Oil change at 12K? Sounds high?

ViperJPB · 04-06-2011, 03:19 AM

So my car has been telling me for the past month that I'm due for service and an Oil change. However I have been into my dealer three times for various things and they say I'm not within the standard free service window and to wait until the car's iDrive says at least 2,000 miles to the next oil change. Well I'm now nearing 12K miles on the car without an oil change and the iDrive was saying Service Due or 2700 miles left to an oil change....that was last week....now it no longer gives a reading and shows the engine in red and that service is overdue. I'm taking it in tomorrow. But I can't help but think this is not healthy for the car and my dealership and the free service scheduling services are stretched to far. Is this sort of mileage without a oil change healthy even with synthetics? I bought my car and would like it to last...have I done any damage listening to the dealer and waiting this long? Should I shell out the cash and get an oil change between the long recommended changes? Thanks.

chris328i · 04-06-2011, 10:13 AM

Up to 15K OCIs are considered normal and acceptable.

ENINTY · 04-06-2011, 12:59 PM

Maybe the curators of this great site call E90 Post should add to the rules: Don't ask a question about oil change intervals because by the time you have joined E90 Post the question has been asked and debated to the extent, that if printed, would cause a temporary price hike in the cost of office paper since most all the world's production of paper would be dedicated for an entire day to printing the subject of oil changes on the E90, E91, E92, and E93.

Elie335i · 04-06-2011, 01:22 PM

WOW WTF 12k miles with the same oil? you're gonna get a camshaft failure soon, these cars are so sensitive when it comes to oil, go a search on " camshaft ".

I can't believe someone run the car 12k miles without an oil change, I do change oil every 3k miles.

Wild Squid · 04-06-2011, 01:29 PM

Your engine light is on red?
Slap the service manager twice across the face and then spit in it. Then tell him to change the goddamn oil.

ViperJPB · 04-06-2011, 01:39 PM

Thats what I thought! Seemed a bit long and they wouldn't change it tell the car was saying overdue. I have 11,650 miles on it. Should I worry about this camshaft damage and mention it to the service guys? I'm not listening to them anymore and I will cough up the $100 to get a change every 6K from now on. Should I worry about any longterm damage. Searches on the forum, which I did do before posting, vary greatly but all point to the usual BMW service rotation of 12K being normal.

chris328i · 04-06-2011, 05:30 PM

A used oil analysis will tell you if you have any major damage but it's unlikely as 15,000 mile oil changes have been used in Europe for years without issues. It is however important to use the proper BMW LL-01 approved oil.

F32Fleet · 04-06-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViperJPB

So my car has been telling me for the past month that I'm due for service and an Oil change. However I have been into my dealer three times for various things and they say I'm not within the standard free service window and to wait until the car's iDrive says at least 2,000 miles to the next oil change. Well I'm now nearing 12K miles on the car without an oil change and the iDrive was saying Service Due or 2700 miles left to an oil change....that was last week....now it no longer gives a reading and shows the engine in red and that service is overdue. I'm taking it in tomorrow. But I can't help but think this is not healthy for the car and my dealership and the free service scheduling services are stretched to far. Is this sort of mileage without a oil change healthy even with synthetics? I bought my car and would like it to last...have I done any damage listening to the dealer and waiting this long? Should I shell out the cash and get an oil change between the long recommended changes? Thanks.

You're using synthetic oil for a reason. Almost all cars sold today have an OLM and an OCI of ~12k miles.

Elie335i · 04-07-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Squid

Your engine light is on red?
Slap the service manager twice across the face and then spit in it. Then tell him to change the goddamn oil.

+5000

Tom K. · 04-08-2011, 03:33 PM

The recommended BMW oil change interval averages 15,000 miles, depending on your driving. While some of us prefer 8,000 mile changes, it is unlikely your motor will be harmed by waiting until the car calls for the change. And if it is, you are under warranty, are you not?

But you say on the one hand your car is calling for the change now, and yet it reads 2,700 miles left - which is it? If both, then it needs attention under your warranty coverage.

Please don't believe everything you read on the internet - 3,000 mile changes are fine if you go to Jiffy Lube & use non-synthetic oil. Otherwise you are throwing your money away needlessly.

