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View Poll Results: Oil Change between BMW intervals
Yes, I drive hard and believe it needs to be changed every 7,500 miles. 81 80.20%
No, don't need to waste the $125 DIY or $200+ at the dealer. 20 19.80%
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      08-18-2012, 11:06 PM   #1
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Oil Change between BMW intervals

I'm curious how many on this forum change their oil between BMW service intervals. I know many guys have voiced their opinion about changing oil every 7500 miles or 1 year, which ever comes first.
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      08-18-2012, 11:18 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dagolfpro View Post
I'm curious how many on this forum change their oil between BMW service intervals. I know many guys have voiced their opinion about changing oil every 7500 miles or 1 year, which ever comes first.
I've changed mine twice now, and let BMW do it two or three times. Did the same thing with my previous 2 BMWs over the past 10 years. Probably could be lass anal about it but I track and autox occasionally, so it make me feel better. If you're planning on keeping the car more than 4 years, as i am this one, I would recommend it. If you're leasing, and not going to keep the car, or own it but planning on trading it in before the warranty runs out, or don't track it, you'll probably be fine just letting BMW do their thing and calling good.
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      08-18-2012, 11:35 PM   #3
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We recommend changing any M oil every 7,500 miles, even though BMW states every 15,000. If you drive your M3 very conservatively, don't redline, don't track, etc. you can get away with just the normal service intervals. However, most here use their M's to the fullest extent
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      08-18-2012, 11:40 PM   #4
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If you track most will say change it. I guess I'm ole' skool......7500 miles dictates a oil change in my book................Phil
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      08-19-2012, 09:21 AM   #5
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i've had a couple experienced mechanics tell me 15k is too long,change it at least every 7500k miles.btw,the service manual also says change it at least once a year.bmw calls it a low mileage oil change.

mike miller,tech expert at roundel,says that when bmw started to pay for maintenance,all of a sudden the cars started needing less.my manual says coolant is lifetime fill.i believe this minimal cbs maintenance schedule is a disservice to owners who want to keep their cars in good shape,and keep them a long time.i say this because i think it creates a feeling among less knowledgeable owners that they are doing the right thing regarding maintenance,when in my opinion it's the absolute minimum.i bought my car with 35k miles on it ,and hope to keep it a long time,and one of the major things i looked for was extra oil changes.

an s65 engine costs over $35k to replace.the redline is 8400 rpm.it's an expensive oil change,but cheap insurance.

Last edited by bimdo; 08-19-2012 at 09:33 AM..
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      08-19-2012, 10:10 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///M Ryder View Post
If you track most will say change it. I guess I'm ole' skool......7500 miles dictates a oil change in my book................Phil
ol' Otis would definitely change the oil there boyyyy
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      08-19-2012, 10:17 AM   #7
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I am a mechanic and I don't believe that an oil change every 15000 Miles is adequate. I change the oil in my M3 every 5000 Miles or before I store the car for the winter, which ever comes first.
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      08-19-2012, 10:21 AM   #8
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In my last 2 BMW's I'm averaging only 5k miles a year. This is ideal territory for the annual complimentary low-mileage change IMO. When I'm out of the free maintenance window I will never go 15k miles between changes. I'll probably stay around 5k to 6k miles between oil changes. I drive spirited but not ballistic.
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      08-19-2012, 05:56 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark896 View Post
ol' Otis would definitely change the oil there boyyyy
.......Elroy Preston would tell you.........car's all done sir, car's all done. And hit that famous song....."don't cha know no good"............sorry OP could let the Martin reference get by. Ok back on topic. Change your oil and if nothing else have peace of mind............Phil
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      08-19-2012, 06:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark896 View Post
ol' Otis would definitely change the oil there boyyyy
Quote:
Originally Posted by ///M Ryder View Post
.......Elroy Preston would tell you.........car's all done sir, car's all done. And hit that famous song....."don't cha know no good"............sorry OP could let the Martin reference get by. Ok back on topic. Change your oil and if nothing else have peace of mind............Phil
95% of the members here have no idea what your talking about. I'm sure though that Hussle Man would have delivered all the parts for the above mentioned repair.
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      08-19-2012, 08:21 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhillyNate View Post
95% of the members here have no idea what your talking about. I'm sure though that Hussle Man would have delivered all the parts for the above mentioned repair.
ooh ooh show ya right......ooh ooh ooh.....I say Jerome in da house......... I say Jerome in da house, watch ya mouf ...............Phil
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      08-19-2012, 08:59 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McKenna Performance View Post
However, most here use their M's to the fullest extent
lulz
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      08-19-2012, 11:47 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///M Ryder View Post
.......Elroy Preston would tell you.........car's all done sir, car's all done. And hit that famous song....."don't cha know no good"............sorry OP could let the Martin reference get by. Ok back on topic. Change your oil and if nothing else have peace of mind............Phil
"Can I sing my song, ma'am? I just wanna sing my song, ma'am."

