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digi
11-03-2004, 01:52 PM
How many Km's on a bmw is it recommended before oil change. I looked in the manual and didnt see anything.

Its a 2001 325i.

wildkarrde
11-03-2004, 02:03 PM
max 5000

max_boost
11-03-2004, 02:06 PM
Originally posted by wildkarrde
max 5000 :rofl: Sure!:rolleyes:

I was talking to 'G' and he was mentioning he's going to change his every 8000kms. I'm at 9000 right now but I'm super busy/lazy so I might just wait until the 25000 free service interval. The BMW owners I've talked to change their oil anywhere from 10-20000kms depending on driving conditions.

bol
11-03-2004, 02:29 PM
Look in your manual harder... it's there.

I think the factory change interval on E46's is either 20k or 25k km. I think that's way too long of an interval. The oil will be fine but the filter will start to degrade.

I personally change mine every 8000 - 10000 and the oil is always fine.

Use a high quality synthetic(I use Mobil 1) with OEM filters and you won't have any problems.

digi
11-03-2004, 03:25 PM
i dont think "max 5000" is correct, that is what you would do in a normal car without synthetic oil

ACS-e36
11-03-2004, 10:19 PM
yeah i just follow the meter on the dash...
but i think im gonna doit more often... it just seems way too long to doit once a year

CLiVE
11-04-2004, 06:34 PM
Factory oil change interval on my MINI is every 18,000 kms. Talking to the dealer on my last visit, they recommended that b/c of the driving conditions in Calgary the oil be changed twice as often, or every 9,000kms. That's what I'm sticking with for now...

SwitchBlade
11-04-2004, 11:45 PM
I was averaging about 10-15k with the synthetic in my 3 series.

m10-power
11-04-2004, 11:58 PM
Originally posted by CLiVE
Factory oil change interval on my MINI is every 18,000 kms. Talking to the dealer on my last visit, they recommended that b/c of the driving conditions in Calgary the oil be changed twice as often, or every 9,000kms. That's what I'm sticking with for now...

Sounds like a money grab to me. Why would BMW(not the dealer) recommend something that wasn't good for the car? Change the oil when the car indicates for it to be changed.

CLiVE
11-05-2004, 04:08 PM
Originally posted by m10-power


Sounds like a money grab to me. Why would BMW(not the dealer) recommend something that wasn't good for the car? Change the oil when the car indicates for it to be changed.

It is fine for a car that is operated in standard conditions...

B/c our climate is harsher than what the "factory standards" are based on change it more often.

It was not recommended to me by BMW that I change oil twice as frequently until I questioned the 18-20K change interval.

QuasarCav
11-05-2004, 04:11 PM
Better safe than sorry, If you feel the need to change it and you haven't reached any service intervals than change it anyway. The only thing you will hurt is your wallet.

I go 3-4000 on synthetic before a change, buddy works at a lube shop so a 10$ oil change is no big deal.

FiveFreshFish
11-05-2004, 05:02 PM
Don't believe everything you read from the manufacturer.

This factory Audi oil filter reads 30,000 km / 2 years.

Glenn 328is
11-09-2004, 09:35 AM
Personally I do not listen to the green bars upon startup before doing an oil change. I change around 6000 kms. I don't think it is a waste of money, as I drive hard and a lot and my car is getting a little older. The quality of the oil doesn't change, it is just the amount of contaminants in the oil. Change the filter at 3 or 4k and then you can extend the oil change interval. IMO

I reset my Cooper's service interval lights and it said 25k!! Crazy.

C4S
11-09-2004, 11:14 AM
Your car will "tell" you when do u need to do Oil change !

Depends on how hard you drive the car, it could be every 12,000km .... ut could be 24,000km ..

Anyway .. depends how many kms you put in a yr .. if you are average driver, put ~ 20,000km in a yr .. then do oil change once a yr or may be every 9-10 month ...

You can do more, it won't hurt the car.

My gf only put 13,000 km in 2 yrs, so ... she got her first oil change done when the car was 2 yrs old ! :D

Anyway .. Oil change for 3 series is cheap .. like $90 only ! with 7L of synthetic Oil ! :zzz:

PH1PH1
11-09-2004, 12:02 PM
i change mine every 4k .. but thatz with wateva they put in ... if i was to change to synthetic oil would it be better for my car?

omes
11-09-2004, 03:01 PM
7500 km for me. Why not ....it is cheap insurance and for the amount I drive and pushing oil thru my kompressor it is like once a year anyways.

civicrider
11-09-2004, 03:23 PM
i go every 10 000

Boost Infested
11-09-2004, 03:33 PM
you just have to change the oil not the filter.


Originally posted by FiveFreshFish
Don't believe everything you read from the manufacturer.

This factory Audi oil filter reads 30,000 km / 2 years.

Deetz
11-09-2004, 03:42 PM
I change my synthetic blend about every 5000 kms. I have been dealing with many automotive shops over the years to realize the difference in wear on bearings, cams and valve compontents between cars that have oil changed every 5000kms as oposed to cars that have it changed every 10 - 12,000 kms.

The oil itself does last a good peroid of time, but after a while it does get very dirty and has all that crap floating around your engine.

Tuner1
11-09-2004, 03:58 PM
I see it as cheap insurance for your engine and I always feel better after a fresh change :) I do mine every 6000km with Motul 300V.

Rob

m10-power
11-12-2004, 05:39 PM
http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/threethousandmileoilchange.htm


Some information regarding oil drain intervals, understanding synthetics and 'breakdown'. If anything change your oil & air filter more often.

Of course all this depends on what condition your engine is in, you can always send a test sample in to see the condition of the oil to get a better idea of the intervals required. The easy thing is to just change your oil more frequently. The oil companies will thank you.

NiteRider
11-15-2004, 04:07 PM
Originally posted by E36S50B32
I see it as cheap insurance for your engine and I always feel better after a fresh change :) I do mine every 6000km with Motul 300V.

Rob

DITTO
but i use mobil 1

eikna
11-18-2004, 03:32 AM
so if i change my oil ,does the light change automatically or does a dealer do it themselve..sorry im new at this ..just got a 95 320 i last month

eikna
11-18-2004, 03:33 AM
where is the best place to get our bmw maintained? here in calgary?

Glenn 328is
11-18-2004, 09:11 AM
Go to www.bimmerforums.com, register and then surf til you are crazy..... Your car doesn't reset the lights automatically. You can have someone with a reset tool do it, or you can do it yourself. In the E36 section on bf.c, check out the DIY files. They are extremely helpful. Also, try and pick up a Bentley's manual if you are a little handy.

As far as getting your car maintained in Calgary, I will let the Calgary guys answer this one...