Oil change schedule!

pmlzl · 01-14-2014, 04:29 PM

I drive an 08 135i coupe and love it! Recently I had to have some parts (vanos solenoids) replaced and my mechanic said that the main reason they have to be replaced is due to the long interval between oil changes, that is given to us from BMW! I am going to check with BMW to see if they will reimburse me for this service. Anybody else replaced these? How often do you get an oil change?😊

Dackelone · 01-14-2014, 05:35 PM

Changing engine oil and filter is cheaper in the long run that changing your engine or engine components. I serious doubt bmw will do anything for you.

Best thing would be to start changing your oil more often. Say every 5K miles or six months which ever comes first.

Jockey · 01-14-2014, 07:24 PM

I change mine yearly which equals 5,000 - 7,500 miles. I don't put many miles on my car, ha. I've had it for nearly 6 years now and I'm just breaking 40k.

631twentyeighteye · 01-14-2014, 07:42 PM

Every 5,000 miles. 15,000 mile oil changes are literally the most retarded thing i've ever heard of.

tuco44 · 01-14-2014, 07:45 PM

Change your oil/filter more often than BMW recommends. I very seriously doubt they will reimburse you. Move on.

Jockey · 01-14-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuco44

Change your oil/filter more often than BMW recommends. I very seriously doubt they will reimburse you.

They won't. I tried to get my oil changed 1 month ahead of schedule because I was leaving on deployment, had to pay for it out of pocket. Cheap bastards.

zamboni · 01-14-2014, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmlzl

I drive an 08 135i coupe and love it! Recently I had to have some parts (vanos solenoids) replaced and my mechanic said that the main reason they have to be replaced is due to the long interval between oil changes, that is given to us from BMW! I am going to check with BMW to see if they will reimburse me for this service. Anybody else replaced these? How often do you get an oil change?😊

I don't think long internal oil change would cause the solenoids gone bad, I had my E83 replaced it at 40K miles and I did change my oil every 7500 miles.

IEDEI · 01-14-2014, 11:27 PM

screw that! I put 5k miles on every 2.5 months! I'm not gonna change my oil that often :P

I'll do it every 8k. That's the best I can do :P

Eddie135 · 01-14-2014, 11:41 PM

For normal daily driving, when should I change my diff/transmission oil?

TheSt|G · 01-15-2014, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie135

For normal daily driving, when should I change my diff/transmission oil?

Every 30k per BMW before they covered routine service for free.

Diff is a bit more tricky as they don't have a drain bolt, buy you can buy a new rear cover from Quaife or VAC that does.

Iron Man · 01-15-2014, 06:55 AM

Based on some of the UOA's I've seen, the N54 engine needs an oil change around 5,000 miles or so (7,500 max). The N54/55 is not easy on oil, which somewhat explains why BMW reduced the interval to 10,000 miles earlier this year. If your car had 15,000 mile OCI's, you probably have some varnish and maybe sludge build-up and needs extra oil changes to help clean your engine.

JimD · 01-15-2014, 07:13 AM

I change oil every 5K miles now that my car is out of the "free" service interval. I got them to change it every year the first 4 years plus I did two myself. I drive it under 7500 miles/year to save on insurance and to use my SUV some. I do 5K for two reasons. First I believe it is often enough with synthetic oil. I don't think 7500 miles is bad as long as you aren't running hard in hot weather or something else bad on oil. If you look at the threads on "bob is the oil guy" forum, the people who have had tests done around 15K they saw breakdown in the oil. Not terrible oil but definitely degraded a little. So in my book, 15K is definitely too long.

The other reason I do it at 5K is simple. It is easy to remember.

I've started using Mobil 1 (0-40 Eurpoean formula) from Walmart so my cost of materials is around $40. That's about twice the expense of my other vehicles but I can live with it. I am not going to pay the dealer $100 or more for an oil change. I didn't buy a bimmer thinking it was inexpensive for maintenance but I see no need to get wasteful.

ejm3 · 01-15-2014, 07:32 AM

I'm still on the "free" plan from BMW, but I do mine twice a year which equals about 6k miles. I pay for one, they pay for one. I figure its cheap insurance.

