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      12-03-2017, 05:03 PM   #1
Eighty
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M40i Oil Change

I am new to BMW and a tad confused on the oil change/maintenance situation. I have ~1,200 miles on my m40i and historically I would do a break-in oil change on other brands. This is probably a stupid question.. but, do i just take it in and pay? My SA said the car would tell me when it needed maintenance... If I do pay, what is the approx cost?

Thanks..
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      12-03-2017, 05:08 PM   #2
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usually maintainence is included in for the first several years.

also you probably don't have to do a break in oii change and the computer will tell you when to go in
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      12-03-2017, 05:33 PM   #3
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I would do the first oil change at this point and pay for it.
Would also do an oil change between each time point that the computer recommends.
BMW oil change intervals are stupid and a sure way to damage the engine. Trust me I learned this the hard way.
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      12-03-2017, 05:53 PM   #4
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If course if you are leasing and will trade the car in in the next year or two or there it will be the next owners problem. But I hope you don't think like that.
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      12-03-2017, 06:36 PM   #5
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BMW required that on all engines until the E36, then they stopped using a different viscosity break-in oil that was designed to take away small metal fragments from machining. My E92 M3 had the same requirement.

In fact my E30 had a different oil for winter and summer, I would change oil when I changed my tires.

I agree with the suggestion that you pay to have an early oil change done, I do it. BMW's schedule for changes has become a bit shorter. It was 15,000 miles on my Z4 and is now 1ok on my F34.

A lot of non-BMW dealers still push changes at 3,000 miles. That is a cash grab. Synthetic oils do not break down the way old oils did.
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      12-03-2017, 06:47 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slalom View Post
BMW required that on all engines until the E36, then they stopped using a different viscosity break-in oil that was designed to take away small metal fragments from machining. My E92 M3 had the same requirement.

In fact my E30 had a different oil for winter and summer, I would change oil when I changed my tires.

I agree with the suggestion that you pay to have an early oil change done, I do it. BMW's schedule for changes has become a bit shorter. It was 15,000 miles on my Z4 and is now 1ok on my F34.

A lot of non-BMW dealers still push changes at 3,000 miles. That is a cash grab. Synthetic oils do not break down the way old oils did.
I agree that synthetic oils last quite a long time.
But bmw recognized that the super long intervals they had for a while were damaging and since reduced the intervals once or twice.
The tolerances on these engines are really tight and any metal flakes that can happen during break in can easily damage the camshaft and the cam bearings. Which in the case of N55 engine means you need a new head or a new engine. As the cam bearings are part of the head. Im not sure if the B58 is different is this regard.
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      12-03-2017, 07:10 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eighty View Post
I am new to BMW and a tad confused on the oil change/maintenance situation. I have ~1,200 miles on my m40i and historically I would do a break-in oil change on other brands. This is probably a stupid question.. but, do i just take it in and pay? My SA said the car would tell me when it needed maintenance... If I do pay, what is the approx cost?

Thanks..
Not a stupid question at all. IMO, I would do an oil change right now and pay for it. You have reached the engine break-in period. Piss out any possible metal shavings etc and you would be doing yourself and any future owner of that SAV a favor. I usually wait 2500 miles which is overkill but 1200 miles is good. If you can, let us know what the oil looks like.
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      12-04-2017, 01:57 AM   #8
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If you're doing a break-in oil change you probably want to do break-in changes for the transfer case and diffs too.
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      12-04-2017, 07:19 AM   #9
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Go have the oil changed. To save money go to an indy and not the dealer.
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      12-04-2017, 08:20 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KAP8 View Post
Go have the oil changed. To save money go to an indy and not the dealer.
On my 2004 Z4 I buy the oil change kit - filter, o ring, drain plug ring from the dealer and oil (I watch for sales at my local auto parts store) I then go to an independent garage for the work. In Canada there have been reports of unscrupulous practices at some chains, so I go to a garage that has a good reputation for honest practices.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/oil-ch...tion-1.2418675
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      12-05-2017, 10:35 PM   #11
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Our new 2011 X3 35i had the oil changed for the first time at 8K miles because it felt good to have it done. Paid about $75 out-of-pocket at the dealer. Since then the oil has been changed when the car called for it, usually after 13K-15K miles.
The car is now at 103K miles and humming along happily. After the last oil change it consumed 0.5 liter of oil after driving 3400 miles, some of that at 90-110mph between LA and ABQ on I-40 - my wife doesn't like to be passed by other cars.
Haven't done anything to the trans, diff or transfer cases - seeking guidance from dealer, independents, and of course you.
What say?
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      12-05-2017, 10:55 PM   #12
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honesty, it's hard for me to believe that the manufacturer is going to recommend oil changes at intervals that are too long. Synthetics last much longer than traditional oils and should be able to go for 10k. So unless someone tells me that they sent they're used oil for an analysis at 5k miles and it had metal flakes in it then I think irresponsible to say that the manufacturer service interval is too long.
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      12-07-2017, 05:09 PM   #13
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Mike Miller, Technical Editor for BMW Car Club of America, has published his recommendations for BMW maintenance. He has recommended in the past a 1,200 mile break-in service based on the analysis of typical metal content in the oil and driveline fluids in new, modern BMWs at this mileage. As others noted, the owner will need to pay for such service, if desired, where BMW does not recommend it.
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      12-07-2017, 05:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichiganMike View Post
Mike Miller, Technical Editor for BMW Car Club of America, has published his recommendations for BMW maintenance. He has recommended in the past a 1,200 mile break-in service based on the analysis of typical metal content in the oil and driveline fluids in new, modern BMWs at this mileage. As others noted, the owner will need to pay for such service, if desired, where BMW does not recommend it.
Good to know, thank you for posting that. I have paid for early service from time to time. Things like changing coolant.

