oil changes and driving your car hard

Frozen Black Panther · 07-28-2010, 08:48 PM

I have put on 6000 miles since my first service,should I get an oil change? if so do i need to do it at BMW or can I go to any of those oil change centers and use castrol.

If I go to BMW will they charge me for it?

I drove the car pretty hard from colorado to chicago to nyc back to chicago, im thinking its a good idea to get an oil change or should I just wait till the car says so?

M3PGH · 07-28-2010, 08:49 PM

check the oil level

ersin · 07-28-2010, 09:02 PM

If you're still in the free maintenance period the dealer will charge you for a change if the service indicator does not say you're ready for one. It's still worth it though.

Don't go anywhere else for oil than the dealer. Nobody else has Castrol 10W60. At least that I know of. Can anybody confirm first hand another place besides a BMW dealer that does?

Cheers.

Scoobe · 07-28-2010, 09:14 PM

If you have iDrive, you can see in there if you need a service. It also tells you with a warning message. And you'd want to go to BMW for it, it's free and they have the correct filters/oil for it.

richardbb85 · 07-28-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobe

If you have iDrive, you can see in there if you need a service. It also tells you with a warning message. And you'd want to go to BMW for it, it's free and they have the correct filters/oil for it.

^^^^^^ yup

Krozi · 07-28-2010, 09:20 PM

Oil changes are only free when the iDrive says your due for one...either way I do mine every 5k... So I do 3 oil changes and 1 is free...

Frozen Black Panther · 07-28-2010, 09:25 PM

ok so regardless of long hard driving and 6000 miles since first service, dont change it unless the idrive says so?

Scoobe · 07-28-2010, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by That Nice Guy Beck!

ok so regardless of long hard driving and 6000 miles since first service, dont change it unless the idrive says so?

Probably not, the oil goes through sensors. It will tell you to get service at 10 or 12k miles, or when the oil is getting questionable, whichever comes first.

Frozen Black Panther · 07-28-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobe

Probably not, the oil goes through sensors. It will tell you to get service at 10 or 12k miles, or when the oil is getting questionable, whichever comes first.

ok cool thanks

BigHat · 07-29-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

If you're still in the free maintenance period the dealer will charge you for a change if the service indicator does not say you're ready for one. It's still worth it though.

Don't go anywhere else for oil than the dealer. Nobody else has Castrol 10W60. At least that I know of. Can anybody confirm first hand another place besides a BMW dealer that does?

Cheers.

Two quick points.

1. Agree that BMW is balancing cost in the equation. If you're driving it hard and plan on keeping the car, getting an interim oil change between the free ones probably isn't wasteful. I drove a CLK430 in the late 90s that had a long extended oil change interval. There was a class action suit after some engine damage and all engine warranties were extended to 100K. So they don't always get it right.

2. While I wouldn't say the oil is in every 7-10, it's not hard to get on line (do a search). I bought some just to top it off if need be. Usually cheaper than the dealer too.

No reason you can't buy the oil and filter and DIY or have a good indy shop do it. Not rocket science. IF you opt to do this remember NOT to reset the service indicator and your march toward the free one will continue. If you keep reseting it, you'll be paying for them yourself. Also not a bad idea to factor in the annual oil change option. Regardless of mileage, you rate new oil once per year.

saeedg48 · 07-29-2010, 10:49 AM

My car always feels new and fresh once i chance the oil. But I say do it at BMW. Don't you have a service plan? They do it for free..

jdgamble · 07-29-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobe

Probably not, the oil goes through sensors. It will tell you to get service at 10 or 12k miles, or when the oil is getting questionable, whichever comes first.

I don't think there is an oil sensor... It's an algorithm that looks at driving style and other monitored engine parameters (temp/RPM). There is no actual sensor that monitors oil quality. What would it look at? Viscosity? Solids content?

I think a lot of people on this board will change their oil more frequently than the recommended interval. I'm gonna get an oil change when my indicator says 7000 miles to service. Yes you pay for it, but my dealer has already agreed to $200. Considering the parts cost $125 on the internet, I think $75 for the convenience of a loaner and someone else dealing with hot oil and disposal is a good deal. I would never go 15K miles between oil changes... Maybe a psychological thing, but some manufacturers have seen sludge issues with that type of interval (Mercedes for one). Just my .02.

BigHat · 07-29-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saeedg48

My car always feels new and fresh once i chance the oil. But I say do it at BMW. Don't you have a service plan? They do it for free..

They don't do it for free when you want it on your terms vs. theirs.

leo95se · 07-29-2010, 08:44 PM

anyone try an oil analysis? im all for preventive maintenance, but PM theory is based on quality control and/or condition based maintenance.
going with the latter, there isnt a benefit to oil changes if oil test results show the oil condition to be adequate.

for example, ive done 3 track sessions, and am around 3/4 quart low on oil, at 6k miles. im doing one more track session, will change myself around 8k miles, then send for analysis..

ShadeD1 · 07-31-2010, 06:29 AM

I just got my oil test kit from blackstone. next time I have it on a lift I'm going to grab a sample. I've got 6k miles and 5 track weekends on it and I'm nervous about waiting a year for a free change

Krozi · 07-31-2010, 07:10 AM

I've done 2 BlackStone Oil Analysis and I am confident the 15k oil changes are SHIT. I bought the car used with 17k highway miles (the previous owner did the 1200 mile service and got another oil change at 16k miles). As soon as I got the car I did an oil change and my SA kept a sample for me, the sample had high aluminum...did another oil change at 3k miles and did another sample... and all the values were perfect again.