Quote:
Originally Posted by PhillyNate View Post
95% of the members here have no idea what your talking about. I'm sure though that Hussle Man would have delivered all the parts for the above mentioned repair.
LMAO awesome!!

To the OP, sorry about the , but like Phil said, change your oil for peace of mind.
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      08-20-2012, 12:18 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark896 View Post
"Can I sing my song, ma'am? I just wanna sing my song, ma'am."

LMAO awesome!!

To the OP, sorry about the , but like Phil said, change your oil for peace of mind.
no worries guys. Personally my favorite Martin character was Sheneneh and all her hand gestures.
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      08-20-2012, 12:21 AM   #15
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Change every 10k.
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      08-20-2012, 01:54 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robbiedawg
i've had a couple experienced mechanics tell me 15k is too long,change it at least every 7500k miles.btw,the service manual also says change it at least once a year.bmw calls it a low mileage oil change.

mike miller,tech expert at roundel,says that when bmw started to pay for maintenance,all of a sudden the cars started needing less.my manual says coolant is lifetime fill.i believe this minimal cbs maintenance schedule is a disservice to owners who want to keep their cars in good shape,and keep them a long time.i say this because i think it creates a feeling among less knowledgeable owners that they are doing the right thing regarding maintenance,when in my opinion it's the absolute minimum.i bought my car with 35k miles on it ,and hope to keep it a long time,and one of the major things i looked for was extra oil changes.

an s65 engine costs over $35k to replace.the redline is 8400 rpm.it's an expensive oil change,but cheap insurance.
BMW paying for maintenance might seem to be a reason for them to lengthen the service interval, but the intervals are similar for other European performance makers that recommend synthetic exclusively but don't pay for maintenance, and therefore have no incentive to stretch intervals out.

Questioning the extended interval was a frequent topic on Merc boards and especially so on Porsche boards for the 2005-07 models when owners were questioning the 20,000 mile interval that was recommended. But the 997/987 have been relatively trouble-free and around a good bit longer than the e9x so it has not seemed to hurt reliability. That said, it is interesting that Porsche went back down to 12000 mile intervals and then 10,000 in subsequent years on refreshed models.
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      08-20-2012, 07:48 AM   #17
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I change mine every 7k... whats a $130 bucks... its a piece of mind. and i dont even drive it hard... 15k oil change interval is BS in my book.
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Last edited by Grail05; 08-20-2012 at 08:28 AM..
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      08-20-2012, 07:56 AM   #18
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I change mine every 6k-7k.


I don't car if the oil is still good, clean oil is always better.
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      08-20-2012, 11:03 AM   #19
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after the 2000kms break in service i changed it at
7000 kms
12000kms
17988kms
you get the picture !
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      08-20-2012, 11:56 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD-E93-11 View Post
BMW paying for maintenance might seem to be a reason for them to lengthen the service interval, but the intervals are similar for other European performance makers that recommend synthetic exclusively but don't pay for maintenance, and therefore have no incentive to stretch intervals out.

Questioning the extended interval was a frequent topic on Merc boards and especially so on Porsche boards for the 2005-07 models when owners were questioning the 20,000 mile interval that was recommended. But the 997/987 have been relatively trouble-free and around a good bit longer than the e9x so it has not seemed to hurt reliability. That said, it is interesting that Porsche went back down to 12000 mile intervals and then 10,000 in subsequent years on refreshed models.
that's interesting.i know i got on my soapbox a bit.one thing i haven't factored in is that oil technology gets better and better.i talked again to my friend who's a bmw master tech and he said they are seeing sludge in the oil of cars that have waited the 15k miles,so i'm more comfortable with the shorter intervals.
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      08-20-2012, 01:22 PM   #21
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I change every 10,000 km or 6,250 miles.
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      08-20-2012, 02:04 PM   #22
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I just passed 30,000 mile mark and have changed oil 6 times
(and, Diff fluid twice & DCT transmission oil once).
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