How often are you supposed to change your oil?

LarThaL · 06-21-2012, 05:51 PM

Bought my car in 6/2011. Had the 1200 mile service in 7/2011. Car has 6500 miles now and my service indicator is saying I am not due for an oil change until 10000 miles or 6/2013. That would be almost 2 years with no oil change. Is this accurate?

kchu221 · 06-21-2012, 06:10 PM

people that dont drive often or that dont put alot of miles dont really follow the computer, they usually change out their oil every 6 monthes...

bimdo · 06-21-2012, 06:35 PM

i think you should change oil every 5000 to 7500 miles.the factory interval of up to 15000 miles is too long imo,and that of many mechanics i have talked to.i plan to keep my car a long time.an extra oil change is expensive for what it is,but it's cheap insurance and peace of mind for this very high performance engine.there is a proviso in the factory maintenance for changing it after a year,which got me a free oil change after about 7500 miles even though the computer was indicating later.

PhillyNate · 06-21-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarThaL

Bought my car in 6/2011. Had the 1200 mile service in 7/2011. Car has 6500 miles now and my service indicator is saying I am not due for an oil change until 10000 miles or 6/2013. That would be almost 2 years with no oil change. Is this accurate?

You are entitled to a yearly freebie oil change at the 1 year point of the last change. I highly recommend you take it in next month. I wouldn't want overworked oil or OLD oil in these cars. Plus it's free, so why not. I'm in the same exact boat and am taking mine in for oil in August.

tlp · 06-21-2012, 08:55 PM

Frequency is 12mos or approx 11k miles whichever comes first. You have to initiate the free oil change based on time vs miles. Get your free wiper refill while you are there as well. Take every free service opportunity that you can.

Thanks for the reminder. My 12mo service comes up on 06/23

tibra1 · 06-21-2012, 09:34 PM

I also do an indy change every 5K / 6 months...the heck with what the computer says

THE TECH · 06-22-2012, 08:38 AM

DIY every 5000 miles.

Singletrack · 06-22-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarThaL

Bought my car in 6/2011. Had the 1200 mile service in 7/2011. Car has 6500 miles now and my service indicator is saying I am not due for an oil change until 10000 miles or 6/2013. That would be almost 2 years with no oil change. Is this accurate?

Every 12 months or when it tells you (usually 12-16k miles). They probably set the service interval incorrectly. They did this in my wife's 328 as well.

CardSurge · 06-22-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyNate

You are entitled to a yearly freebie oil change at the 1 year point of the last change. I highly recommend you take it in next month. I wouldn't want overworked oil or OLD oil in these cars. Plus it's free, so why not. I'm in the same exact boat and am taking mine in for oil in August.

Nate: Where do you take yours for service? Mainline? I got my car from Mt. Laurel, but took it to Mainline for its 1200 mile service. I left the service feeling a little uneasy. No particular reason why, but just got the feeling like they didn't deal with M's quite as much as Mt. Laurel.

My car is nearing 7K now, and I am slowly seeing the oil temp creep up. Maybe just the outside temps, but I was considering doing a change myself vs waiting for the dealer service vs going to VAC.

M3PO · 06-22-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

DIY every 5000 miles.

+1, my last oil change showed elevated levels of wear metals related to the bearings after only 7800 miles so I will be changing it every 5K from now on.

PhillyNate · 06-22-2012, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardSurge

Nate: Where do you take yours for service? Mainline? I got my car from Mt. Laurel, but took it to Mainline for its 1200 mile service. I left the service feeling a little uneasy. No particular reason why, but just got the feeling like they didn't deal with M's quite as much as Mt. Laurel.

My car is nearing 7K now, and I am slowly seeing the oil temp creep up. Maybe just the outside temps, but I was considering doing a change myself vs waiting for the dealer service vs going to VAC.

I bought from Mount Laurel and service there as well. I avoid Mainline like the plague due to an unpleasant experience when shopping for my '08. All I've EVER had done at Mainline was state inspection ONCE on my '08. Mount Laurel is outta the way but I've never had a bad service experience. I believe they indeed have more M experience also. Ask for SA Kurt Foster.

TQPDWN · 05-05-2013, 02:53 AM

depends of how you drive, every 5k its just waste of $,and keep you happy "thinking the car is running fresh". all tech tells you to do oil change,and keeps ur car good,they just want to make $. I learn this from tech school.

Grail05 · 05-13-2013, 05:41 PM

i do mine every 6-7k but usually its 7k. give your take.

tmntmn · 05-13-2013, 06:51 PM

i change mine out ever 7-7.5k

Shoney41 · 05-14-2013, 08:08 AM

I just got mine but plan on getting an oil change every 5-7k miles. The peace of mind is worth the relatively low cost and inconvenience.

lsmkr01 · 05-14-2013, 12:04 PM

I do every 7.5k because i do minimal city driving. If you do frequently drive in the city/stop & go traffic i'd change every 5k miles.

elm3 · 05-14-2013, 02:33 PM

Like pretty much everybody else, I do mine every 7.5k miles. It is not that hard to do yourself.