BimmerE82 · 01-15-2014, 07:33 AM

5k is what I use as a benchmark as well..or when my Idrive shows the oil level in the middle of max and min. I never understood BMW's reasoning for the long intervals between oil changes when the car was still under warranty besides them being greedy. I'll used the coupons my BMW dealership puts out online for $79.00 oil changes, so that helps out a lot.

rking117 · 01-15-2014, 01:48 PM

i just changes the oil in the 1, my filter was almost as expensive as the oil. 30 for filter and 40 for oil at walmart. i always buy by the 5 qt bottle. that leaves me wth 3.1 qts left over for the next fill. Of course i splt the oil with my Z so it is never gong bad on the shelf.

Iron Man · 01-15-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rking117

i just changes the oil in the 1, my filter was almost as expensive as the oil. 30 for filter and 40 for oil at walmart. i always buy by the 5 qt bottle. that leaves me wth 3.1 qts left over for the next fill. Of course i splt the oil with my Z so it is never gong bad on the shelf.

$30 for a filter? You can get a Mann filter for around $8-10 on Amazon, ECS Tuning, Bav Auto, etc.

JimD · 01-15-2014, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron Man

$30 for a filter? You can get a Mann filter for around $8-10 on Amazon, ECS Tuning, Bav Auto, etc.

I bought a Mann, I think from Amazon, for about $10. Actually I think I bought 2 last time I got them so I should still have one on hand.

Allencic · 01-15-2014, 04:23 PM

There's no question that any BMW is great fun to drive. When compared to almost any other car (excluding other German makes) the truth is that way too many expensive parts break way too often. Outrageous repair costs on things like HP fuel pumps, Vanos bits and pieces, water pumps, etc. once the warranty runs out is exactly the reason that I would only lease a BMW and never keep it beyond the warranty period. Maybe the fragility of BMWs is a reasonable cost to pay for its driving fun but not for me.

I'll turn my leased 128i in at the end of March 2014 and while I've enjoyed the car there isn't a new model BMW that I'm interested in. Especially not the 4 banger 3 Series.

TheSt|G · 01-15-2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allencic

There's no question that any BMW is great fun to drive. When compared to almost any other car (excluding other German makes) the truth is that way too many expensive parts break way too often. Outrageous repair costs on things like HP fuel pumps, Vanos bits and pieces, water pumps, etc. once the warranty runs out is exactly the reason that I would only lease a BMW and never keep it beyond the warranty period. Maybe the fragility of BMWs is a reasonable cost to pay for its driving fun but not for me.

I'll turn my leased 128i in at the end of March 2014 and while I've enjoyed the car there isn't a new model BMW that I'm interested in. Especially not the 4 banger 3 Series.

What are you basing this on? Tons of M54 e39s running around 400,000+ miles.

owen2001 · 01-15-2014, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

What are you basing this on? Tons of M54 e39s running around 400,000+ miles.

+1.

At the rate I'm going, it would take me over 100 years to put that many miles on my car

dm135is · 01-15-2014, 06:00 PM

Engine Oil: I changed mine at 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 miles (tonight). I'll keep changing it at 5K intervals until 30K when, if UOA TBN supports it, I'll extend OCIs to 7,500 miles max.

Trans/Diff Fluid: I changed mine at 2,000 miles. I'll change them again at 15K and 30K, then every 30K thereafter. BMW used to spec 30K changes before "free maintenance".

Grease is cheaper than steel, especially BMW Turbo steel. Treat these vehicles like the thoroughbreds they are, instead of like the low-maintenance Toyotas that BMW bean counters and marketers want you to believe they are.

