oil change between scheduled maintenance

[rfdgn1228]

hi guys,

i was wondering if any of you guys got an oil change between the 1,200 mile service and 14,000 mile service. a friend told me that 12,000+ miles between oil changes is a lot regardless of the car and that he knows a bunch of m3 owners who paid for an oil change around 7,500 miles.

i'm already around that mileage and contemplating if i should go get an oil change myself. what do you guys think?

thanks

[BimmerRob08]

Although I don't have an exact quote from BMW or anything. It seams 15,000 miles is the maximum distance auto manufactures agree on to honor the warrenty and the maximum extent for the oil. My Saab was the same with manufacture suggestion of 15,000 mile oil changes. As a long time mechanic myself, I think 15,000 is the maximum I want my oil to last. I do my oil changes at about the 7,500 mile mark. Any shorter is probebly just a waste of time/$$. But I'm not comfortable with 15,000 miles. that oil comes out pretty black and the filters get pretty nasty by then. Better to be safe and go with half intervals.

[vtm3]

Regardless of miles, they will do one a year. I get the free one once a year and pay for one myself once a year, at the 6 month mark.

[JCtx]

No way I'd leave oil in there for 15K miles if you plan to keep your car. And it's the filter too. It's been proven by oil analysys it's too long (do a search). Remember who's paying for maintenance now. But if you're just leasing, as long as you observe the maintenance 'minder' you should be fine. I change oil on my other vehicles at 5K miles (a lot of short-distance city driving, plus triple-digit heat for many months), but with 9 quarts on the M3, 7,500 is fine IMO, but I'm always at less than that in a year, when oil gets changed regardless of miles. Just buy the kit from Tischer ($125) and DIY. Take care.

[dynamite]

I change my engine oil-oil filter-air filter in every 10.000 KMs.

[Radiation Joe]

7500 mile interval for me.

[duk]

after my 1.2k mile oil change, next time i do it is at 7.5k or 8k

[BimmerRob08]

Originally Posted by duk

after my 1.2k mile oil change, next time i do it is at 7.5k or 8k

+1,

I'm doing the same thing. Every 7-8K miles. 15,000 is just to long and I plan on keeping this M3.

[bunnn]

Forget what type of purchase it is, whether you own it, or it's a lease..any car enthusiast should take good care of their car. I changed my oil every ~10,000km(~6200miles) because I really believe how you treat your car..is how it'll treat you.

[MrDummy]

What about time though? I am at the one year mark in my car but only like 5,000 miles, mostly highway.

I dont own an M3 but I know you guys love your cars more so I wanted an M3ers opinion on this?

My BC says 10,000 more miles or 1/2011

[Georgeair]

You can get changes annually under the maintenance plan beginning on the anniversary of your run-in service. Even after not covered by the plan, I think that's still a reasonable minimum.

[MrDummy]

^^ so would you suggest then even though my car says to wait, to go ahead and get the oil changed now, since it has been a year, with only 5,000 miles?

Thanks again

[rfdgn1228]

thanks for all the feedback guys. i'm around 8,500 mi now so i'm going to get an oil change done.

[RichieP]

Well, I don't put much mileage on any of my cars so I don't reach the mark for miles before I think its time for a filter/oil change. Range Rovers also have 4 yr free maintenance and they always call me before a years up to do the next service (4k-5k miles at that point). For my Z06, I'm especially anal about the oil change so I do it every six months. Since I pay, the dealer thinks its a good idea even if it only has 1500 mi. I would agree that 15000mi seems like a long time unless your doing alot of highway driving. I like the idea of 7500mi with synthetic oil, 3000 mi with non synthetic. One thing I do know, I wont be following my Mother's idea of oil change intervals...Once every other car!

[Slpnbyu]

Every 7,500 here.

[KASM3]

7,500 I pay out of pocket and annually through warranty. I would've changed oil myself but after cost of 10q of oil and filter. It was only 40 bucks more at my dealer at the time. With an M engine I wouldnt chance 15K oil changes only.

[rfdgn1228]

thanks for all the input guys. i finally got an oil change last night. i rather be safe than sorry. what i didn't realize is that our oil is $11 a quart and our filter is $20+. plus you need 8 quarts! these are the times i miss my $50 oil changes on the nissans and hondas.

[aus]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

^^ so would you suggest then even though my car says to wait, to go ahead and get the oil changed now, since it has been a year, with only 5,000 miles?

Thanks again

BMW will pay for the oil change if it's been 1 year and 1 day.
They'll also flush your brake fluid after 2 years from the day it was filled, which could be months before you bought it.