7500 mls, oil change or no? Why?

Just hit the 7500 mark and read here before about changing the oil ur self, my oil mark is at ok, I dont track my car, should I change the oil or not and if yes, how?

Thanks guys!

BMWFB02 wrote

Just hit the 7500 mark and read here before about changing the oil ur self, my oil mark is at ok, I dont track my car, should I change the oil or not and if yes, how?

Thanks guys!

Since your break in oil was changed at 1200 miles the you currently have 6300 miles or so on the oil.

I'd say change it but in mind I change mine every 4000 kms.

DY oil change there is a lot of info.

Change it!!!!

I change every 7500 so BMW covers one then I get the other. The piece of mind of knowing your engine is well lubricated is worth it. Oil viscosity breaks down over time and use so even if your oil level is fine it doesn't mean it shouldn't be changed.

lsmkr01 wrote

I change every 7500 so BMW covers one then I get the other. The piece of mind of knowing your engine is well lubricated is worth it. Oil viscosity breaks down over time and use so even if your oil level is fine it doesn't mean it shouldn't be changed.

manari06 wrote

Change it!!!!

+1 this.

If I was tracking it I would change it more often.
If not....probably a waste of time and money...however, Its pretty easy to do , so if it makes you feel better... like some kind of OCD ritual then go for it...
My dealership says I can take it in every year for free oil changes regardless of the milage....I only drive like 5-6k miles a year max.

I'm only at 2,500 miles but plan on doing oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Seems like a minor cost and inconvenience for the reassurance that my engine is fully pampered.

No

BMWFB02 wrote

Just hit the 7500 mark and read here before about changing the oil ur self, my oil mark is at ok, I dont track my car, should I change the oil or not and if yes, how?

Thanks guys!

Here you go ... best info ---> Click here for Info

Or call your Service Advisor

As far as my M3 is concerned now 13 months since delivery millage at 8,400 KM (Break in service done at 2000 KM) ... called my Service Advisor and my oil change next week is part of the warranty plan, therefore no charge.

I'm currently on target to do about 6 track days this year and I drive about 10k miles/year. I'm not doing any extra changes beyond dealer service intervals. That being said, I do want to do an oil analysis. Unfortunately the dealer techs f'd up and didn't grab my sample at my April service. My SA was pissed at them.

Anyway, I plan to keep my car to about 100k miles and I'm not sweating the oil. Factory recommended works for me. After maintenance warranty is up, I might do it more often, but I dunno.

Change it. And while you are at it, get yourself a copy of Mike Miller's Lifetime Maintenance Schedule.

Mike is the technical editor for Roundel and Bimmer and has developed an excellent guide for ALL BMW maintenance (not just the oil). He will send it to you for free if you email him (his email address is in either of those two mags).

He covers everything and has good rationale and explanations for his recommendations.

Good luck!

It all depends - Are you 1) planning to keep the car for years or 2) will you be trading (selling) when warranty expires?

If #1, change oil between 6k to 8k miles or once a year, which ever comes first. If #2, just follow BMW maintenance program.

Problem solved.

Lute wrote

I don't understand comments like this. Proper maintanance should be performed regardless of whether you are "keeping" the car. Would you appreciate buying a used car from someone who subscribes to this practice

You are correct. In a perfect world everyone would always do the right thing . But (shock!), this is not a perfect world. For instance, if you lease a car for 24 months why would you do anything more than the "recommended" maintenance?? On the other hand, if you plan to keep the car for 10+ years additional "preventive" maintenance would be a smart thing to consider .

Lute wrote

I suppose the "out for myself" mentality applies. This just reaffirms why I don't buy used cars.

In this case he is either recommending to do more the the people that make the car say or to do exactly what the people that make the car say. I don't see anything wrong whatsoever with what he said. He is not advocating that maintenance not be done or to mistreat the car, just whether to go above and beyond what the OEM states should be done. Don't accuse someone of ill intent or evil here, for nothing suggested was either of those.

Take a look at Sapper M3's used oil analysis report in this recent thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310230&page=4. This is a great report on TWS run to 9500 mi with 6 track days, 2 autocross, and 20 drag strip runs. I take issue with some of Blackstone's comments, talking about "excess metals", etc. The wear metals indicate completely normal wear for a M3 as far as I'm concerned. The viscosity is holding at the normal weight for M3's at extended drain intervals. The oil has sheared to a heavy 40 weight. There are some folks on this forum who run Mobil 1 0w40 in their M3 and this oil will rather quickly shear to a 30 weight.

Too bad Sapper M3's report didn't include a measurement of TBN. I think it would indicate the oil could have been run even longer.

To answer your question, yes, you can change the oil at 7500, but you don't need to. Check with your dealer Service Advisor. You can probably get it changed for free under the free annual low mileage rule.

Interesting...I had Amsoil do my oil analysis and see what they indicate as "normal" vs what Blackstone says based on the reports I've seen on here and Blackstone seems to have a lower threshold for what is the standard of "normal" vs "high". Also I've seen people in the past (mostly E46 guys) also take issue with some of the reports/comments.

m6pwr wrote

Take a look at Sapper M3's used oil analysis report in this recent thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310230&page=4. This is a great report on TWS run to 9500 mi with 6 track days, 2 autocross, and 20 drag strip runs. I take issue with some of Blackstone's comments, talking about "excess metals", etc. The wear metals indicate completely normal wear for a M3 as far as I'm concerned. The viscosity is holding at the normal weight for M3's at extended drain intervals. The oil has sheared to a heavy 40 weight. There are some folks on this forum who run Mobil 1 0w40 in their M3 and this oil will rather quickly shear to a 30 weight.

Too bad Sapper M3's report didn't include a measurement of TBN. I think it would indicate the oil could have been run even longer.

To answer your question, yes, you can change the oil at 7500, but you don't need to. Check with your dealer Service Advisor. You can probably get it changed for free under the free annual low mileage rule.

The best info I've ever read on understanding used oil analyses appeared in the May 2012 issue of Tribology and Lubrication Technology magazine. It's an article titled "Used Oil Condemning Limits". Unfortunately this is not a mag you'r ever going to find on your local news stand. It's the professional journal of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and the article has been archived and is no longer available online, so I can't provide a link.

One of the things the piece emphasizes is that the limits used by the various oil analysis labs are very conservative. The only realistic condemning limits are the ones developed by the oem's (car mfrs) and their lubricant partners through lab testing and field research. These limits are not published but they are incorporated into the oem's oil life monitors and maintenance schedules.

I've been told by a lubricant engineer who has worked for Mobil that the iron condemning limit used by Daimler Benz for most of its passenger cars is 150 ppm. So Sapper M3's iron is 21 ppm. 21 ppm iron is N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

It seems your car is still within the free maintenance time period, in which case the dealer WILL change the oil for free as long as its been one (1) year after your last oil change. Its called the annual low mileage oil change. Call your SA and he will schedule you in. I just had mine done last week.