[dbs600]

My dealer performed an oil and filter change this past December, but this past week my car was calling for same again. I’ve traveled about 5.5k miles since December. I’ve since reset my oil maintenance indicator, which now states the car is due for same in 6k miles. I thought our cars were able to go one year or 10k miles between oil and filter changes. Was the interval reduced to 6k miles upon the N63 CCP? If so, is it advisable I get an oil and filter change at this time? Thanks!

[FaintReality]

I would go every 5k. 10-15k intervals recommended by BMW is ridiculous IMO.

[dbs600]

Gotcha; so I should bring it in for an oil and filter change now then.

Thanks!

[mgattmch]

My understanding is with the N63 engine, prior to the CCP, oil and filter service interval was approximately 15k miles. After CCP this is reduced to 10k miles. In my opinion if a car manufacturer recommends a 10k miles oil service interval, that is good enough for me. Remember synthetic oils are far superior to conventional oils. Frequent (3k) oil changes are, IMHO, one of the biggest con jobs going. Anyone remember the famous 1996 Consumer Report study on NY City taxis comparing 3k versus 6k oil changes? After 60k miles there was absolutely no difference in measured engine wear between the cars with the 3k and 6k oil changes. Remember; this is engine wear on a large fleet of taxis, and we are talking about vehicles subject to a lot of abuse (frequent stop starts).

[paul223]

Do it at every 7,500. If you change it earlier, it will not benefit your wallet, the car, or earth. There is a reason why car holds about 7 qts and not 4 qts like conventional brands.

[Bbb34]

7.5K miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first (for me it's always the mileage). My logic is that it's really not that expensive and it's essential for the engine.

Even tech's at BMW I talked to seem to think that BMW recommendation is a bit on a high side. Yes, I know warranty coverage is valid, as long as you follow recommended schedule, but where you might see the effect of oil changes that aren't frequent enough is well past the warranty period.

[dbs600]

Thank you everyone; great advice.

So I'm in between the 7,500 mile and 6 month figures.

Guess I'll take care of this before month's end and I'll be good!

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by mgattmch

My understanding is with the N63 engine, prior to the CCP, oil and filter service interval was approximately 15k miles. After CCP this is reduced to 10k miles. In my opinion if a car manufacturer recommends a 10k miles oil service interval, that is good enough for me. Remember synthetic oils are far superior to conventional oils. Frequent (3k) oil changes are, IMHO, one of the biggest con jobs going. Anyone remember the famous 1996 Consumer Report study on NY City taxis comparing 3k versus 6k oil changes? After 60k miles there was absolutely no difference in measured engine wear between the cars with the 3k and 6k oil changes. Remember; this is engine wear on a large fleet of taxis, and we are talking about vehicles subject to a lot of abuse (frequent stop starts).

Totally agreed. Jiffy lube or Econo lube or whatever was marketing the 3k mile change. They use to show me the black sludge and tell me there were metal pieces in there that are destroying my engine if I don't change it frequently. Scary.
That and DeBeers marketing the 'an engagement ring should be 3 months of your salary'.....

[PJinCA]

I keep maintnenance costs as low as I can. This means I do the work on my cars myself. I ignore the intervals recommended by BMW. My oil gets changed between 5-7k miles, with Mobil 1 from Walmart - can't beat $22 bucks for 5.1 qts.

[lsturbointeg]

Yeah but with my dealer even tho my maintenance is covered they will not at least the dealership I go to will not change the oil until your computer tells you to or if 1 year from the last oil change comes up. But to show up with 7,500 miles from the last oil change they will say "Sorry sir, but your oil is still fine...see you at another 7,500 miles...than we'll change it! "

[ndinh]

Originally Posted by PJinCA

I keep maintnenance costs as low as I can. This means I do the work on my cars myself. I ignore the intervals recommended by BMW. My oil gets changed between 5-7k miles, with Mobil 1 from Walmart - can't beat $22 bucks for 5.1 qts.

Is that the European Formula or regular Mobil 1 synthetic (10/30)? I've never seen the Euro formula at the local Wallymart.

[PJinCA]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Yeah but with my dealer even tho my maintenance is covered they will not at least the dealership I go to will not change the oil until your computer tells you to or if 1 year from the last oil change comes up. But to show up with 7,500 miles from the last oil change they will say "Sorry sir, but your oil is still fine...see you at another 7,500 miles...than we'll change it! "

Correct, none of the dealers will change the oil if the interval hasn't been met, unless you are willing to pay for them to do it.

Originally Posted by ndinh

Is that the European Formula or regular Mobil 1 synthetic (10/30)? I've never seen the Euro formula at the local Wallymart.

Walmart has European formula 0W-40 which works well in our SOCal climate. The oil is rated for the full 15k interval, but it never stays in my engine that long.

[Zer0Cool92]

Did ur bmw ask to add a quart of oil yet ?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

7.5K miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first (for me it's always the mileage). My logic is that it's really not that expensive and it's essential for the engine.

Even tech's at BMW I talked to seem to think that BMW recommendation is a bit on a high side. Yes, I know warranty coverage is valid, as long as you follow recommended schedule, but where you might see the effect of oil changes that aren't frequent enough is well past the warranty period.

Interested in the rationale for such short 'period' intervals, (6-months).

Here in Europe we have been running, with 10,000 miles or 1-year, (even 2-years), which ever comes sooner, for many years. Applies to many marques, I had my first VW vehicle with a 10,000 mile oil service interval back in 1998.

Many of our UK BMW models are running 18 - 20,000 miles/2-years on the CBS regime. And that includes 'oil polluting' diesel engines. Most users will simply run with the CBS requirements, even into high mileage (150,000+ miles).

My 535i CBS system is typically indicating ~18,000 miles, or the 2-years. I've gone for an interim oil change at 1-year, without a CBS reset. I'm still showing 12,000 miles to the next oil service, after driving ~ 8,000 miles from the original CBS oil service.

The reason I've opted for an 'interim' oil change is the type of use, (many short 12 mile trips from cold) and it would be the full 2-years to the CBS service, so more than mileage. If I was making longer trips and driving higher annual mileage, I'd have no issue with running to ~18,000 miles on our latest synthetic oils, even if the oil was in the engine for say 18-months.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Interested in the rationale for such short 'period' intervals, (6-months).

I'm not claiming any science behind my logic, in fact I'm aware it's a bit too cautious.
Plus, I've never driven less than 7.5K miles in 6 months.

Temperature swings where I live are about 70 degrees Celsius throughout a year (-35 to +35 regularly). I'm assuming this plays a role in additional stress being put on all the car parts. For now I happen to be fortunate enough that 2-3 oil changes a year aren't that big deal financially so my logic is "better safe than sorry" - done it to all the cars I owned so far.