First service, 1200 miles; 2nd. @ 15,000 miles?

[FStop7]

Santa Monica BMW tried to charge a friend of mine $395 for an out-of-interval oil change.

[newtom3]

ok, another BMW dealer to scratch off the list....

[FrenchBoy]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

As others have said, many do a mid-point change, at least. I will change at 7,500 - 8,000 (imminent). My service indicator is showing over 15k to my next scheduled service.

That's what I plan to do as well. And like my previous BMW, I plan to change the oil myself when it's not included in the maintenance plan. It's a 1/2 hour job.

[in867]

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

That's what I plan to do as well. And like my previous BMW, I plan to change the oil myself when it's not included in the maintenance plan. It's a 1/2 hour job.

What kind of filter will you use?

[FrenchBoy]

Originally Posted by in867

What kind of filter will you use?

Whatever the dealership parts dept. I am assuming they'll give me this filter

[R2M3]

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

That's what I plan to do as well. And like my previous BMW, I plan to change the oil myself when it's not included in the maintenance plan. It's a 1/2 hour job.

Ok let's elaborate on this if you please. Other than BMW, who makes the filter for the M's and price? Other than dealerships, where can we get the oil, what brands, and can we go full synthetic after the 1200 mile service. I'm planning on a change at 5000 miles and would like to use Royal Purple or Amsoil, etc.

Thanks for listening!

Gerry

[FStop7]

You should use the oil BMW specifies, not Amsoil or Royal Purple. Just get it from the parts department or Tischer or something.

[HotLap]

Originally Posted by FusionM3

I changed mine at 5,000 miles after 1200 miles. I will continue to do so every 5,000 miles.

Same here - I don't care what BMW says - I'm doing every other change on both my 535 and M3...it's worth it for my piece of mind!

[PrinceSmooth]

I think it's safe to say we're all a bunch of petrol-heads

[BIGNTASTIE]

how often would BMW change your oil for free???

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by R2M3

Ok let's elaborate on this if you please. Other than BMW, who makes the filter for the M's and price? Other than dealerships, where can we get the oil, what brands, and can we go full synthetic after the 1200 mile service. I'm planning on a change at 5000 miles and would like to use Royal Purple or Amsoil, etc.

Thanks for listening!

Gerry

Royal Purple, Amsoil, Redline don't make 10-60 (that I know of).
BMW's 10-60 is Castrol, and it is full synthetic.

[HotLap]

Originally Posted by BIGNTASTIE

how often would BMW change your oil for free???

Using their "CBS" program (condition based service) generally works out to every 15K miles OR if you drive less than 15K miles per year, they will do a "low mileage service" every 12 mos. My SA told me that if I had 11K miles on my 535 at the one year mark they would do the low mileage service and change the oil, but then I'd have to come back in at the 15K mile mark to have the oil changed again as they will NOT reset the service interval with a low mileage service....seems idioic to me and I don't relish trips to the dealship for service either....always a chance for door dings etc!

[HotLap]

Originally Posted by R2M3

Ok let's elaborate on this if you please. Other than BMW, who makes the filter for the M's and price? Other than dealerships, where can we get the oil, what brands, and can we go full synthetic after the 1200 mile service. I'm planning on a change at 5000 miles and would like to use Royal Purple or Amsoil, etc.

Thanks for listening!

Gerry

Gerry, I'd probably stay with the BMW oil (Castrol) as that's what BMW will be using every other change and I'd be leery of switching between various oils...

[MysticBlue]

I will be doing my own oil change at 5k. My question will be, does anybody who has changed their own oil know EXACTLY how much oil they ended up putting back in. 7 quarts, 8 quarts, not a big deal previously with one of those things called a dipstick. Check it after you've put some in and add some more, or suck some out if you need to. Now, with this electronic whizbang excuse for an oil level indication, it's not that easy. I would like to know, to within a 1/4 of a quart, exactly how much oil it takes, BEFORE I go drive around for half an hour waiting for the damn thing to tell me if it's high or low. So, does anybody know yet?

[newtom3]

my SA told me today that the M3s will drink alot of oil between the 1200 and 15000 oil changes... maybe between 2-4 quarts. So that's a new datapoint for me. He said there is no dipstick, you only need to check for the low oil warning from the info system.

He said not to bother with intermediate oil changes, but that the engine computer will probably call for an oil change earlier, at like 11-12K miles.... interesting as I have not read this point of view on this forum.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by newtom3

my SA told me today that the M3s will drink alot of oil between the 1200 and 15000 oil changes... maybe between 2-4 quarts. So that's a new datapoint for me. He said there is no dipstick, you only need to check for the low oil warning from the info system.

He said not to bother with intermediate oil changes, but that the engine computer will probably call for an oil change earlier, at like 11-12K miles.... interesting as I have not read this point of view on this forum.

Yes, that usage rate is probably correct for most cars. That doesn't mean the oil is kept fresh, however.

Not having a dipstick sucks because I can't use my MityVac for the change. So, I'll be putting the rear on ramps and jacking the front up on stands. There are two drain plugs.

I don't drive super easy, though most of my miles are commuting, and the SI is on track for a change at near 16k miles.

I would like to know, to within a 1/4 of a quart, exactly how much oil it takes, BEFORE I go drive around for half an hour waiting for the damn thing to tell me if it's high or low. So, does anybody know yet?

Spec is 8.8 liters with filter change. Start with about 8.2 and then check and adjust.

[IRMthree]

i change mine in between scheduled intervals about halfway

[dno64]

I have just over 7k miles on the clock now and my service indicator on IDrive is saying service at 9k miles. WHen I got the car 6mths ago the indicator said service at 13k so it has knocked off 4k. I would have got it done around 10k mark anyway.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by dno64

I have just over 7k miles on the clock now and my service indicator on IDrive is saying service at 9k miles. WHen I got the car 6mths ago the indicator said service at 13k so it has knocked off 4k. I would have got it done around 10k mark anyway.

The service indicator shows the remaining miles to go until service, not the miles at which the service is to occur. So you're looking at just over 16k to service, which is where mine is at, as well.