E36 323 that hasn't had an oil service in 3 years/29,000

[sparks_E39]

My work mate has (bravely/stupidly) acquired for £700 a 110,000 mile R reg 323 that the last owner has used for the school/shopping run since late 2008, around 29,000 miles of short journeys. No service in that time what so ever. The odd thing is it runs fine and makes no odd noises, its not as silent as my 528 though, the oil on the dipstick is dark and not really runny. We have heard engine flushes can do more harm than good, would it be a case of full service and hope for the best? It's otherwise a really nice car.

[V8mate]

It'll be fine. Show it a hundred quid's worth of TLC and enjoy.

[sparks_E39]

I just dread to think what no oil changes have done to the engine. I'll tell him to give it a go, maybe BMW engines are refined enough to take that abuse but I wouldn't try it on mine!

[V8mate]

It's only done 29k though. It'll be fine.

[stoocake]

It's done 110,000 miles. It'll probably have caused quite a bit of wear, but hopefully not enough that the car won't outlive the engine. Give it some fresh oil - no need to flush in my opinion - just do a couple of changes using good quality oil (semi-synth? - not sure what's recommended on these but I wouldn't use fully synth) over the next 8,000 to 10,000 miles.

[sparks_E39]

Will do, I suppose it's sadly a regular occurrence.

[Blue Oval84]

My friend took a Rover 25 1.4 K Series from new to approx 50,000 miles without a service, just occasional oil top ups, and suffered no grief as a result.

Sure the E36 will cope

[Cemesis]

It will be fine. If you want to be doubly sure, get twice as much oil as you need. Change it, run it for 100 miles or so and then take it out for the trashing of its life, right upto the rev limiter a few times. Then change the oil again.

But I would just do it once and thats it. A friend of mine bought an M3 CS that hadn't had a service in 22,000 miles (I know) and was showing -6000 miles to next service or something on the dash. Car was only 5 years old at the time. Some proper morons in the world.

CS has been fine for the last 2 years.

[sparks_E39]

Cheers, reckon there will be much issue getting the existing oil out? It's going to an indie for the service.

[V8mate]

Why would there be?

Warm the engine slightly before draining, if you're that worried.

[PainTrain]

Modern engine, and I presume modern oil, I imagine it will be fine.

I have done an oil change on a E36 323, it isnt hard to do, and the money you could save will mean you can do two changes.

[Neil G60]

Get the engine good and hot and then drain it. Then fill it with cheapo mineral oil and run it for a couple of days. Then do another oil change with decent oil. Job done

[sparks_E39]

Thanks guys- the woman who owned it didn't really care about it, it will get the tlc it deserves with it's new owner.

[FunBusMk2]

Blue Oval84 said:

My friend took a Rover 25 1.4 K Series from new to approx 50,000 miles without a service, just occasional oil top ups, and suffered no grief as a result.

May I ask why? Madness in my eyes.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Buy a BMW oem oil filter and change it for the first oil change but don't worry about changing that for the second oil change - assuming you do the second change soon.

[pits]

I had a car that hadn't had an oil service in 127k miles, I am sure the Bimma will be fine, 29k miles and no oil service, it's not like it is going to explode and kill kittens

[VinceFox]

Two changes in close succession. It'll be fine.

[Blue Oval84]

FunBusMk2 said:

Blue Oval84 said:

My friend took a Rover 25 1.4 K Series from new to approx 50,000 miles without a service, just occasional oil top ups, and suffered no grief as a result.

May I ask why? Madness in my eyes.

Sorry I should have made it clear that my friend is female. I trust that will explain the situation?

[sparks_E39]

Thanks. I think the plan is change the oil, drive 1500-2000 miles (3 months) and change it again. He's using the good stuff both times, his choice.

Edited by sparks_E39 on Monday 30th January 21:01

[FunBusMk2]

Blue Oval84 said:

FunBusMk2 said:

Blue Oval84 said:

My friend took a Rover 25 1.4 K Series from new to approx 50,000 miles without a service, just occasional oil top ups, and suffered no grief as a result.

May I ask why? Madness in my eyes.

Sorry I should have made it clear that my friend is female. I trust that will explain the situation?

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