vadim

I am about to do my first oil change on my 530 and my wife's X3. Bavarian Auto has Mann filter kits for $7.95 and genuine BMW oil for $7 a quart. Filter kit sounds like a good price, can anyone confirm on which oil to use? I am sure i can get good synthetic from Walmart for a lot less than $7 a quart. Should I go with Castrol Synthetic like BMW recommends?

MiamiPhill

This is the procedure for my 08 535i that you may find useful. http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=49786
And here is a video of Nick doing his 530i. http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=50482
Good luck!

luigi524td

Have you priced the required items at your BMW Dealer's Parts Department? Many post specials on their websites and also offer BMWCCA Member Discounts.

vadim

Yeah, they quoted me $20 for a filter kit for 530 and said X3's filter is different and it's only $10. Which doesn't make any sense. Everywhere else I look, it lists the same part number. I am more concerned about what's the best oil to use for the money.

markke

I just went through this process for my 545.

Surprisingly, my BMW dealer's parts department had a fairly competitive price on the Castrol Syntec oil, which is spec'd for the car. I think I paid US $6.50/qt. I've seen it at retail for about $6.29/qt -- so, penny pinchers rejoice!

I also went the BMW filter route. It was around $18. I received a 15% discount for BMW CCA membership.

On a side note -- I just picked up a new oil filter for my Toyota 4Runner limited (about US $4-5). Appararently, Purolator makes really good oil filters that trap 99.9% of particles. I did a quick search for your car and it looks like they have the BWM style filter that traps around 96%. I don't know how this compares with BMW OEM, but I suspect it's right in-line with it.

My thinking is -- BMW assembles the car and doesn't necessarily sit around manufacturing German-engineered oil filters. This is a 'label-slapping' situation.

Cheers,
Mark

luigi524td

I usually shop the sales and rebates for Castrol Syntec or Mobil 1 and buy 2-3 5quart jugs whenever the price is right (last was $19 for the 5 quart jug. After all, it doesn't go bad!

And I agree with you on filter prices and packaging. I have preferred Mann over Purolator for my BMWs. Lately though I've seen them manufactured in the PacRim ... NOT Germany. I trust that specifications are specifications and Mann is shopping for lower manufacturing costs not sub-standard materials.

markke

Luigi,

Wow, US $19 for a 5 quart jug! I would stock up on that. Where do you buy it?

M

nickolas_g

Although I switched to the Mobil 1 that I use in my Porsche I would probably go back to the factory suggested oil. The testing that was done by blackstone stated that it had plenty of life left in it. From my perspective though too cost is not an issue for me. I am the sucker who is willing to pay the top dollar for the best for my baby.

I change the oil in my cars (and do other maintenance) because I really enjoy it. I love all four of my cars no matter how unrefined some may be. Perhaps it comes from my youth. My first job was being a gas jockey in a Standard Oil station and workin on cars.

;-)

gwf545

Me too! I worked at gas stations through high school and into college. I still can't let anyone touch my own or my kids cars unless it's a big job that I can't handle in my own garage.