Pkaia524 · 01-15-2014, 07:31 PM

I drive 35K miles a year. Oil/filter changes every 7500 miles (Valvoline Syntech 5W-30--BMW approved oil), gear box and diff fluids every 30K miles (Redline fluids). Car now has 112K miles. No problems at all except a MAS replacement. It is a myth our cars are unreliable, but you have to use the Old School maintenance schedule.

And dont drive the car -5K miles a year. These engines want to be used.

FYI. our diffs do have a drain/fill plugs. Guess "lifetime" fluid wasnt planned to ge lifetime.

01-14-2014, 04:29 PM	#1
pmlzl Enlisted Member 18 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Lexington, KY iTrader: (0)	Oil change schedule! I drive an 08 135i coupe and love it! Recently I had to have some parts (vanos solenoids) replaced and my mechanic said that the main reason they have to be replaced is due to the long interval between oil changes, that is given to us from BMW! I am going to check with BMW to see if they will reimburse me for this service. Anybody else replaced these? How often do you get an oil change?😊
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01-14-2014, 05:35 PM	#2
Dackelone European Editor 10589 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Changing engine oil and filter is cheaper in the long run that changing your engine or engine components. I serious doubt bmw will do anything for you. Best thing would be to start changing your oil more often. Say every 5K miles or six months which ever comes first. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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01-14-2014, 07:24 PM	#3
Jockey Brigadier General 3451 Rep 4,983 Posts Drives: 992 C4S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Park City, UT iTrader: (1)	I change mine yearly which equals 5,000 - 7,500 miles. I don't put many miles on my car, ha. I've had it for nearly 6 years now and I'm just breaking 40k.
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01-14-2014, 07:42 PM	#4
631twentyeighteye Colonel 198 Rep 2,239 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Long island iTrader: (7)	Every 5,000 miles. 15,000 mile oil changes are literally the most retarded thing i've ever heard of. __________________ 08 e93 335i MT
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01-14-2014, 07:45 PM	#5
tuco44 Colonel 644 Rep 2,294 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada iTrader: (0)	Change your oil/filter more often than BMW recommends. I very seriously doubt they will reimburse you. Move on. __________________ 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Sunset Orange Previous BMWs - 19 others since 1971.
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01-14-2014, 11:27 PM	#8
IEDEI Banned 1130 Rep 4,686 Posts Drives: L'Orange Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [8.40]	screw that! I put 5k miles on every 2.5 months! I'm not gonna change my oil that often :P I'll do it every 8k. That's the best I can do :P
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01-14-2014, 11:41 PM	#9
Eddie135 N55 Commando 55 Rep 797 Posts Drives: 135i - DCT - N55 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	For normal daily driving, when should I change my diff/transmission oil?
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01-15-2014, 06:55 AM	#11
Iron Man Major 189 Rep 1,026 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Based on some of the UOA's I've seen, the N54 engine needs an oil change around 5,000 miles or so (7,500 max). The N54/55 is not easy on oil, which somewhat explains why BMW reduced the interval to 10,000 miles earlier this year. If your car had 15,000 mile OCI's, you probably have some varnish and maybe sludge build-up and needs extra oil changes to help clean your engine. Last edited by Iron Man; 01-15-2014 at 07:19 AM..
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01-15-2014, 07:13 AM	#12
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	I change oil every 5K miles now that my car is out of the "free" service interval. I got them to change it every year the first 4 years plus I did two myself. I drive it under 7500 miles/year to save on insurance and to use my SUV some. I do 5K for two reasons. First I believe it is often enough with synthetic oil. I don't think 7500 miles is bad as long as you aren't running hard in hot weather or something else bad on oil. If you look at the threads on "bob is the oil guy" forum, the people who have had tests done around 15K they saw breakdown in the oil. Not terrible oil but definitely degraded a little. So in my book, 15K is definitely too long. The other reason I do it at 5K is simple. It is easy to remember. I've started using Mobil 1 (0-40 Eurpoean formula) from Walmart so my cost of materials is around $40. That's about twice the expense of my other vehicles but I can live with it. I am not going to pay the dealer $100 or more for an oil change. I didn't buy a bimmer thinking it was inexpensive for maintenance but I see no need to get wasteful. __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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01-15-2014, 07:32 AM	#13
