im wondering if the oil change i had really lasts for 16k miles, or should i justy change it after 5k,i want whats best for the car, not my wallet

 

Change it every 5k.....I change mine every 4k

 

i have gone 30K+ without changing oil before.

people are neurotic about oil change intervals.

 

Noooooooooo, don't believe the hype. Synthetic oil should be changed at 7.5K miles interval if you drive 12K or more a year or every 5K if you drive less.

 

Remind me not to buy one of your cars.


I changed mine at 5k. My 1 year will be up next month, so I'll let the dealer change it under the maintenance program then. It'll have about 8.5k by then.

 

16-20K miles before an oil change (which would be 2 years in my case) doesn't make sense.

I change mine between 6 & 8K miles and suspect this will tell when the car is three or four years old + as I intend to keep it

PS Not neurotic but know about wear and tear on moving parts.........

OBTW- I am neurotic about most dealers - service is usually mediocre at best and standards not in keeping with what you would expect on this sort of car.

 

These are synthetic oil, not the traditional oil. With that said, 10 years ago Synthetic oil was good for 5K miles.. with the newer technology oil change intervals of 15K miles seems perfectly fine. Most people are so used to using the traditional dino oil and the traditional IC engines.. Guys remember our engines are not the same as it were 10 years ago.

People argue that when BMW offered 4 year maintenance plans is when the oil changes went from 3K miles to 15K miles.. however other car mfg. have also suggested oil changes every 12k - 15k miles depending on how you drive your car and they don't offer free maintenance oil changes. You have to also consider BMW also changes out rotors, brakes, and other misc items for free as well.

 

one of the main reasons oil changes can go longer, is the fact that engines are manufactured more precise. less wear occurs in today's engines.

 

I think I have heard on here that BMW absolutely will not change it at a shorter interval on their maintenance plan correct? Having said that since I have gotten my car I have changed it every 7-8K per my mechanic's (BMW nut) reccomendation.

When I asked him about the 16K interval. He said "how long do you want to keep the car for?" He knew the answer since my previous e39 is at 237K and going strong. He said I really wish BMW would get off that 16K kick. Then he took me out to the work bay and took off the oil cap and showed me the underside of it. It was caked with a light brown dryed on film/sludge. He said that is what you get when the previous owners runs the oil to 16K.

I will be changing it more often than that.

 

According to Blackstone oil analysis, my BMW High Performance Synthetic is almost due for replacement at 8,000 miles. I drive a 25% mix of city, the rest being highway. I change my own oil every 7,500 - 8,000 miles.