Krozi · 07-31-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackRat

The UOA tells you if the oil is still serviceable not how well it functions in the engine. High aluminum is normal in new engines as is iron. Valve spring surge at high rpm can also increase alumium PPMs, as in parts per MILLION. See the link below for UOA analysis use and interpretation.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/in...onth&Itemid=71

BlackStone has the averages from many S65 engines, my aluminum count was above average, and 17k miles isn't new...

deletedelete · 07-31-2010, 03:06 PM

If its leased dont worry about it, if you plan on keeping it then id do an oil change inbetween each free one.

tudernos · 08-09-2010, 07:01 PM

So let me get this straight.... You don't have to change your oil until the indicator pops up and tell you do so? Is that safe even if you drove it with 10,000 miles on it from your previous oil change? I'm new to the BMW scene and I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I guess it all depends on your driving style if you drive it hard or conservatively to trigger the oil indicator to go off soon or not.

07-28-2010, 08:48 PM	#1
Frozen Black Panther Captain 67 Rep 927 Posts Drives: 2013 550 DINAN STAGE 2 Join Date: May 2010 Location: NYC/CHICAGO iTrader: (0)	oil changes and driving your car hard I have put on 6000 miles since my first service,should I get an oil change? if so do i need to do it at BMW or can I go to any of those oil change centers and use castrol. If I go to BMW will they charge me for it? I drove the car pretty hard from colorado to chicago to nyc back to chicago, im thinking its a good idea to get an oil change or should I just wait till the car says so?
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07-28-2010, 08:49 PM	#2
M3PGH Major 807 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pittsburgh,PA iTrader: (1)	check the oil level
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07-28-2010, 09:02 PM	#3
ersin Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 17 YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	If you're still in the free maintenance period the dealer will charge you for a change if the service indicator does not say you're ready for one. It's still worth it though. Don't go anywhere else for oil than the dealer. Nobody else has Castrol 10W60. At least that I know of. Can anybody confirm first hand another place besides a BMW dealer that does? Cheers. __________________ 2017 F80 YMB.
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07-28-2010, 09:14 PM	#4
Scoobe Lieutenant 19 Rep 562 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan SSII/SN/DCT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [10.00]	If you have iDrive, you can see in there if you need a service. It also tells you with a warning message. And you'd want to go to BMW for it, it's free and they have the correct filters/oil for it. __________________ 08 GT500 convertible red package (Black w/ Red stripes) /Ford Racing Exhaust /Cold Air Induction 560hp 10 Porsche Cayenne GTS Black w/ Black Wheels 408hp 11 M3 Silverstone w/ Silver Novillo Leather /Tech /Premium /19" /DCT /Ipod 414hp
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07-28-2010, 09:20 PM	#6
Krozi Colonel 167 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	Oil changes are only free when the iDrive says your due for one...either way I do mine every 5k... So I do 3 oil changes and 1 is free... __________________ 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White//Fox Red//6MT// Florida Bimmer - Join us on FaceBook!
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07-28-2010, 09:25 PM	#7
Frozen Black Panther Captain 67 Rep 927 Posts Drives: 2013 550 DINAN STAGE 2 Join Date: May 2010 Location: NYC/CHICAGO iTrader: (0)	ok so regardless of long hard driving and 6000 miles since first service, dont change it unless the idrive says so?
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07-29-2010, 10:49 AM	#11
saeedg48 Brigadier General 342 Rep 3,574 Posts Drives: Porsche 991.1 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (1)	My car always feels new and fresh once i chance the oil. But I say do it at BMW. Don't you have a service plan? They do it for free.. __________________ 2015 Porsche 991.1 GT3 2015 F80 M3 -- Individual; Space Grey
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07-29-2010, 08:44 PM	#14
leo95se Captain 126 Rep 938 Posts Drives: '09 e92 M3, '15 F15 X5d Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (3)	anyone try an oil analysis? im all for preventive maintenance, but PM theory is based on quality control and/or condition based maintenance. going with the latter, there isnt a benefit to oil changes if oil test results show the oil condition to be adequate. for example, ive done 3 track sessions, and am around 3/4 quart low on oil, at 6k miles. im doing one more track session, will change myself around 8k miles, then send for analysis..
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07-31-2010, 06:29 AM	#15
ShadeD1 First Lieutenant 38 Rep 330 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 xDrive 35i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	I just got my oil test kit from blackstone. next time I have it on a lift I'm going to grab a sample. I've got 6k miles and 5 track weekends on it and I'm nervous about waiting a year for a free change
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07-31-2010, 07:10 AM	#16
Krozi Colonel 167 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	I've done 2 BlackStone Oil Analysis and I am confident the 15k oil changes are SHIT. I bought the car used with 17k highway miles (the previous owner did the 1200 mile service and got another oil change at 16k miles). As soon as I got the car I did an oil change and my SA kept a sample for me, the sample had high aluminum...did another oil change at 3k miles and did another sample... and all the values were perfect again.
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07-31-2010, 03:06 PM	#18
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	If its leased dont worry about it, if you plan on keeping it then id do an oil change inbetween each free one. __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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08-09-2010, 07:01 PM	#19
tudernos Private First Class 12 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 AW M3 Annabelle Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (1)	So let me get this straight.... You don't have to change your oil until the indicator pops up and tell you do so? Is that safe even if you drove it with 10,000 miles on it from your previous oil change? I'm new to the BMW scene and I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I guess it all depends on your driving style if you drive it hard or conservatively to trigger the oil indicator to go off soon or not.
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