ejm3 Major 200 Rep 1,075 Posts Drives: 2012 135 Convertible 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I'm still on the "free" plan from BMW, but I do mine twice a year which equals about 6k miles. I pay for one, they pay for one. I figure its cheap insurance. __________________ 2012 135 Convertible 6MT 2017 Acura MDX
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01-15-2014, 07:33 AM	#14
BimmerE82 Captain 105 Rep 837 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Sport package Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, Arizona iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [7.00]	5k is what I use as a benchmark as well..or when my Idrive shows the oil level in the middle of max and min. I never understood BMW's reasoning for the long intervals between oil changes when the car was still under warranty besides them being greedy. I'll used the coupons my BMW dealership puts out online for $79.00 oil changes, so that helps out a lot. __________________
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01-15-2014, 01:48 PM	#15
rking117 Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,668 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i & 320i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	i just changes the oil in the 1, my filter was almost as expensive as the oil. 30 for filter and 40 for oil at walmart. i always buy by the 5 qt bottle. that leaves me wth 3.1 qts left over for the next fill. Of course i splt the oil with my Z so it is never gong bad on the shelf. __________________ Enjoying an E89 Z4, F30 320i and Fiat Abarth // E85 Z4 (sold), E82 128i (sold), Fiat Pop 500 (sold)
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01-15-2014, 04:23 PM	#18
Allencic Private 10 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2011 128i convertible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern California iTrader: (0)	There's no question that any BMW is great fun to drive. When compared to almost any other car (excluding other German makes) the truth is that way too many expensive parts break way too often. Outrageous repair costs on things like HP fuel pumps, Vanos bits and pieces, water pumps, etc. once the warranty runs out is exactly the reason that I would only lease a BMW and never keep it beyond the warranty period. Maybe the fragility of BMWs is a reasonable cost to pay for its driving fun but not for me. I'll turn my leased 128i in at the end of March 2014 and while I've enjoyed the car there isn't a new model BMW that I'm interested in. Especially not the 4 banger 3 Series.
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01-15-2014, 06:00 PM	#21
dm135is Private First Class 4 Rep 105 Posts Drives: 2013 135i 6MT M Sport Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Engine Oil: I changed mine at 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 miles (tonight). I'll keep changing it at 5K intervals until 30K when, if UOA TBN supports it, I'll extend OCIs to 7,500 miles max. Trans/Diff Fluid: I changed mine at 2,000 miles. I'll change them again at 15K and 30K, then every 30K thereafter. BMW used to spec 30K changes before "free maintenance". Grease is cheaper than steel, especially BMW Turbo steel. Treat these vehicles like the thoroughbreds they are, instead of like the low-maintenance Toyotas that BMW bean counters and marketers want you to believe they are. __________________ SOLD: 2013 135i Coupe, Le Mans Blue, M Sport, 6-Speed, Dinan Stage 2, Apex Aero-7 Wheels, Michelin PSS Tires, Clutch Delay Valve Delete, PickyEater Clutch Stop, Golf Tee Mod, R12R & R9T Racer & DR650 garage mates Last edited by dm135is; 01-15-2014 at 06:27 PM..
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01-15-2014, 07:31 PM	#22
Pkaia524 Private First Class 43 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2008 128i 6MT coupe Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	I drive 35K miles a year. Oil/filter changes every 7500 miles (Valvoline Syntech 5W-30--BMW approved oil), gear box and diff fluids every 30K miles (Redline fluids). Car now has 112K miles. No problems at all except a MAS replacement. It is a myth our cars are unreliable, but you have to use the Old School maintenance schedule. And dont drive the car -5K miles a year. These engines want to be used. FYI. our diffs do have a drain/fill plugs. Guess "lifetime" fluid wasnt planned to ge lifetime.
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