[Estoril1992]

I know this topic has came up many time but I read somewhere that an oil change was done at factory after the engine is tested. Is this true? If not would you do a oil change before or after it hits 1000 miles?

[G82Dude]

No idea about engine testing and oil changes, but would seem to make sense to remove any machining leftovers and like just in a gearbox, no doubt there is a magnet in the sump to catch "filings". Many advocate an oil change at ~1,000 miles (BMW do if it's an M vehicle), but it's not on the schedule to do for any other BMW vehicle. Your choice at the end of the day! It won't do any harm, other than the cost of a filter, oil and time to do it.

[Steven1077]

I'm sure I read that does more harm than good?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

I'm sure I read that does more harm than good?

This is a possibility. There are some good articles written by the oil developers, who show how oil changes its characteristics over its life and changing early is not all positive.

Some new engine oil fills are with specially formulated bed-in oils, so not recommended for an early change. One of my VW diesels had a bed-in oil, saw the VW data sheet which clearly stated not to drain early, as it could have warranty implications. VW wanted 10,000 miles on the original oil.

Don't know what BMW do these days, but there is no change requirement as the M-cars.

HighlandPete

[JohnM]

Changed mine at 4K with new Oil Filter, seems smoother now for some reason

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Estoril1992

I know this topic has came up many time but I read somewhere that an oil change was done at factory after the engine is tested. Is this true? If not would you do a oil change before or after it hits 1000 miles?

Just forget about any servicing or oil changes until the service warning comes up in the dash! That's what it's designed for!

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by teaston

Just forget about any servicing or oil changes until the service warning comes up in the dash! That's what it's designed for!

+1

[robbiep]

Originally Posted by teaston

Just forget about any servicing or oil changes until the service warning comes up in the dash! That's what it's designed for!

Unfortunately, that is great for the fleet market, who get rid of their cars at 3 yrs / 60k miles old

Remember when BMW had (still have) issues with timing chains breaking on various (especially diesel) engines ? A lot of independents seriously believe that part of the cause is these extended service intervals. Quite simply, the oil is absolutely worn out by the time it has done 18,000 miles.

Or put it another way. Even with BMW, an oil and oil filter change is £200 (roughly). Done in the middle of your service computer gap, that's an extra £1000 in the first 100,000 miles.
How much is an engine ?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Unfortunately, that is great for the fleet market, who get rid of their cars at 3 yrs / 60k miles old

Remember when BMW had (still have) issues with timing chains breaking on various (especially diesel) engines ? A lot of independents seriously believe that part of the cause is these extended service intervals. Quite simply, the oil is absolutely worn out by the time it has done 18,000 miles.

Or put it another way. Even with BMW, an oil and oil filter change is £200 (roughly). Done in the middle of your service computer gap, that's an extra £1000 in the first 100,000 miles.
How much is an engine ?

My current 320d and my last one has/had done 110k and been serviced at specified intervals or longer and they both run perfectly! Obviously it's possible that YMMV but in my experience there is nothing to persuade me to change oil more often on a standard car!

However if the car is remapped or has a tuning box then it is probably best to change oil a bit more often as the specified intervals are calculated based on the standars engine.

[Estoril1992]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

This is a possibility. There are some good articles written by the oil developers, who show how oil changes its characteristics over its life and changing early is not all positive.

Some new engine oil fills are with specially formulated bed-in oils, so not recommended for an early change. One of my VW diesels had a bed-in oil, saw the VW data sheet which clearly stated not to drain early, as it could have warranty implications. VW wanted 10,000 miles on the original oil.

Don't know what BMW do these days, but there is no change requirement as the M-cars.

HighlandPete

Thanks everyone for your replies they have been useful bit does anyone know if bmw'a have this bed in oil?