soundmike

iTrader: (24)

I know this has been posted before but i have a slightly different question about this.

I drive mostly city so i thought 3k would be my schedule.

However i got conflicting things from my dealer/service advisor.

1) The sticker on the car windshield says 3k miles
2) The mailer i got from my dealer says 3k miles
3) My service advisor says 3,750 miles

Who should i believe?

Thanks

CFster

750 miles doesn't make a difference. Do it when it's convenient.

Or put synthetic in it and change it every 7500.

Did you know that new BMWs first recommended oil change is at 15,000 miles?

With the advent of fuel injection the days of 3000 mile oil changes are gone. It simply isn't necessary.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

BMW has good filters, but they're not 15K good. Remember, the manufacturer is just that, a manufacturer, and they hope you will buy another new car from them. I won't argue that synthetics are capable of extended drain intervals, but the filters aren't.

Eric L.

I see where you are coming from, but if you are correct that filters cannot last that long, how come ALL the car mags that have long term test vehicles have NEVER had engine problems due to the 7500 mile DINO oil change intervals, and 15k SYNTHETIC change intervals? I agree that frequent oil changes cannot hurt the car, but it appears that oil technology and engine tolerances have advanced to a point where less frequent oil changes are just fine in terms of maintaining engine condition.

Personally, I use Mobil One and Nissan OEM filters, and change my oil every 6,000 miles because I make many short 2 mile trips everyday.

clee130

Read the Oil Analysis thread on top. Then get the Blackstone Oil Analysis kit. Change your oil. Send Blackstone a sample. See what they say.

theMax

yep wish nissan would get their story straight.

If you look closely in the service manual its generic.

Seems like the old 3K changes are pushed by the service depts to make $$ but the designers push 3750 as whats needed?

As said if your really concerned check it out at blackstone labs.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

The car magazines all get rid of their cars around 40K total. I would think the problems created by the oil contamination will show up later in the life of the engine. If you want to get a long trouble free life out of the car 15K with normal filters is just too long. If you don't care and will trade it long before it becomes an issue that interval will work fine. Personal Preference

Max2000

Yup... when my ex-boss took her Z3 for the first 3000 miles oil change.. the dealer won't even do it for her.... they said that unless the light "oil change" comes up.. then you don't need an oil change... when when it finally came up.. it was at like... 15000 miles..

Eric L.

So, do you think the oil condition monitors on BMWs overextend oil change intervals? Because the 15k interval only applies for vehicles with those kinds of sensors to monitor oil condition, such as BMW vehicles and GM trucks.

CFster

There are no sensors that monitor oil condition. The service lights come on at specified intervals.

And yes, most new cars have them now. This particular BMW I was dealing with had a Mobil 1 plaque under the hood so I guess they feel that they can go that long. I was also working on a AMG CLK55 that had the same service schedule. I not sure if it was just the AMGs that come with synthetic, or the whole Mercedes line.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

BMW uses computers that monitor the start cycles on the engine, giving you progressively fewer lights until they all extinguish, prompting the trip to the dealer. My OPINION: They are nothing but a marketing tool, because people don't want the "inconvenience" and expense of frequent dealer visits. Until people can prove me otherwise, I stand by my statement that the oil is capable of the 15K+ interval, but the filter is NOT.