[badblack550xi]

i change mine every 4k regardless of what the paper says =D

[six_timer]

I think my situation is similar to that of many BMW owners:
- Pre-BMW, I used to change my own oil. But with the drop-in filters, I don't have the right torquing tool. And frankly, I'm past the point in my life where I want to climb under my car when it's not on a lift.
- Local oil change places really can't do BMWs, and don't stock the filters.
- My dealership is located a half-hour from my house, in the opposite direction from my commute to work, and there aren't any other closer BMW dealerships.
- Dropping-off my car means leaving work early the day before, driving an hour to the dealer, getting the loaner car (but only if I called weeks in advance), then driving a half-hour to get home. Then I repeat that to pickup the car the next day.

So I should do this, even though I've never seen a Blackstone labs report indicating that following the recommended OCI is bad, nor have I seen evidence of high-mileage problems in the general marketplace of used BMWs?

You're all free to do whatever you like, to show how much of an enthusiast you are. But nobody has evidence that all the hearsay about 3K oil changes and 5K oil changes is anything but a placebo, to make people feel more involved in their cars.

I think one poster got it right when they said that manufacturers generally err on the side of caution, not the other way around. I'm guessing that the old 15K mile OCI standard was based on the worst case engine BMW made at the time. Now with more turbos, and 4-cylinder engines, and start-stop technology, they're dropping the "baseline" to 10K.

[gee-m-w]

My S4 had a free oil change at 5000 miles, and recommends annual or 10,000 mile oil changes thereafter. Any more frequent is pretty wasteful, any less is unnecessarily risky (cost-benefit isn't there).

[JOHNBMWM5]

Nothing has changed service wise here in the UK, I had my 1200 miles service done and the car now says : service due in 17K!!!
Why?. No change here?.

[Kevman]

Just had first oil change 2013 X1 at 13,925 miles. They re-set for next oil change in 16000 miles, or 02/2017!! Was hoping they would re-set for 10k miles. And whats with 02/2017? Does not matter because I drive too much, but what if i didn't? Thoughts? Should next interval now be set for 10k miles??

[hongsc]

Not sure if this is correct but it seems like I'll due for an oil change at 25K miles. Last one was at 15K miles. Did they change this for other models/years as well? I thought they would change it at 30K miles instead along with the other maintenance items.

[adhrp]

Had my 2012 328i serviced yesterday and the CBS says next due at 13k miles. So it's right in between 10k and 15k at this moment. Hoping it drops rapidly toward 10k as I drive, however I hardly come close to flogging the engine so I'm not sure that will happen.

[Rcase]

Originally Posted by Remonster

I believe it, but the car will tell you when it needs a quart added. I'm more pissed off that BMW stopped including these extra quarts of oil in its free maintenance plan. All three of my modern BMWs have needed a few quarts added here and there, when I had a 2007 328i these quarts were always free but a few years ago my dealer told me I would have to pay for them. A quart is only like $6 so I don't really care, but I know more than a couple people who refuse to pay and I wonder if the people with blown S85/S65 motors due to spun bearings were letting their oil levels get a little low. A benefit of this shorter oil change interval is less chance for the average driver's motor to burn off enough oil for it to become a problem.

This isn't really related but it looks like they recommend changing spark plugs every 60k miles for all cars, it seems like everyone agrees that a tuned motor running extra boost needs its spark plugs replaced sooner (maybe 30-40k) so shouldn't the 335is have a shorter spark plug change interval? It's running literally twice as much boost as a regular N54 (14.5psi vs 7)

The rod bearing excessive wear and pre-mature failure is not a reflection of low oil levels. The systemic issue is performance objectives in contradiction with engineering, parts longevity and vehicles undergoing a variety of driving conditions (on the street).

Back on Topic, I am glad they made an update, now I can change at 5k and they can change at 5k (with the worthless oil put in the diesel).

[Herakles]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

still twice as long as they should be. every 5k miles or 6 months, no matter what car, motor, or brand. oils cheap, motors are not, why skimp on something so important?

I stumbled on this thread searching- I'm closing in on 5 k miles and starting to feel the same ; should change oil every 5k at least-

[stroher2018]

Originally Posted by Th3xf4ctor

So even though there are F30s with the same engines as E90s we should still have an extra 5K before an oil change? Not understanding their thinking behind this.

Not sure about e90 but f30 is full synthetic and I would personally not go that high on oil interval. I guess if you are leasing I would go 15k lol

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

still twice as long as they should be. every 5k miles or 6 months, no matter what car, motor, or brand. oils cheap, motors are not, why skimp on something so important?

I'm sure this is just a coincidence, but that was the recommended standard before the advent of BMW-Free-No-Maintenance.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

I'm sure this is just a coincidence, but that was the recommended standard before the advent of BMW-Free-No-Maintenance.

Actually it was before using 100% synthetic oil. Synthetic oil should last 10K.

[mondo3]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this, but are some of you getting FREE oil changes from BMW based upon their schedule and the car being under warranty? If so, is there certain criteria to get this (original owner, specific countries,first year of ownership, etc.)?

[Humdizzle]

Yeah the oil change intervals are so BMW can save money at your expense. If I was leasing I would just do it every 10k and not even think about buying out at the end lol. But if I was keeping the car or planning to own out of warranty I would do every 5-7k.

It depends on how you drive too. Are you doing multiple cold starts per day? Stop and go traffic? Weather? Do you hit redline everyday?

[Franco3000]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

Yeah the oil change intervals are so BMW can save money at your expense. If I was leasing I would just do it every 10k and not even think about buying out at the end lol. But if I was keeping the car or planning to own out of warranty I would do every 5-7k.

It depends on how you drive too. Are you doing multiple cold starts per day? Stop and go traffic? Weather? Do you hit redline everyday?

I own a 2002 330I, I have changed oil every 10K miles since birth, I have 182K miles and still going strong. Other than regular maintenance, no need to change oil every 5K miles. I also have a 2015 Toyota Sienna, I change oil every 10K miles, have 50K miles on it and not a single problem. I use Synthetic oil.

[Humdizzle]

Originally Posted by Franco3000

I own a 2002 330I, I have changed oil every 10K miles since birth, I have 182K miles and still going strong. Other than regular maintenance, no need to change oil every 5K miles. I also have a 2015 Toyota Sienna, I change oil every 10K miles, have 50K miles on it and not a single problem. I use Synthetic oil.

Great to hear. Again it depends on how you drive and other variables. I'm just going by what my BMW tech and other friends who work in performance shops tell me. Everyone's definition of 'yeah I drive my car fast' is different.

I could probably get away with 10k oil changes too since I just set the cruise on the highway and don't really push the car. But at like $100 every 5-6000 miles it's just cheap insurance. Might even help resale since people in this thread are pretty divided on it

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by mondo3

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this, but are some of you getting FREE oil changes from BMW based upon their schedule and the car being under warranty? If so, is there certain criteria to get this (original owner, specific countries,first year of ownership, etc.)?

YES. In the US maintenance was free* during the factory warranty period of 4yrs/50k miles.

*Baked into the sales price of the car.

[Fast4d]

I've owned over 7 BMW. always follow factory intervals. never an oil related issue unless it was an oil leak

miles at the time I traded/sold them.

170k, 130k, 125k

currently 30k, 65k and 108k