[mashimarho]

They recommend 12,000 miles or something like that. That or 10,000. I think it is really high for my maintenance. I thought about bringing it in every 5,000-6,000 miles. Do you think they'd let me? I asked before, but they kind of brushed off the question....

[tilua]

You can bring it in anytime, but you gonna have to pay if it doesn't hit the oil change interval yet

[mashimarho]

So I have to pay if I bring it in at 6,000 miles?
I've never had an oil change every 12,000 miles....
This is new to me, especially for a BMW.

[Tom K.]

Sean, you should have received a "Warranty/Service" manual with your car. CBS (Condition based service) is explained in that manual. Essentially, the oil change interval is initially set at about 15,000 miles and will go up or down according to your driving habits as calculated by the car.

Selecting "Service Info" on your dash computer (see your Owner's manual) and scrolling to Oil service will tell you approximately how many miles remain to your next scheduled (free) oil change. Or it will be covered one year from your last oil service, whichever comes first.

If you are uncomfortable with these long oil changes, you free to have an "Interim Change" done (specify Oil Change ONLY with no additional service) by your dealer for about $100 or so - but don't forget, your BMW uses synthetic oil which should last significantly longer than the oil you may be accustomed to.

Tom

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by mashimarho

So I have to pay if I bring it in at 6,000 miles?
I've never had an oil change every 12,000 miles....
This is new to me, especially for a BMW.

Really? In North America BMW has had a similar oil change schedule ever since they introduced OEM synthetic oil back in 1999.

Prior to that the interval was approximately 7,500 miles - on Dino oil.

Tom

[mashimarho]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Sean, you should have received a "Warranty/Service" manual with your car. CBS (Condition based service) is explained in that manual. Essentially, the oil change interval is initially set at about 15,000 miles and will go up or down according to your driving habits as calculated by the car.

Selecting "Service Info" on your dash computer (see your Owner's manual) and scrolling to Oil service will tell you approximately how many miles remain to your next scheduled (free) oil change. Or it will be covered one year from your last oil service, whichever comes first.

If you are uncomfortable with these long oil changes, you free to have an "Interim Change" done (specify Oil Change ONLY with no additional service) by your dealer for about $100 or so - but don't forget, your BMW uses synthetic oil which should last significantly longer than the oil you may be accustomed to.

Tom

Hey Tom,
I just want to verify and ask it is safe to have long intervals? My oil change is coming up around 14k miles and I'm currently at 8.5k.

[ENINTY]

Being someone who has owned BMWs since the late '80s I can tell you that extended oil change intervals on BMWs is nothing new. My 1989 E30 used to go up to 12,000 miles between oil changes. The engine lasted until 294,000 miles when the head cracked (it still ran after that anyway) because my neighbor, who I sold the car to at 256,000 miles, let it over heat several times.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by mashimarho

Hey Tom,
I just want to verify and ask it is safe to have long intervals? My oil change is coming up around 14k miles and I'm currently at 8.5k.

We can assume BMW wouldn't warranty your car for 50,000 miles if it wasn't safe - so you have nothing to worry about.

But if, even after reading Eninty's post, you will sleep better at night, have your dealer change the oil & filter and pay the $100 or so. Just make sure that the computer countdown is NOT RESET, so that you do not give up your scheduled free service.

Tom

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

We can assume BMW wouldn't warranty your car for 50,000 miles if it wasn't safe - so you have nothing to worry about.

But if, even after reading Eninty's post, you will sleep better at night, have your dealer change the oil & filter and pay the $100 or so. Just make sure that the computer countdown is NOT RESET, so that you do not give up your scheduled free service.

Tom

Agreed. Sleeping better at night is key to good health. If I were to do so many oil changes I'd invest in the tools and gain the knowledge to DIY.