New Car Oil Change - BMW Forum

keithmok · 10-26-2004, 06:52 AM

hiya bimmers,

I am new to this forum and loved you guys with tons of info with our beloved.

I got a question, why New cars got their oil change in over 20k km ? I was told to change every 5000km with other brands of cars, what's the magic behind and why BMWs' dun need AT oil change for the life of the vehicle?

Thanks!!

mmGoDLiKe · 10-26-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by keithmok@Oct 26 2004, 06:52 AM
hiya bimmers,

I am new to this forum and loved you guys with tons of info with our beloved.

I got a question, why New cars got their oil change in over 20k km ? I was told to change every 5000km with other brands of cars, what's the magic behind and why BMWs' dun need AT oil change for the life of the vehicle?

Thanks!!

[snapback]218754[/snapback]

every car in europe gets its oil changed every 30,000km, and has for years. its all a money scam over here - no car needs oil changed every 5000km with synthetic oil.

--Mike

schilke · 10-26-2004, 12:32 PM

Not sure what ya'll are smoking over there, but changing your oil every 4000 to 5000 miles is a damn cheap insurance policy.

Manufactureres design their engines with a life in mind.

So when BMW designes the oil change indicator lights, they calculate how many oil changes might be required for their engine to meet it's durability target. If you want your car's engine to run trouble free forever (200K + miles) I suggest changing at least (even with synthetic) 4000-5000 miles.

I noticed you speaking metric, so you can do the conversion.

JMHO from someone in the business.

Gulelin · 10-26-2004, 01:35 PM

BMW says every 15,000 for thier new cars, which I think is crazy. I change mine in between the service intervals, even though I pay that out of pocket.

detour54 · 10-28-2004, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gulelin@Oct 26 2004, 01:35 PM
BMW says every 15,000 for thier new cars, which I think is crazy. I change mine in between the service intervals, even though I pay that out of pocket.

[snapback]218919[/snapback]

It's not really 15,000 miles. It all depends on how you drive because BMW calculates oil changes by gallons of fuel used.

BMC · 10-29-2004, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by keithmok@Oct 26 2004, 11:52 AM
hiya bimmers,

I am new to this forum and loved you guys with tons of info with our beloved.

I got a question, why New cars got their oil change in over 20k km ? I was told to change every 5000km with other brands of cars, what's the magic behind and why BMWs' dun need AT oil change for the life of the vehicle?

Thanks!!

[snapback]218754[/snapback]

It's a common misconception in the US that modern cars require oil changes so frequently. With modern engines and synthetic oil, changes are only reconmened every 15 k miles appox.

AIO · 10-31-2004, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gulelin@Oct 26 2004, 12:35 PM
BMW says every 15,000 for thier new cars, which I think is crazy.

[snapback]218919[/snapback]

And why would BMW do such a thing???
Why would they want to mislead their customers and shorten the engine lifespan?
Do they really think people will say : "Damn, the engine of my BMW died at 100K miles, so I better buy a new one and that's gotta be a brandnew BMW."
Naaah, these German cars are reknowned for their durability, something a Benz or BMW buyer always has in mind.
I for one would never ever buy a BMW again, if the pre-progrmmed car computer makes me damage the engine ealier than it should.
Something that bugged me with older models was the frequency I had to visit the car service for trivial and boring stuff such as oil change. Many thanks to BMW for reducing it.

yubyub · 11-01-2004, 06:40 AM

Agreed - BMW would make much more on repeat customers and word of mouth than they would doing oil changes.

Word of mouth and reputation go a long way with any type of product.

Squirrel · 11-01-2004, 11:03 AM

Just my .02

Being in the car bussiness i talk to alot of oil rep's (redline, mobil 1, castrol ect) and they all tell me that 10k-15k oil changes with synthetic. The castrol rep and i went to lunch and we took my 330ci and he asked me when i change my oil.. and i said about 7500 miles and he was like why! he said that 15k is when you should change it. once again this is only me .02

keithmok · 11-02-2004, 04:05 AM

Thanks so much, but I mean for the new cars, the run-in time Should produce more Debris out from the engine, and before, I drove a Subaru Twin Turbo Legacy (liberty) which in the service book said 2 oil service is needed at 1000 and 5000 km from new. Thereafter, they recommend 8000-10000km.

Just wondering if those oil filter is different or those european cars' engine do not need Run-in.(done in production.)

AIO · 11-02-2004, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by keithmok@Nov 2 2004, 04:05 AM
Thanks so much, but I mean for the new cars, the run-in time Should produce more Debris out from the engine, and before, I drove a Subaru Twin Turbo Legacy (liberty) which in the service book said 2 oil service is needed at 1000 and 5000 km from new. Thereafter, they recommend 8000-10000km.
[snapback]222873[/snapback]

My dealer told me to check the oil level after the first 2,500 miles to see if everything is OK, but he didn't mention a break-in-time for the first oil change. There's no mention of such a thing in the BMW user guide booklet, either.