E60COYOTE

I had about 10,500 miles when the dealer changed the oil. I brought my car in for other service and when they read the key, they said it was due. I had no indication in the car that said it was due except that my oil level low indicator came once. I let them do it because it was cover under the maintenance program.

Presley348

How much are you guys paying for your BMW Synthetic oil changes anyway?

I am new at this "Chris Bangle" E60 BMW game, and for my first non sceduled BMW oil change at 7,500 miles, I was first quoted $125.00 then after www research, I got them down to $69.95, and that is the cheapest BMW dealer Synthetic oil change I have found yet.

Presley 348

PS
I am most here at the forum and I too not for these 15,000 miles oil change deals! Although I will take mine in every 15,000 miles, but I also choose to pay for the 7,500 miles oil and filer changes in between that mark! (The oil might lasts that long, but what about the filters, and besides our Bimmer toys are just too expensive to play the mileage game with!)

tab545

Interesting. I've asked my dealer about coming in for something else, and have asked about he oil change. I'll see what they say. I'm interested in the notion that fresh oil could actually hurt something. Hmmmmm.

tab545

That's a fascinating study. I had never considered that oil acquires those wear metals from various engine parts, or that maybe a level of those metals is good!?

HughH

That's a fascinating study. I had never considered that oil acquires those wear metals from various engine parts, or that maybe a level of those metals is good!?
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I was not the one that stated the above, but that's the way it used to be prior to today's tight tolerance engines. Most cars in the old days required the first oil change at anywhere between 800 to 1000 miles for the above reason. My Lexus reqired a free oil change at 1000 miles. My Volvo and Audi were at about the same milage for first oil change. Same with all the other cars we have owned through the years. Firdt car I have owned that broke this mold was a 98 Honda Accord (6cyl) that required a first oil change at 6,000 miles. I was told by service managers at two different dealeships that the Accord came from factory with a special break-in oil.

Reason for me to change oil in my 325i at 7500 miles is because I plan to keep this car for many years. With my luck, the engine could blow right after the warranty expires! The most important preventive maintenance is oil changes.
A $60 annual oil change, paired with the free 15,000 mile change seems to be a very reasonable insurance to me.

I recently heard a local car guru who writes a weekly column in the Ft Worth paper and who also has a five hour radio program on Saturdays address the issue on his weekly radio show. He agrees that 15,000 miles might be too long of a stretch. BTW, this gentleman has been in the car business for over 30 yrs. He also tests cars for a local TV station. He is hesitant about the 15,000 mile due to possible oil contamination. He says if you want to go that far, at least change the filter at around the half-way mark and top off the oil. That's what has worked for me all this years with the cars I have used Mobil1 in the past.

I've been using synthetics since I had the Volvo while stationed in Ankara Turkey in the 70's. I remember sometime after my return Mobil was advertising that their Mobil1 could go 25,000 between oil changes. True, synthetics do not degrade like mineral oils, however, there is always the chance of contamination. Not long after, Mobil dropped their claim in their ads.

If I were leasing this car, I would go with the 15,000 mile oil change. Since I am not, I will do as stated above. Interesting thread and great feedback from many owners!

jobah

I plan on sending a sample in for testing at the first recommended interval.

On my diesel benzes I have consistently changed the oil every 3kmi. At about the 250,000 mile point, I switched to Mobil 1 with 5,000 mile oil changes. With almost 400,000 on the odometer, I do not add between oil changes. It is a little low (less than a quart) when it is time for an oil change.

I do not want to change what has worked for me in the past, but technology has moved forward. The oil analysis will be quite telling in my BMW. If it is OK, I will stick to the recommended oil changes on the E60.

cwoarmy

Always good to hear from you, Uncle Earl.
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JDN: There used to be a comedian who after telling some jokes would always end with a "another tip from your Uncle Earl" even though his name wasn't Earl. Just my wierd sense of humor. I know this should now be in the lounge but I don't know how to get it there. I'm sure someone will be more than happy to provide another tip to your Uncle Earl.

JDN

The lounge is where we should be all right since we have a small detour in this thread, but LA Governor Earl Long also used to be known as Uncle Earl, probably for the pork.