06-21-2012, 05:51 PM	#1
LarThaL Colonel 336 Rep 2,940 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: West Springfield, MA iTrader: (0)	How often are you supposed to change your oil? Bought my car in 6/2011. Had the 1200 mile service in 7/2011. Car has 6500 miles now and my service indicator is saying I am not due for an oil change until 10000 miles or 6/2013. That would be almost 2 years with no oil change. Is this accurate? __________________ **Audi S6 Audi S3 * Porsche Cayman GTS* --Former BMW M3 owner**
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-21-2012, 06:10 PM	#2
kchu221 JDM whore 188 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2009 997.1 Turbo Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: los angeles iTrader: (11)	people that dont drive often or that dont put alot of miles dont really follow the computer, they usually change out their oil every 6 monthes... __________________ 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2012, 06:35 PM	#3
bimdo Lieutenant 42 Rep 486 Posts Drives: 2008 e90 m3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	i think you should change oil every 5000 to 7500 miles.the factory interval of up to 15000 miles is too long imo,and that of many mechanics i have talked to.i plan to keep my car a long time.an extra oil change is expensive for what it is,but it's cheap insurance and peace of mind for this very high performance engine.there is a proviso in the factory maintenance for changing it after a year,which got me a free oil change after about 7500 miles even though the computer was indicating later.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2012, 08:55 PM	#5
tlp Colonel 276 Rep 2,216 Posts Drives: 991 GT3, Sold:'11 e92 M3 SG/FR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Las Vegas/SoCal iTrader: (6) Garage List SOLD 2011 BMW e92 M3 [9.10]	Frequency is 12mos or approx 11k miles whichever comes first. You have to initiate the free oil change based on time vs miles. Get your free wiper refill while you are there as well. Take every free service opportunity that you can. Thanks for the reminder. My 12mo service comes up on 06/23 __________________ 991 GT3, Sold: '11 e92 M3 SG/FR ZCP\|ZCV\|ZP2\|2MK\|494\|415\|6NR\|752 Last edited by tlp; 06-21-2012 at 09:23 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2012, 09:34 PM	#6
tibra1 Banned 127 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	I also do an indy change every 5K / 6 months...the heck with what the computer says
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-22-2012, 08:38 AM	#7
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	DIY every 5000 miles.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-05-2013, 02:53 AM	#12
TQPDWN Private First Class 7 Rep 121 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	depends of how you drive, every 5k its just waste of $,and keep you happy "thinking the car is running fresh". all tech tells you to do oil change,and keeps ur car good,they just want to make $. I learn this from tech school.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2013, 05:41 PM	#13
Grail05 Putcha ang ganda... 279 Rep 5,441 Posts Drives: 17 F82 M4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Brea CA. iTrader: (10)	i do mine every 6-7k but usually its 7k. give your take. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2013, 06:51 PM	#14
tmntmn ///M 160 Rep 1,867 Posts Drives: e92 M3/M-DCT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (6)	i change mine out ever 7-7.5k __________________ THANKS TO:~<RPM>~ ~<SONICMS>~ ~<MODECARBON>~ ~<McKennaPerformance>~ MODS: MODECARBON V2 GTS FRONT LIP & REAR DIFFUSER, AA GREEN FILTER, RPI SCOOPS, PSW, Verstraβe Extended DCT Shifter, ZCP WHEELS (SEMI-GLOSS), OHLINS R&T, Megan Exhaust, AKRA XPIPE, BMW LED INTERIOR, BLACKOUT W/ORION V4 LED AE, OSRAM CBI
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-14-2013, 08:08 AM	#15
Shoney41 Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 245 Posts Drives: '13 E92 M3 6MT Jet Black Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I just got mine but plan on getting an oil change every 5-7k miles. The peace of mind is worth the relatively low cost and inconvenience. __________________ 2013 E92 M3; 6MT; Jet Black; Fully Loaded; ACM Exhaust Mod
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-14-2013, 12:04 PM	#16
lsmkr01 Lieutenant Colonel 40 Rep 1,629 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	I do every 7.5k because i do minimal city driving. If you do frequently drive in the city/stop & go traffic i'd change every 5k miles.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-14-2013, 02:33 PM	#17
elm3 ///M Fan 366 Rep 2,159 Posts Drives: '09 E92 M3 IB/'17 f85 X5M LBB Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canton, GA. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW / X5M [9.00] 2009 E92 M3 [10.00] 2004 Yamaha R1 [10.00]	Like pretty much everybody else, I do mine every 7.5k miles. It is not that hard to do yourself. __________________ '09 E92 ///M3 Interlagos Blue,6MT,Silver Novillo Leather,CF Trim,Premium Package,Technology Package,Cold Weather Package,Premium Sound,19"Wheels,Moonroof-Toy/'17 X5M, Long Beach Blue, Executive Package,Technology Package, Lighting Package, Driver Assist, Full Mughello Red Interior, 21" wheels-Toy/'14 535i with M Sport and 19" wheels-Daily
	Appreciate 0 Quote