Tom

04-06-2011, 03:19 AM	#1
ViperJPB Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 283 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fresno, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E90 335i [0.00]	Oil change at 12K? Sounds high? So my car has been telling me for the past month that I'm due for service and an Oil change. However I have been into my dealer three times for various things and they say I'm not within the standard free service window and to wait until the car's iDrive says at least 2,000 miles to the next oil change. Well I'm now nearing 12K miles on the car without an oil change and the iDrive was saying Service Due or 2700 miles left to an oil change....that was last week....now it no longer gives a reading and shows the engine in red and that service is overdue. I'm taking it in tomorrow. But I can't help but think this is not healthy for the car and my dealership and the free service scheduling services are stretched to far. Is this sort of mileage without a oil change healthy even with synthetics? I bought my car and would like it to last...have I done any damage listening to the dealer and waiting this long? Should I shell out the cash and get an oil change between the long recommended changes? Thanks. __________________ 2009 E90 335i 6AT / Procede / Vishnu DCI / Space Gray / Oyster Dakota Leather / Light Burl Walnut / / Sport, Premium, Cold Weather Pkg / Paddle Shifters / iDrive / Logic 7 / Park Distance / Comfort Access / iPhone Port/
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04-06-2011, 10:13 AM	#2
chris328i Private First Class 3 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Up to 15K OCIs are considered normal and acceptable.
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04-06-2011, 12:59 PM	#3
ENINTY Banned 179 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Maybe the curators of this great site call E90 Post should add to the rules: Don't ask a question about oil change intervals because by the time you have joined E90 Post the question has been asked and debated to the extent, that if printed, would cause a temporary price hike in the cost of office paper since most all the world's production of paper would be dedicated for an entire day to printing the subject of oil changes on the E90, E91, E92, and E93.
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04-06-2011, 01:22 PM	#4
Elie335i Legit :) 17 Rep 369 Posts Drives: 335Is/320i both coupe. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Inside my 335i. iTrader: (0)	WOW WTF 12k miles with the same oil? you're gonna get a camshaft failure soon, these cars are so sensitive when it comes to oil, go a search on " camshaft ". I can't believe someone run the car 12k miles without an oil change, I do change oil every 3k miles. __________________ Recent exterior modifications
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04-06-2011, 01:29 PM	#5
Wild Squid Banned 22 Rep 626 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i coupe Msport AW Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (0)	Your engine light is on red? Slap the service manager twice across the face and then spit in it. Then tell him to change the goddamn oil.
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04-06-2011, 01:39 PM	#6
ViperJPB Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 283 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fresno, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E90 335i [0.00]	Thats what I thought! Seemed a bit long and they wouldn't change it tell the car was saying overdue. I have 11,650 miles on it. Should I worry about this camshaft damage and mention it to the service guys? I'm not listening to them anymore and I will cough up the $100 to get a change every 6K from now on. Should I worry about any longterm damage. Searches on the forum, which I did do before posting, vary greatly but all point to the usual BMW service rotation of 12K being normal. __________________ 2009 E90 335i 6AT / Procede / Vishnu DCI / Space Gray / Oyster Dakota Leather / Light Burl Walnut / / Sport, Premium, Cold Weather Pkg / Paddle Shifters / iDrive / Logic 7 / Park Distance / Comfort Access / iPhone Port/
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04-06-2011, 05:30 PM	#7
chris328i Private First Class 3 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	A used oil analysis will tell you if you have any major damage but it's unlikely as 15,000 mile oil changes have been used in Europe for years without issues. It is however important to use the proper BMW LL-01 approved oil.
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04-08-2011, 03:33 PM	#10
Tom K. Major General 125 Rep 5,626 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	The recommended BMW oil change interval averages 15,000 miles, depending on your driving. While some of us prefer 8,000 mile changes, it is unlikely your motor will be harmed by waiting until the car calls for the change. And if it is, you are under warranty, are you not? But you say on the one hand your car is calling for the change now, and yet it reads 2,700 miles left - which is it? If both, then it needs attention under your warranty coverage. Please don't believe everything you read on the internet - 3,000 mile changes are fine if you go to Jiffy Lube & use non-synthetic oil. Otherwise you are throwing your money away needlessly. Tom
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