem

 

[Jim Dolan]

Well today was the day.

Ran the gauntlet of five speed traps with my trusty and cheap Bell Electronics radar and laser detector on the way to Ft Lauderdale and no tickets. This car can get you in trouble. Cruising through traffic and lane changing attracts attention.

Got to the dealer ten minutes late. Service was uneventful and no recalls or service bulletins on my 7/00 build. While there, a little excitement. A partscar drove up, a Ferrari 360 Modena with a paper temp tag(brand new) in silver. Guy got out with a thick eastern European accent to get some ordered parts from Lauderdale BMW. What a machine, F1 wheel with paddles and everything else. It was quite a show as the admirers showed up to gawk.

I was treated very well, no charge for topping off the engine oil 5W-30, washed the beast and off we go. Max the service rep. will mail the receipt of the visit "because we took too much of your time".

Heyyyy, all right.

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Jim
07/00 M5 Titanium over Red

 

[TD]

Reply to below: stevem

Watch out for overfill!!! I believe the check oil comes on when 1 Qt low. Has worked that way for me three times. have read other posts that way too. Yours is the first Ive seen that needed 2 qts with warrinig. Be sure to allow time for the oil to drain down to pan before measure. Or maybe this is new info???

TD

<<<stevem
I would check the oil everytime you fuelup. At least for the first 5-6K miles.

I did not check mine until ~1900 miles and the OBC displayed "check engine oil". At 1900 miles I needed almost two quarts. Scared the sh*& out of me, I started looking for leaks before I found out the engine is burning it.

I now have 6k miles and have used two more quarts.

I check my oil everytime I fuel up. Plus it gives me a reason to open the hood and look at that fine piece of engineering under the hood.

stevem>>>

 

[KnightRider]

Excess of oil is as harmful for an engine just as the lack of it, it would automatically burn more oil, to get rid of this excess, until the level becomes normal again.
Personally, when I had running in period, I bothered to check it regularly, to keep the level at the optimum, not more, not less.
Also oil consumption depends a lot on your driving style.
In M5 engine, if I am not mistaken, they use semi-dry sump oiling system, which means that it takes some time for the oil to gather down in the sump again, after an engine stop.
I mean normally when an engine is hot, the oil level is higher than when it is cold.
I don't think it is the case with M5, as the oil tends to gather in the engine more when working, and then after you stop the engine, it flows down to the sump again after some time.
Always better measure it with an engine cold.


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SL

 

[Jim Dolan]

Can't believe you guys got me checking my dip stick, but I did. It is exactly on the second cut of the stick which the owners manual indicates as MAX. I checked cold. I checked it yesterday after visiting the service center, when it was hot,and it was exactly the same or if anything a little higher.

Conclusion: Check your oil at the gas station when hot and follow the two cut marks on the stick, the top one full, the lower one, means 1.1 quarts low. Do not add a full quart until the lower mark is reached.

We could submit this oil conversation to MIT or Georgia Tech but I think the manual is good enough as well as the sticker in the engine bay.

By the way my oil consumption at 1205 miles was less than a us quart, but not much less. 07/00 build.

Hope this helps.

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Jim
07/00 M5 Titanium over Red

 

[KnightRider]

Jim,
being an aspiring future auditor, i like precision and i consulted the manual myself.
it suggests to let the engine work for a minute then stop it and then wait a minute and then check the level, it should be between two marks, the bottom being min and top max.
I suppose it instructs to start the engine from the cold and in one minute time it doesnt reach the same temperature as that of a driving regime ("hot" engine).
i was told at the BMW service station that its better to maintain the level in the middle between the marks.


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SL

 

[Jim Dolan]

You got it.

Maintaining between the marks would be difficult. Plus you have to carry a half bottle of oil, could be messy.

 

[KnightRider]

Jim,
i hope you car will stop consuming oil soon

i cant remember precisely wheh ours did, at what mileage, but now it happens on much rarer occasions, to fill it up with oil.
it has about 12000 miles now.


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SL

 

[nascar]

Do not change the oil in the m5 until 3,000
miles since the oil has break inn additives.
After that change it as often as you like.But with mobil one or any other high quality synthetic,4-5ooo miles is fine.