Hi all - Originally posted this in the E61 forums, but realized it's applicable to the E60 and others. Apologies for the double posting.

I noticed that the BMW dealership offers a "Value Service" oil change for $99. Has anyone tried this or know what kind of oil they use? Not sure if they account for the age/mileage of the vehicle when selecting an oil or if they just use the same kind of "value" oil for any vehicle buying this service. This would be for a 2006 530xi N52 engine with 115,000 miles. Thanks!

 

The special is designed for customers to come to the dealership. That's the value. The dealership will only put BMW approved oil in your vehicle that the manufacturer recommended from factory. The surprise will be the laundry list of issues they say you're going to need not the type of oil they use. It's just a simple marketing tool.

 

Walmart Castrol 5W-30 LL01 is $25/5-qt jug. Buy two jigs and save the half of one for next year's oil change. A BMW or Mann filter is $10 or so. It isn't a significant savings, but it also gives you the opportunity to have a look around.