syphon oil between changes?

[Robert Elise]

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan. It covers 5k pa on infrequent, but long journeys. Never less than 30mins, normally much longer.
computer will prompt for oil service every 3 years or less!! My dealer agrees to service at 3 years if computer still says "no".
In the meantime i plan to have either have an indie do a mid-term oil+filter change, or maybe i can syphon off 3 litres every 9 months or so and replenish with correct oil. Oil filter shouldn't be clogged with metal as use is motorway with only occasional spirited input. Regular refreshing of oil is simple and will cost £70 or so.
i'm not replacing recommended servicing, just trying to complement it...

[Slobberchops]

Used a Pela extractor on my A4 and ran it to 178k miles with no issues.

[sparks_E39]

Absolutely a good idea. No good can come leaving oil in a car 3 years, however little the car is used.

[DrDeAtH]

Surely you would service your vehicle annually... even if it is just an oil and filter change

[Deva Link]

Robert Elise said:

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan.

I don't think that exists in the UK.

Quite a lot of cars will go 2yrs without servicing, but I've never heard of a scheme that would allow 3, or even more, years.

Having said that, I don't see why, especially in a petrol, it should be a problem.

Presumeably the car has some sort of annual MOT type thing too?

[g3org3y]

Robert Elise said:

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan. It covers 5k pa on infrequent, but long journeys. Never less than 30mins, normally much longer.
computer will prompt for oil service every 3 years or less!! My dealer agrees to service at 3 years if computer still says "no".
In the meantime i plan to have either have an indie do a mid-term oil+filter change, or maybe i can syphon off 3 litres every 9 months or so and replenish with correct oil. Oil filter shouldn't be clogged with metal as use is motorway with only occasional spirited input. Regular refreshing of oil is simple and will cost £70 or so.
i'm not replacing recommended servicing, just trying to complement it...

Why not just do a regular oil and filter change?

I'd be doing it annually regardless of mileage or what the OBC states.

You can buy an oil filter from ECP for less than £10, plus there are always offers for oil. I'd expect you can do a proper filter/oil change for £70. This half syphoning/replenishing malarkey sounds like a lot of bother.

[Meoricin]

Why not just do it yourself? I can understand having the dealer do the 'proper' scheduled services, but surely it's not a problem to not get the book stamped if you're doing something extra yourself?

[g3org3y]

Deva Link said:

Robert Elise said:

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan.

I don't think that exists in the UK.

E46 320i was a straight six irrc. Wasn't until the E90 that the 2.0 became 4 cyls.

[Robert Elise]

it's swiss car. 'free' servicing for first 10years or 100k. BMW charge £400 for a normal oil service out of service plan! Indies aren't cheap either. Last service i needed approval from manager after 3 years and 15k miles as service front desk checked and said "well, computer says another few km to go yet.."

i'm sure the filter is ok with my usage. Replenishing oil just seems prudent. annual change is a high cost for an occasional car that's not a keeper.

[Robert Elise]

e46 320 is a 2.2 6cyl 170hp

[Deva Link]

g3org3y said:

Deva Link said:

Robert Elise said:

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan.

I don't think that exists in the UK.

E46 320i was a straight six irrc. Wasn't until the E90 that the 2.0 became 4 cyls.

I meant the 10yr service plan!

[SuperHangOn]

I serviced a family members car over christmas and the filter disintegrated so hmmm on the idea (a 5 year old Vauxhall which hadn't seen fresh oil in a few years).

Its such little effort to do a proper oil change and costs so little its just not worth avoiding.

[g3org3y]

Deva Link said:

g3org3y said:

Deva Link said:

Robert Elise said:

i have an e46 320i (6cyl) that's on BMW's 10 year service plan.

I don't think that exists in the UK.

E46 320i was a straight six irrc. Wasn't until the E90 that the 2.0 became 4 cyls.

I meant the 10yr service plan!

Ah right, thought something was amiss there!

[J4CKO]

Syphon off 3 litres, thats just hard work, if you have the bonnet up and are finding somewhere to put old oil you may as well do the job properly, are you worried about filters, undertrays and sump nuts, if so, dont be, do it once and then you are up to speed.

[LuS1fer]

sparks_E39 said:

Absolutely a good idea. No good can come leaving oil in a car 3 years, however little the car is used.

How do you know?

[Robert Elise]

J4CKO said:

Syphon off 3 litres, thats just hard work, if you have the bonnet up and are finding somewhere to put old oil you may as well do the job properly, are you worried about filters, undertrays and sump nuts, if so, dont be, do it once and then you are up to speed.

i've syphoned once and it was easy. i have a recycle tip nearby for the oil. Yes, i fear a 'simple' oil change is just too much of a faff for this reliable old car that's neither a long term keeper nor a special car. My regular cars get full annual service due to their use and value. I would do it for the BM if i was doing damage by leaving it, hence the thread. I hope BMW filters can last the distance.... i find syphoning easy and hope it does some good. I'm sure in five year's time it will make no difference, although someone will pick up a very cheap car that's had some care. How many other condition based cars out there just get serviced when computer says Yes and can be legitimately sold with FSH?

[g3org3y]

Robert Elise said:

it's swiss car. 'free' servicing for first 10years or 100k. BMW charge £400 for a normal oil service out of service plan! Indies aren't cheap either. Last service i needed approval from manager after 3 years and 15k miles as service front desk checked and said "well, computer says another few km to go yet.."

i'm sure the filter is ok with my usage. Replenishing oil just seems prudent. annual change is a high cost for an occasional car that's not a keeper.

£400 for an oil service!!??

Given the relative inexpense of an oil filter, I'd be doing the filter at the same time.

Buy your own oil/filter, do the job yourself (1 hour max), done and done imo.

[Puddenchucker]

Robert Elise said:

I hope BMW filters can last the distance.... i find syphoning easy and hope it does some good.

Excuse my ignorance of BMW engines, but is the oil filter on your car a 'spin-on' type located at the bottom of the engine or, as is common with modern BMW engines, a cartridge type accesses from the top?

If it's the latter it should be a doddle to change the filter, with no specialist tools/knowledge, whilst the syphon is sucking the oil from the sump.

[sparks_E39]

LuS1fer said:

How do you know?

How do you? Having seen 3 year old oil coming out of a seldom used car, I wouldn't want it in mine.

[Robert Elise]

g3org3y said:

£400 for an oil service!!??

Given the relative inexpense of an oil filter, I'd be doing the filter at the same time.

Buy your own oil/filter, do the job yourself (1 hour max), done and done imo.

600CHF, yes. I'll keep on the BMW schedule as they do the servicing for free (according to OBD). Like most people here, i think 3 years is too much, so looking for easy way to keep lubricating. And avoiding getting underneath if i can! I do hear the "just change oil/filter" argument, i'm looking for an even easier way for an 8 yr old car that's actually driven very considerately - regular long trips are much better than lots of cold starts/short trips.
Maybe i should just tool up and get the overalls on...