Does anyone recommend this? The manual states 15K, but it seems too long. I have read that in a new car, there are fine particulates that should be cleared out.

Thanks in advance

 

oil and filter change is always a good idea, i usually add a couple of extra oil/filter changes in between factory recommendations, since i drive hard and put in many extra miles.
always stay with original synthetic oil, i find 'mobil 1' does not last as long as the brand (castrol?) they use in bmw dealerships, i usually need to top it up at around 3000 miles.
if only oil changes are less expersive i will also want to do it at the first 1000 miles and every 5000 thereafter.
i will be changing my first oil around 3000 miles (5000 kms).

 

rollee, it's me again . how are you doing and how's your ride? anyway, do you have to pay for oil changes when you go back to the dealer before the scheduled date/whenever the service light goes on? we have 4-year free maintenance so we don't have to pay anything except tires over that period of time. so i'm wondering if we go back too early, they'll still do the services for us but w/charges. please correct me if i'm wrong.

 

In the US, the dealer WILL make you pay if you car doesn't have a required filter/oil change. The only car that has a near break in change are the M's.

 

nickp, thanks for pointing that out.

 

All,

This thread brought up a question I have had reguarding oil-changes. I am failrly old school when it comes to oil and fairly ovsesive when it comes to care for my car so...

Is the recomended 15k miles to long between changes? I know with Synthetic oil they should last longer, but 3-5 times longer? Also, if the oil is not the issue, what about the filter?

May just be my paranoia, but any comments from those more learned that myself would be appreciated.

 

The high time between oil changes is fairly standard with synthetic oils and todays oil filters. In theroy any contaminents will get captured in the filter.

I've now gone on my 3rd BMW with Synthetic oil, no issues ever. Even on the car that went upto 50K miles.

 

My 530 shows service due even though I've only got 8200 miles. They've already scoped the car (whatever that is) and will be changing the oil this Wednesday, among other things. I think the OBC factors in the amount of highway and urban driving you do.

 

In the local BMWCCA forum, a service tech said service interval was based on the amount of fuel burned.

 

It was explained to me that it all depends on the way you drive it. The car will let you know when service comes due. The average is around 15k but can always change based on for example, if you are a city driver or a highway driver.