I have a 2004 530d with 55k miles on the clock. It has 6000 miles to go before the next oil change however in the next month I am going to France for a holiday and will drive 3000 miles in 3 weeks.

Any comments on whether to change the oil early or not.

Many thanks

 

never hurts, to change the oil a few extra times. I usually do oil changes twice as often as what the car tells me to.

 

Don't ever go more than 7000 miles on full synthetic. That's my opinion.

 

I've heard of preventive but not of preventative . What is preventative?

sixcard

 

preventive or preventative
The words are often used interchangeably to denote whatever prevents something else happening or occurring, especially when it is undesirable. However, preventative is often applied to an actual object, especially in noun form, while preventive is mostly reserved for an abstract concept, and remains an adjective: Preventive medicine regards vitamin C as an effective preventative against colds.

 

I usually do 8000km interval

 

Definitely change the oil - won't hurt! I change mine more often than myy car tells me too - because I sometimes open her up Generally - even though e60's iDrive supposedly measures your style of driving when giving you service intervals - I change oil at least every 6 months, or 6-7 thousand miles - whichever comes first.

 

Get it done during your vacation.

Probably cheaper in France or Germany than UK, and thereby skip the "dubble oil-change".

Drive the first 1500 miles, and get it done. It's a 15-30 min job for a BMW dealer.

 

No point changing it early, as you drive that sort of distance you will probably find the interval until next service will stretch anyway. There are plenty of these cars with really high mileages on standard service intervals so no need for early oil changes. After all BMW haven't spent millions of pounds with the oil companies on R&D to find optimum oil service life for nothing, especially when they could be charging you for the oil service sooner.

 

They say the fully syntethic oils start to degrade after 7500 miles. so you should change oil and filter before that.
check and change air filter, (seems a bit of a grey area as to when dealers change it) . i changed mine and it was well over due (filthy) not an easy job thou. my car had a fsh at 38 k.
i'd be more concerned about the engine breather filter if thats gets clogged up its goodbye to you turbo, apparently there's a new designed type which is more reliable that the old unit. bmw dealers will Know.

hope this help cheers paul 53od manual.