[Asiann]

I finally had a chance to change my oil since I purchased in Dec. There is currently 5850 on the OD. The oil was dirty and I'm glad that I changed it now instead of waiting till Dec 06 or until I was within the mileage to get it changed. The DIY needs pics since the old ones are deleted. You definately need ramps to get it high enough to get to the center trap door where the drain bolt is hidden behind. I put in just under 7 quarts and the gauge is close to the max and probably will have to drive it some more before it reaches the Max level again and tell me how many miles I have left. I spent $12 for the filter with BMW CCA discount and the oil was $38.50 for a total of about $50.

[JOYRIIDE1113]

You have to reset the computer in order to have it tell you how many miles you have left. If not you will be left with the same milage count left. But thats a good thing. You can pay for one, and the dealer covers the next...

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by JOYRIIDE1113

You have to reset the computer in order to have it tell you how many miles you have left. If not you will be left with the same milage count left. But thats a good thing. You can pay for one, and the dealer covers the next...

Reset the computer? I don't think you can. You can reset the mpg, and what not but the mileage that tells you when the next service is will still remain the same from what I gather and what others have said.

[Asiann]

Here is what I lifted from the DIY
"The car does not automatically reset the maintenance indicator after an oil change. It has no way of knowing whether you've changed the oil or not. I have heard that on the e90, you can reset the maintenance indicator with the on-board computer, sans an external reset tool (required for the previous 3-series), although I haven't tried it myself nor do I know the exact procedure. Personally, I wouldn't reset the indicator until my next scheduled free oil change by the dealer. I would let the dealer reset it at that time. If I were to reset it now, I would be delaying my free oil change. The dealer will only care whether the indicator is lit, not the actual last oil change interval. I'll worry about resetting the indicator when my free maintenance period is over. For now, I'll just enjoy! "

[Gearcraft]

did you get one of those rhino ramps?

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by Gearcraft

did you get one of those rhino ramps?

The auto store didn't have them but had some other ramp system so I just got those. It worked fine.

[///Matt]

You WOULD need to reset your oil change interval, but DON'T. just let the dealer do it as planned, or you're wasting your money...

I'm a BMW tech, and I'll tell you... 6000 miles is too early to change this oil... there's a reason we go 15000. (BTW if your car EVER EVER EVER tells you you have more than 16000 to go for an Oil change, hit up the dealer, we need to fix that!)

With our synthetic oil, it takes MUCH longer to break down than any mineral oil, and longer than most syn oils. PLUS, we stick an extra 2 quarts in there (average 6 cyl would have about 5 qt) so it takes longer to break down because the engine has a larger supply of healthy oil.

I go the full interval on my car, but if you want to do your own, at least split the difference, and do it halfway to oil change, so every 7-8000 miles. Again I GO THE FULL 15000.

On a purely hypothetical note... changing the oil early COULD do you more harm than good. Oil needs to break in. Since our oil takes longer to break DOWN, it also takes longer to break IN. If you change it too early, your engine will spend more time in the break IN period over it's life, and I beleive it will significantly reduce it's life span, or at least the length of time/miles it would have run without any serious problems.

Keep this in mind:

Some people would claim BMW goes 15000 in oil changes to save money, since their footing the bill... but they've been doing this for a long time. since WAY before full maintenance. In actuality, they've spent countless millions of dollars doing research and development on these wonderful engines, and exactly what oil to use, and what intervals to change it at, etc... they know what they're doing.

Matt

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by ///Matt

they know what they're doing.

Matt

I would hope so too

[pokerface]

hmm. when I bought the car, the maintenance indicator reads 25,000 kms.

3500 kms later, when I brought the car in for an early oil change.. it was still reading 25,000 kms.

About a week after that, the meter moved to 24,000 kms. I'm at 4800 kms now, and it's still at 24,000 kms.

So, does the computer take into account driving conditions only, or oil condition as well?

