[RPN]

I've never waited until an on board computer told me to change the oil. But I've never had maintenance included with a vehicle. Computer is telling me I won't be due for an oil change until odometer hits 14k!

Yes it's synthetic oil. Yes I do mostly highway driving. Yes it's a lease and I shouldn't care too much. But this seems nuts.

But is this just how it is with a modern BMW? We just wait until the computer says it's time?

[BOSTON3]

Originally Posted by RPN

I've never waited until an on board computer told me to change the oil. But I've never had maintenance included with a vehicle. Computer is telling me I won't be due for an oil change until odometer hits 14k!

Yes it's synthetic oil. Yes I do mostly highway driving. Yes it's a lease and I shouldn't care too much. But this seems nuts.

But is this just how it is with a modern BMW? We just wait until the computer says it's time?

Yup - just wait for the computer or 12 months for the free annual oil change..

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by RPN

I've never waited until an on board computer told me to change the oil. But I've never had maintenance included with a vehicle. Computer is telling me I won't be due for an oil change until odometer hits 14k!

Yes it's synthetic oil. Yes I do mostly highway driving. Yes it's a lease and I shouldn't care too much. But this seems nuts.

But is this just how it is with a modern BMW? We just wait until the computer says it's time?

They lowered it for MY 2014, but will not honor the more frequent levels for previous MY, which should give a pause to anyone purchasing a used BMW.

[CLittle]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

They lowered it for MY 2014, but will not honor the more frequent levels for previous MY, which should give a pause to anyone purchasing a used BMW.

I hope you're wrong, seems like a lot of forum members have had success in getting an annual oil change and I intend on asking for one myself. Two years is ridiculous.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by CLittle

I hope you're wrong, seems like a lot of forum members have had success in getting an annual oil change and I intend on asking for one myself. Two years is ridiculous.

Not talking annual - talking based on miles.

[Fille]

14k miles only?
My 320d/328d is at 19.5k miles/31k km and it says service due in february 2014 and 21.5k miles
now thats a lot. 22k miles on the same oil can't be healthy. Next change i'm gonna have done when i've done half of the mileage to next service

[BavarianFanatic]

It's a whole new world guys. Oil is better. Motors are tighter and more efficient. Fuel is cleaner. The shorter duration for MY14 was to appease the masses who complained the intervals were extended to minimize their exposure once free maintenance was offered.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

It's a whole new world guys. Oil is better. Motors are tighter and more efficient. Fuel is cleaner. The shorter duration for MY14 was to appease the masses who complained the intervals were extended
to minimize their exposure once free maintenance was offered.

Infiniti is up to 7500 miles in their recommendations

Audi is up to 10k miles in the recommendations

Toyota / Lexus is up to 10k

Porsche is 10k

MB you guessed it.

So BMW pays for the oil change, but somehow magically claims gets 50% more mileage out of the same oil than any other Car Company? No, who wouldn't question this!

[raleedy]

See the many threads and postings of people with engine failures due to these infrequent oil changes. Oh, wait . . . .

[IM2C]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Infiniti is up to 7500 miles in their recommendations

Audi is up to 10k miles in the recommendations

Toyota / Lexus is up to 10k

Porsche is 10k

MB you guessed it.

So BMW pays for the oil change, but somehow magically claims gets 50% more mileage out of the same oil than any other Car Company? No, who wouldn't question this!

If I remember correctly Audi has 1,000 mile service and then it goes to 10k intervals.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by e90im

If I remember correctly Audi has 1,000 mile service and then it goes to 10k intervals.

Probably so. I Googled recommended oil change intervals for each company prior to posting.

Then again, remember ALL cars used to have a 1,000 mile service recommendation for oil.

[tdizzle]

They'll change it annually even if the computer doesn't say it's due and they won't reset the computer. I got mine changed in April and the computer says it's due next month (although it says another 6k miles).

Just going by mileage it wouldve been 17k or so miles for my first oil change. I'll end up getting it changed by the dealer twice in 13k miles though.

[shivaswrath]

I change after track sessions in the summer, so I invariably pay $200 for oil out of pocket.

