BMW oil change interval
Discussion
I have an e90 325i, 55k miles which I've had for a year.
The cars computer tells me the oil doesn't need a service for 2 years or 20k miles, whichever comes first. The wife is doing about 10k miles a year of short journeys in it but 2 years seems too long. It's under bmw extended warranty.
Do i A/ go with what the car says and get it serviced every 2 years or b/ get the oil done once a year (around 10k miles) from an independent and not get it stamped.
Thanks
The cars computer tells me the oil doesn't need a service for 2 years or 20k miles, whichever comes first. The wife is doing about 10k miles a year of short journeys in it but 2 years seems too long. It's under bmw extended warranty.
Do i A/ go with what the car says and get it serviced every 2 years or b/ get the oil done once a year (around 10k miles) from an independent and not get it stamped.
Thanks
You'll get differing opinions each way.
If the 20,000 miles are going to be lots of short trips I'd change it sooner, if they're long motorway trips then not so much to worry about.
There is no right or wrong answer. Oil and engines are certainly better than they used to be, but equally longer service intervals make the cars cheaper for leasing companies and so there is an incentive for companies to extend the recommended intervals as far as possible. Once the car is out of warranty then do the car companies care? Probably not. For every story about a car which destroys itself with long service intervals, there are others doing 250,000 miles without incident.
If the 20,000 miles are going to be lots of short trips I'd change it sooner, if they're long motorway trips then not so much to worry about.
There is no right or wrong answer. Oil and engines are certainly better than they used to be, but equally longer service intervals make the cars cheaper for leasing companies and so there is an incentive for companies to extend the recommended intervals as far as possible. Once the car is out of warranty then do the car companies care? Probably not. For every story about a car which destroys itself with long service intervals, there are others doing 250,000 miles without incident.
tty engines BMW have been making recently. If you want to keep the car I’d definitely recommend it.
It’s not unknown for the filters to break up and it’s unlikely to be in good condition after two years.
If you have a garage or even a flat hard standing, it’s a doddle of a job. Less than an hour and you’ll get the filter, new seals, sump plug and oil for less than a tank of fuel.
Up to you though, you might be lucky.
It’s not unknown for the filters to break up and it’s unlikely to be in good condition after two years.
If you have a garage or even a flat hard standing, it’s a doddle of a job. Less than an hour and you’ll get the filter, new seals, sump plug and oil for less than a tank of fuel.
Up to you though, you might be lucky.
I've followed the adaptive servicing in my M140i but will revert to doing 10k oil changes, as the longer intervals increase the risk of issues. The oil filter broke apart inside the housing on mine; apparently this tends to be a more common issue with cars that are on the longer interval adaptive service schedules.
Miramo said:
I have an e90 325i, 55k miles which I've had for a year.
The cars computer tells me the oil doesn't need a service for 2 years or 20k miles, whichever comes first. The wife is doing about 10k miles a year of short journeys in it but 2 years seems too long. It's under bmw extended warranty.
Do i A/ go with what the car says and get it serviced every 2 years or b/ get the oil done once a year (around 10k miles) from an independent and not get it stamped.
Thanks
If it is driven on short journeys I would half that and would also consider adding LM Ceratec if you intend to keep it for longer - especially useful with cold starts.The cars computer tells me the oil doesn't need a service for 2 years or 20k miles, whichever comes first. The wife is doing about 10k miles a year of short journeys in it but 2 years seems too long. It's under bmw extended warranty.
Do i A/ go with what the car says and get it serviced every 2 years or b/ get the oil done once a year (around 10k miles) from an independent and not get it stamped.
Thanks
It worked really well with both my E38 M52TU and E39 M54. Smooth cold starts (-20 in the Alps), no more slight hesitation throughout the revs, and much revvier engine. I admit this does sounds like a snake oil advert but this was my experience. I also then added it into rear diff and manual transmission in the E39 (all gear change notchiness gone as if by magic, annoying bearing rattle when idling all but disappeared, finally). Both cars are at 250k+ miles. Do not use it in automatic transmission as it requires friction to change gears.
I have 160k miles on (pretty much) the same engine as yours, I’ve always done “in between” dealer recommended interval oil and filter changes (so approx 9-10k mile oil changes).
Still in rude health and I had a poke around inside the head via the oil filler with an endoscope last week - clean as a whistle.
OP - If it’s a keeper like mine, then I’d do the extra oil/filter change.
Still in rude health and I had a poke around inside the head via the oil filler with an endoscope last week - clean as a whistle.
OP - If it’s a keeper like mine, then I’d do the extra oil/filter change.
Yearly for me in my E91 320d. I only do 4-6k a year but short journeys so I just like to have it checked over with a service too. I use Absolute BM in Worcester great service every time 😁
https://absolutebm.co.uk/
https://absolutebm.co.uk/
I do mine every 8000 miles. No snake oil additives, just a decent brand oil. Halfords is pretty good and not dear, plus a BMW/Mann filter. Oil filters are inevitably in a disgusting state by 10'000 miles.
This is what 20k oil changes result in; a BMW that's had two oil changes in 40'000 miles. Sweet.
This is what 20k oil changes result in; a BMW that's had two oil changes in 40'000 miles. Sweet.
Abby-ireb1 said:
Yearly for me in my E91 320d. I only do 4-6k a year but short journeys so I just like to have it checked over with a service too. I use Absolute BM in Worcester great service every time ??
https://absolutebm.co.uk/
How long have you worked there? https://absolutebm.co.uk/
DuraAce said:
Abby-ireb1 said:
Yearly for me in my E91 320d. I only do 4-6k a year but short journeys so I just like to have it checked over with a service too. I use Absolute BM in Worcester great service every time ??
https://absolutebm.co.uk/
How long have you worked there? https://absolutebm.co.uk/
I had noticed all the oil service posts reappeared lol
I do my 335i at least twice a year and I only to 4000 miles annually, for what it cost to do it yourself, just do it. 45 quid for the oil and a fiver for a filter, stamp in a book or not, just change it if you're worried about it just for piece of mind. Its more of a bugger to me that the bloody things don't have a dip stick these days so you cant check the quality of your oil without removing the filter cap let alone check the level of your oil when the engine is cold, which is what's recommended to do before going on a long journey, bonkers idea so I just change it regularly to be sure
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