[///Matt]

At the high stages of countdown, it'll only drop 1000 miles at a time, so every 1600 km or so, it'll drop, then under 1000 it goes by hundreds, then after 100, by 1's....I don't beleive there is any oil condition consideration, just driving style and fuel consumed. 24000-25000km is the RIGHT place to start for the oil service indicator... if by the time you hit 10,000 kms, the indicator is still reading above 20000, take it to the dealer.

[StewtheBassman]

I like Matt's input here at e90post....not too often do we get real BMW Technicians!

I did my own oil at 37500 kms, it was fun, and the engine sounded a bit smoother afterwards. Talk about an elegant oil change with the filter on top!

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

I like Matt's input here at e90post....not too often do we get real BMW Technicians!

I did my own oil at 37500 kms, it was fun, and the engine sounded a bit smoother afterwards. Talk about an elegant oil change with the filter on top!

2nd that, love the top filter

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by ///Matt

thanks for your input. very informative.

[Ghunger]

What do you say about break-in oil changes though ///Matt? I still find it hard to belive that you'd want the break-in oil in the car for the full 15k miles.

[///Matt]

If you change the oil THE VERY FIRST time at a low mileage, that's understandable and explainable, although according to BMW it's not needed except on M cars. If you want to do your FIRST oil change at 2-3000 miles, that's cool

Matt

[rkg]

agree ... the oil may be fine, but contaminants in a new motor need to be flushed to prevent premature wear.

This brings up an interesting point, why does the M series cars require a fluids change at 1200? What basic mechanical difference is there in a M vs. a stock motor that would let you ignore a oil change for 15K+ miles?

[///Matt]

It's not the mechanical difference. the M motor and differential are built and shipped with a different oil in them, for break in reasons. This oil helps to break in the motor better, but itself breaks down quickly, and is not the best oil for every day use... So the 1200 is for the oils, not for the motors! the OIL is for the motor/diff.

Matt

[Yvette]

Originally Posted by ///Matt

You WOULD need to reset your oil change interval, but DON'T. just let the dealer do it as planned, or you're wasting your money...

I'm a BMW tech, and I'll tell you... 6000 miles is too early to change this oil... there's a reason we go 15000. (BTW if your car EVER EVER EVER tells you you have more than 16000 to go for an Oil change, hit up the dealer, we need to fix that!)

With our synthetic oil, it takes MUCH longer to break down than any mineral oil, and longer than most syn oils. PLUS, we stick an extra 2 quarts in there (average 6 cyl would have about 5 qt) so it takes longer to break down because the engine has a larger supply of healthy oil.

I go the full interval on my car, but if you want to do your own, at least split the difference, and do it halfway to oil change, so every 7-8000 miles. Again I GO THE FULL 15000.

On a purely hypothetical note... changing the oil early COULD do you more harm than good. Oil needs to break in. Since our oil takes longer to break DOWN, it also takes longer to break IN. If you change it too early, your engine will spend more time in the break IN period over it's life, and I beleive it will significantly reduce it's life span, or at least the length of time/miles it would have run without any serious problems.

Keep this in mind:

Some people would claim BMW goes 15000 in oil changes to save money, since their footing the bill... but they've been doing this for a long time. since WAY before full maintenance. In actuality, they've spent countless millions of dollars doing research and development on these wonderful engines, and exactly what oil to use, and what intervals to change it at, etc... they know what they're doing.

Matt

WHAT'S YOUR BMW'S OIL?????
I DONT THINK THERE IS SPECIFIC OIL MADE JUST FOR BMW?
correct me if i am wrong.. I am one of the people who is afraid of the 15k miles oil change.

[ages944]

Thanks for all your input ///Matt. You rock!

Oh, and kudos to BMW for the filter on top of the engine. Sure beats having to crawl under the car, and snake my arm around suspension parts to reach the oil filter which is halfway up the engine, and between the engine and the firewall. (Fiancee's car)

[///Matt]

BMW contracts with Castrol to have a special formula of full synthetic oil. It's what BMW recommends, not MUST HAVE.

[NaTuReB0Y]

3,000 miles or every 3 months......oil change

must be a jiffy lube thing?

[golfpro]

so then what is the reason that when i first got my car it told me to change the oil at 16K and now its down to 13K, am i driving it too hard? or too much?