Can you share Mike Miller's recommendation on transmission fluid changes? Thanks
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      12-08-2017, 02:16 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slalom View Post
Good to know, thank you for posting that. I have paid for early service from time to time. Things like changing coolant.

Can you share Mike Miller's recommendation on transmission fluid changes? Thanks
I'm not sure if this is his latest, he does say a break-in change is not needed for the automatic:

https://www.dslreports.com/r0/downlo...e%20v03.13.pdf

Quote:
Note: In case of automatic transmission, no ATF and filter change is necessary at 1,200 miles.

The short answer for the modern BMWs with “lifetime fill” ATF: Change it and the filter at least every 60,000 miles using ONLY the factory BMW proprietary ATF or current equivalent.
The ZF8HP's fluid change is very specific in the way it must be done and you need special equipment. I'd only have the dealer do it.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1016592
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      12-08-2017, 05:09 AM   #16
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Do you guys also recommand an oil filter change, or just the oil?
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      12-08-2017, 06:43 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Menno86 View Post
Do you guys also recommand an oil filter change, or just the oil?
Always change them together. You should also change the o ring and crush gasket on the drain plug. They come as a kit from BMW for about $10.

The only time I would not put a new filter in is on an old Citroen H van. They don't have an oil filter, you just change the oil every 1000 miles or so.
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      12-08-2017, 07:49 AM   #18
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When Mike Miller says jump. I jump.
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      12-08-2017, 07:58 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ND40oz View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slalom View Post
Good to know, thank you for posting that. I have paid for early service from time to time. Things like changing coolant.

Can you share Mike Miller's recommendation on transmission fluid changes? Thanks
I'm not sure if this is his latest, he does say a break-in change is not needed for the automatic:

https://www.dslreports.com/r0/downlo...e%20v03.13.pdf

Quote:
Note: In case of automatic transmission, no ATF and filter change is necessary at 1,200 miles.

The short answer for the modern BMWs with lifetime fill ATF: Change it and the filter at least every 60,000 miles using ONLY the factory BMW proprietary ATF or current equivalent.
The ZF8HP's fluid change is very specific in the way it must be done and you need special equipment. I'd only have the dealer do it.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1016592
Nice write up link. Thanks for sharing
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      12-18-2017, 09:37 PM   #20
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The X3 has about 800 miles now. I think it will hit 1200 in about 1.5 months. (Full disclosure the first 660 miles were from the drive back from PA). Wife does maybe 4-5k miles a year.

So I have the oil and filter ready to change the oil. I also have ordered a blackstone kit to test the oil.

Do you guys know how to remove the engine cover? I don't really want to yank on it, and I didn't notice any screws. Based on Real OEM website, the oil housing/ filter is under the cover.

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      12-19-2017, 06:37 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arciga18 View Post

Do you guys know how to remove the engine cover? I don't really want to yank on it, and I didn't notice any screws. Based on Real OEM website, the oil housing/ filter is under the cover.

Just pull gently under the front and then the rear of the cover. It's held on by 4 rubber suction cup type mounts. Oil filter is at the right rear of engine. I saw a cover that looks like it unscrews underneath where I would imagine the oil pan drain plug is located.
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      12-24-2017, 08:51 PM   #22
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Only the 'true' M cars (m2, m3, m4, m6, x5m and x6m) have mandatory servicing at 1200 miles. I've owned an m4, m6 and x6m and all of them had the required 1200 mile service. For the M40i, it's just within 10k miles depending on driving conditions. No need for 1200 mile service.
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