3-Series (E46, E90)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1999 to Current. Models include: BMW 316i, BMW 318i, BMW 318Ci, BMW 320i, BMW 323i, BMW 325i, BMW 330i, BMW 328 Ci, BMW 328i, BMW 325i/xi, BMW 330Ci, BMW 320d, BMW 330d, BMW 335d.
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Yes, 17 months passed since I bought my E46 and the engine oil is still the same. I've done 6,000 miles since then. The manual says, follow the on-board service indicator or change the oil every 2 years max. I don't drive much, mostly on weekends and mostly for fun. It looks like I'm gonna have the oil changed every 24 months!!
: Wow, i would change mine every 3,000 miles. Guess you can say cheap insurance. I couldn't even fathom running a luxurious car for about two years until the next oil change. Maybe if i had a hyundai i wouldn't even give it an oil change...lol. To each is own.
Last edited by ferracci69; 01-11-2006 at 06:07 PM.
Cool. You know, you can post about stuuf other than how rarely your car needs oil changes.... jk
Haha, until today I was following only North American BMW forums, and the common attitude I've been witnessing was, "change your oil as often as possible, it can't hurt" and "oil-change every two years is madness!! : ".
However, the BMW service manual that came with the car clearly states that the oil need be changed whenever the 'service indicator' blinks or every two years. Which ever comes first.
Today, I discovered couple of German BMW forums, and it seems that 'oil change every 24 months' is not a rare thing at all in Europe. On the contrary, it seems to be common when newer engines and longlife synthetic oils are concerned.
To those of you, who speak German, here are some good forums. A quick search within these forums provides surprising answers :
1) can I change the oil myself, or do I have to take the car into a shop to have them do some computer re-set crap so the light doesn't go on. (I just bought my '02 325i two weeks ago, with fresh oil change, belts, brakes, etc.)
2) I dig your ride. Where'd you get the side markers?
2) I dig your ride. Where'd you get the side markers?
Ari
Thanks, they came pre-installed within the package 'Edition Lifestyle'. Or was it 'Edition Exclusive'? I don't remember really. But the option is called 'Blinkleuchten weiss (785)' in German.
Haha, until today I was following only North American BMW forums, and the common attitude I've been witnessing was, "change your oil as often as possible, it can't hurt" and "oil-change every two years is madness!! : ".
However, the BMW service manual that came with the car clearly states that the oil need be changed whenever the 'service indicator' blinks or every two years. Which ever comes first.
Today, I discovered couple of German BMW forums, and it seems that 'oil change every 24 months' is not a rare thing at all in Europe. On the contrary, it seems to be common when newer engines and longlife synthetic oils are concerned.
To those of you, who speak German, here are some good forums. A quick search within these forums provides surprising answers :
Absolutely ,I agree with you !
Always stick to car manufacturer recommendation, and use oils approved/recommended by them.The quality of the engine oil selected has critical signifcance for the operation and service life of an engine..Based on extensive testing BMW has approved only certain engine oils and these oils should be used, especially BMW brand "high performance synthetic oil", which has capacity to last even more than 24000km(15000miles) or 2 years.In Europe oils manufacturers recommend to change these new generation oils after 55000km(35000miles) under normal driving condition(no racing) with an oil filter change in the middle.
BMW sophisticated system use special logarythm to calculate the optimal maintenance intervals,which incledes load, temperature, rpm, distance traveled.
Technical details how it works are as follow.
Mileage is estimated based on the following formula:
e= a(1+t+r)
e=Estimated mileage
a=Actual mileage traveled
t=1 if engine temperature is below operating temperature, else t=0
r=.5 if engine is above 4500 RPM, else r=0
Example: If you traveled 5 miles with a cold engine running at 5000 RPM, the SII computer would actually "estimate" 12.5 miles traveled:
Solving for e:
a=5 (the actual miles traveled)
t=1 (because the engine was cold)
r=.5 (the engine was exceeding 4500 RPM)
e=5 X (1+1+.5)=12.5 estimated miles (from a trip of only 5 miles)
Once the computer reaches a certain count value it displays on the dash board when to chang the oil or do an inspection.
It is up to people to change oil whenever they want, everybody has it own brain , but changing these high quality oils every 5000 miles is simply overkilling.
Z.
No wonder....German package! I thought that license plate looked funny! Damn stupid American laws...
Anyway, "Z" goes to the head of the class. Frankly, I don't plan on using my oil for more than 10K miles in Los Angeles stop-and-go traffic. Just seems wrong. (It's like taking a shower once a week because, "Hey, I don't get THAT dirty!") I'd rather take 2 showers a day and change my oil more frequently and have the piece of mind of new, fresh oil. But I'm sure "Z" is right. And of course the BMW engineers who wrote the book are too...
Nevertheless, who knows where I can find a detailed (pictoral preferably) description on changing the oil/filter and other minor maintenance jobs?
No wonder....German package! I thought that license plate looked funny! Damn stupid American laws...
Anyway, "Z" goes to the head of the class. Frankly, I don't plan on using my oil for more than 10K miles in Los Angeles stop-and-go traffic. Just seems wrong. (It's like taking a shower once a week because, "Hey, I don't get THAT dirty!") I'd rather take 2 showers a day and change my oil more frequently and have the piece of mind of new, fresh oil. But I'm sure "Z" is right. And of course the BMW engineers who wrote the book are too...
Nevertheless, who knows where I can find a detailed (pictoral preferably) description on changing the oil/filter and other minor maintenance jobs?
I think it would be time to try Auto-Rx there has to be some sludge in it. Has anyone tried the new 0x30 Castrol yet if so your comments please thanks.
I think it would be time to try Auto-Rx there has to be some sludge in it. Has anyone tried the new 0x30 Castrol yet if so your comments please thanks.
Daryl
I use from the day one this "holy juice", 60K plus milage with average 12000K miles OC.No deposit . no sludge and under the valves cover the engine is shiny like "doggy balls"and it sounds like a swiss watch.
Rudy.
Mileage is estimated based on the following formula:
e= a(1+t+r)
e=Estimated mileage
a=Actual mileage traveled
t=1 if engine temperature is below operating temperature, else t=0
r=.5 if engine is above 4500 RPM, else r=0
Example: If you traveled 5 miles with a cold engine running at 5000 RPM, the SII computer would actually "estimate" 12.5 miles traveled:
Solving for e:
a=5 (the actual miles traveled)
t=1 (because the engine was cold)
r=.5 (the engine was exceeding 4500 RPM)
e=5 X (1+1+.5)=12.5 estimated miles (from a trip of only 5 miles)
Z.
Thanks for the formula, zibby. It's very interesting and good to know.
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: Wow, i would change mine every 3,000 miles. Guess you can say cheap insurance. I couldn't even fathom running a luxurious car for about two years until the next oil change. Maybe if i had a hyundai i wouldn't even give it an oil change...lol. To each is own. 
http://www.q8oils.it/
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