But who cares, I'm not leasing it so it needs to last me 165k miles!

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Infiniti is up to 7500 miles in their recommendations

Audi is up to 10k miles in the recommendations

Toyota / Lexus is up to 10k

Porsche is 10k

MB you guessed it.

So BMW pays for the oil change, but somehow magically claims gets 50% more mileage out of the same oil than any other Car Company? No, who wouldn't question this!

You forgot to reference Jiffy Lube's recommended intervals. When you boil it down, mileage-based change intervals are completely arbitrary since they don't account for operating conditions, loading, temperature, etc. BMW is actually implementing some tech and data analysis as the basis of the change interval. I put far more merit in this than I do traditional speculative methods.

[m6pwr]

I believe the euro oil change intervals (oci's) for 2014 BMWs and on are still in the 18-20k mile range. http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=894011. Does anyone know for sure? I believe there is a similar difference in factory oci's for makes like Porsche and MB.

BMW does have an oil life monitor (BMW calls it an oil condition sensor) in the sump that can give a real-time approximation of oil condition. BMW also does a lot of laboratory and field testing for lube and engine wear: http://www.isp-testing.com/en/. This testing I would guess is done with commonly available euro fuels.

My own conspiracy theory is that the shorter US oci's take into account the generally inferior quality of US diesel and gas fuels with respect to sulfur content (sulfur in the fuel = sulfurous acid byproducts produced in the engine oil). Sweden, I believe, has virtually sulfur-free diesel.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by m6pwr

...
My own conspiracy theory is that the shorter US oci's take into account the generally inferior quality of US diesel and gas fuels with respect to sulfur content (sulfur in the fuel = sulfurous acid byproducts produced in the engine oil). Sweden, I believe, has virtually sulfur-free diesel.

Speak for yourself, you gasoline fueled roadhog. US/CA diesel has 15ppm sulfur while gasoline has >200ppm or so (both have 10ppm in EU). That's why we diesels use BMW LL-04 (which is what everyone uses in the EU), while you gassers have to use LL-01 (which has more TBN than LL-04).

Not sure about the newer N47/N57 diesels, but oci for M57 is 13K or whatever the computer says.

[m6pwr]

Well my 2014 328d is onboard the Dione Leader which has just cleared the Panama Canal. Won't be long now. Can't wait.

I checked with Chevron fuel tech center re their diesel fuel; guy says their no 2 diesel varies between 10-13 ppm sulfur; cetane between 50-52 in CA. Not sure about elsewhere but CA diesel also must be about less than a third in aromatics vs others which means less particulates in exhaust. That probably means more refining which may account for the cost of no 2 diesel in CA which is often more than high test gas.

[kevbh]

Don't assume that the extended oil change intervals are coming from a German engineer wearing a white lab coat. It's much more likely coming from a moron in the marketing department and his Green Party roommate.

If you own your car and plan to keep it beyond warranty, change the oil every 5,000 miles. That's the advice from folks like Bimmerworld that keep posting pictures of sludged up engines whose owners went long on oil changes.

[m6pwr]

Where's the sludge?

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...143203&fpart=1

There have been many others where unfortunately the images have disappeared -
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1196764

[bcl0328]

i'm at 36,000 miles and had my changes at 17k and 34k. mostly highway miles. seems fine to me?

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by kevbh

Don't assume that the extended oil change intervals are coming from a German engineer wearing a white lab coat. It's much more likely coming from a moron in the marketing department and his Green Party roommate.

If you own your car and plan to keep it beyond warranty, change the oil every 5,000 miles. That's the advice from folks like Bimmerworld that keep posting pictures of sludged up engines whose owners went long on oil changes.

Sludge buildup is a result of short cycle driving with a motor that doesn't warm fully. If it's driven to the point that the oil reaches normal operating temps you won't see sludge. Even with conventional oils.

[Dinh335]

I was driving last night and got a warning for low oil...computer said to add a quart.

I do mixed city and highway and have 9k miles and no visible leaks that I can see...is this normal?