[racingBMW]

is there a "break in" oil change that needs to be done or is it just at 15000 miles?

[irowharderthanyou]

No break in oil change, but many do it anyway. I did it at 1,200 miles.

[nyc3r]

yeah, I plan on doing my at 2k.. I've got 1.5k now

[neuronpetkowski]

Originally Posted by irowharderthanyou

No break in oil change, but many do it anyway. I did it at 1,200 miles.

Are these pre-scheduled oil changes being done at the dealership, by yourself or someplace else?

[poldim]

Could do it yourself, or goto the stealership. I'm at 13K now and will be sending my oil sample to get tested after the oil change....

[neuronpetkowski]

thanks poldim. they charge an arm and leg for an oil change at the stealership? i can find out myself...just wondering.

you're going to get it tested? for what?

[poldim]

Originally Posted by neuronpetkowski

thanks poldim. they charge an arm and leg for an oil change at the stealership? i can find out myself...just wondering.

you're going to get it tested? for what?

Just curious to find out if BMW is making a bad choice with this 15K first oil change. I think there should be an initial oil change at 3K and then to the regular schedule.

I will be sending an oil sample to blackstone labs. Someone has done it with their 3K sample, and I'd like to compare it to mine.

[rkg]

If you are going to keep the car long-term, spend the $10 for the filter, $20 for the synthetic oil (mobil 1 is currently $2.60 per quart at wallyworld), and the 30 minutes to do the labor.

Aircraft, diesel trucks, marine, etc. all have a break-in oil changes. There is no way a BMW engine is any more stout than these expensive engines to mysteriously ignore metal shavings, etc.

Even Roundel tech-talk discusses the increases of failures of BMW components at the 100K range since these "life-time" oils were introduced ... pure bean counting by BMW.

[SoonToBimmer]

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Question:
Long Drain Intervals in a BMW
I have a BMW 325iC convertible. BMW recommends oil changes at very long intervals – 15,000 miles using synthetic motor oil. Do you agree that this is adequate for Southern California’s combined stop-and-go and freeway driving?
-- Scott Sherman, Valencia, California

Answer:
The short answer to your question is yes, but keep in mind the responsibilities that you should fulfill. More and more automakers are realizing the advantages of synthetic motor oil, and specifically, Mobil 1. While BMW does not use Mobil 1 as "factory fill," BMW does list Mobil 1 among its recommended lubricants, and perhaps more to the point, Mobil 1 0W-40 with SuperSyn exceeds the BMW LL specification. BMW, and some other automobiles, now have sophisticated oil-drain-interval systems built into their electronic engine management systems. The combination of these electronic systems, better and even more robust engine designs, and the long-lived protection of fully synthetic motor oils allows these automakers to recommend such long drain intervals. There are two caveats, however. First, if you tend to use your BMW in a manner that could be considered "severe service," you should definitely consider shortening the drain interval from 15,000 miles. The second, and perhaps the most important, is that it is even more important for you to check the oil regularly. Modern engines can easily go 3,000 miles or more between oil drains without needing a top-up, but with oil drain intervals of 15,000 miles, it is much more likely that you will need to add a half quart or more between oil changes. Individual engines vary. It is also not uncommon for a high-performance engine to require a top-up of motor oil every 2,000 miles. (Most manufacturers consider anything better than 1,000 miles between top-ups as "normal.") In sum, yes, you can drive with confidence using Mobil 1 for such long drain intervals, but it is incumbent upon you to make sure that your BMW's engine always has a full lubricating system.

[742]

There are two factors here that people ignore and that then cause everyone to talk at cross purposes.

First, how long do you think your engine should last? Someone just wanting to make it to the end of the lease is very different from someone who plans to run the car past 150,000 miles. And they are going to have a very different approach to maintenance.

The second factor is risk. Long oil change intervals carry greater risk from crankcase ventilation problems, off spec oil, fuel/coolant contamination and any of the dozen and a half things that can shorten oil life. Most cars won’t run into these problems, but some will. And a conservative oil change interval greatly reduces their risk. The level of risk that one wants to carry (and there is no such thing as zero) is a personal decision.

As for a break-in oil change, try a search on “oil analysis”. Someone posted one from a 1500 mile change; and while it was not bad it was certainly not something that I would want in my car for another 14,000 miles.