[shane55]

Chaps what are your thoughts on the 20,000miles interval between oil changes?
I've got 10,000 miles to go or April 2011 before its due but I'm tempted to change the oil now myself...car doesn't get driven very often but when I do its full steam ahead...April 2011 is more likely to come up first than the 10,000 miles so what do you think...bearing in mind its only ever been changed at a dealer and that they've used Castrol 0w30....should it be to wait 'til then?

[Walesy]

I change my oil in between the recommended service intervals as suggested by the car on board computer. I just judge it my myself and change when I feel its suitable to do so. I wouldnt leave engine oil in for 20k miles, never did it with any of my cars.

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by shane55

Chaps what are your thoughts on the 20,000miles interval between oil changes?
I've got 10,000 miles to go or April 2011 before its due but I'm tempted to change the oil now myself...car doesn't get driven very often but when I do its full steam ahead...April 2011 is more likely to come up first than the 10,000 miles so what do you think...bearing in mind its only ever been changed at a dealer and that they've used Castrol 0w30....should it be to wait 'til then?

Its ready now. Do it.

Next new one I have will get a precautionary 'running in' oil change at 1500 or so...

20000 is for fleet users and for people who arent that bothered about long engine life methinks.

Yves

[bakili]

i did oil change on my tdi vw every 5000k, now on 318i i will do it at least every 10k.

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by shane55

Chaps what are your thoughts on the 20,000miles interval between oil changes?

Stick to the servicing interval requested by the car (CBS) but do an "in-between" oil change halfway between oil changes. Takes some guesswork to get this right because in my experience the CBS "miles to next oil change" starts to drop off faster as time goes on. I seem to get 17000 mile intervals on CBS, so change the oil when there's 8500 miles to go. Don't bother resetting the CBS, that'll tell you when to do it again.

For diesels, if you want to DIY it quickly and easily, get a Pela 6000 oil extractor (£50) and suck the oil out the dipstick tube, then refill with e.g. Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel, either 0W30 or 5W40 but only if it's BMW LL04 approved else you might knacker the particulate filter. Definitely change the oil filter at the same time. It's about £15 for a new filter from the dealer parts counter, no doubt cheaper elsewhere. You will also need a 32mm low profile hex oil filter socket (Ebay) and ideally a torque wrench. Anything else and you risk chewing the plastic filter cover if you're cack-handed.

You'll need at least a spare 5l container for waste oil as the little Pela doesn't quite hold enough for the 330D. 5l mineral water bottles work fine.

[shane55]

Originally Posted by Shadow

Stick to the servicing interval requested by the car (CBS) but do an "in-between" oil change halfway between oil changes. Takes some guesswork to get this right because in my experience the CBS "miles to next oil change" starts to drop off faster as time goes on. I seem to get 17000 mile intervals on CBS, so change the oil when there's 8500 miles to go. Don't bother resetting the CBS, that'll tell you when to do it again.

For diesels, if you want to DIY it quickly and easily, get a Pela 6000 oil extractor (£50) and suck the oil out the dipstick tube, then refill with e.g. Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel, either 0W30 or 5W40 but only if it's BMW LL04 approved else you might knacker the particulate filter. Definitely change the oil filter at the same time. It's about £15 for a new filter from the dealer parts counter, no doubt cheaper elsewhere. You will also need a 32mm low profile hex oil filter socket (Ebay) and ideally a torque wrench. Anything else and you risk chewing the plastic filter cover if you're cack-handed.

You'll need at least a spare 5l container for waste oil as the little Pela doesn't quite hold enough for the 330D. 5l mineral water bottles work fine.

Is there not a bung in the end of the oil sump? ...I've had her up on the lift before when getting my wheels refurb'd but never looked at the sump!

[V330d]

I have a 9 litre extractor but wasn't happy with the volume extracted so removed the bung also and got another half litre from there. The bung is tapered and doesn't appear to require a washer, none there at first change anyway. (mine is a LCI 330d).

I used Mobil 1 ESP LL04 approved, 5 litre jars from Asda at £32, 3 jars will do 2 changes. (funny they had 1 litre jars priced at £6 so bought one also, 17.99 in Halfords!)

[Tunna_uk]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Its ready now. Do it.

Next new one I have will get a precautionary 'running in' oil change at 1500 or so...

20000 is for fleet users and for people who arent that bothered about long engine life methinks.

Yves

Originally Posted by Shadow

Stick to the servicing interval requested by the car (CBS) but do an "in-between" oil change halfway between oil changes. Takes some guesswork to get this right because in my experience the CBS "miles to next oil change" starts to drop off faster as time goes on. I seem to get 17000 mile intervals on CBS, so change the oil when there's 8500 miles to go. Don't bother resetting the CBS, that'll tell you when to do it again.

For diesels, if you want to DIY it quickly and easily, get a Pela 6000 oil extractor (£50) and suck the oil out the dipstick tube, then refill with e.g. Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel, either 0W30 or 5W40 but only if it's BMW LL04 approved else you might knacker the particulate filter. Definitely change the oil filter at the same time. It's about £15 for a new filter from the dealer parts counter, no doubt cheaper elsewhere. You will also need a 32mm low profile hex oil filter socket (Ebay) and ideally a torque wrench. Anything else and you risk chewing the plastic filter cover if you're cack-handed.

You'll need at least a spare 5l container for waste oil as the little Pela doesn't quite hold enough for the 330D. 5l mineral water bottles work fine.

Originally Posted by V330d

I have a 9 litre extractor but wasn't happy with the volume extracted so removed the bung also and got another half litre from there. The bung is tapered and doesn't appear to require a washer, none there at first change anyway. (mine is a LCI 330d).

I used Mobil 1 ESP LL04 approved, 5 litre jars from Asda at £32, 3 jars will do 2 changes. (funny they had 1 litre jars priced at £6 so bought one also, 17.99 in Halfords!)

Excellent advice. I agree with all these replies. I do mine twice a year and ignore miles indicator.

[zltm089]

yeah, about every 10k....