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      08-14-2018, 09:21 PM   #1
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oil change dilemma

i got my 2010 128i from CarMax in January of this year (1/2018). When I got it at 53k miles, I checked under the oil cap and the oil was a lovely golden color. However, the oil change reminder when I first got the car said 8k miles away or 1/2019. I have put about 4k miles on the car since then, and the oil change reminder says 7k miles away?? Do I obey the 5k Oil change interval everyone lives by on here, or do I push the limit until I hit 60k miles (which is about 3k away, basically putting the engine oil to work for 7k miles)? Will I damage the engine if I wait until 60k? Only reason I am wary is because after all this time of driving the car it still says oil has 7k miles left in it? If I do push to 60k, I plan on obeying the 5k mile oil change from there on out so it is easy to remember.

EDIT: My commute is 15 minutes each way with some other trips factored in. Car sees spirited driving often as it is a BMW and I enjoy driving it like one. The current oil is a light brown color, leading me to believe the oil is still good (after the 5 months I have owned it). I will go for the 5k oil maintenance interval, but the question is can stretch my next oil change until 60k to do it so it will be a habitual practice (60k, 65k, 70k, etc.)?? This would essentially put 7k miles on enthusiastically-driven oil.
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      08-14-2018, 10:40 PM   #2
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Forget what the CBS says. Change oil now and every 5, 6, 7 or 8K depending upon how you drive it. 5K for mostly short drives and 8K for mostly always longer high speed drives. Learn to do it yourself if possible.
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      08-14-2018, 11:50 PM   #3
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I have taken my car into BMW for an oil change and had them tell me I didn't need one. I still like sticking to the 5, 6, 7 or 8K whatever scheduled. My old Jeep with 250K and a 4.0 inline 6 was still running strong when I sold her on to a teenager. I was changing the oil every 3K. It's super easy and inexpensive to do yourself or look for a BMW dealer coupon. I use Castrol 03101 EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil made in Belgium! BMW or Mann filters.
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      08-15-2018, 12:19 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
Forget what the CBS says. Change oil now and every 5, 6, 7 or 8K depending upon how you drive it. 5K for mostly short drives and 8K for mostly always longer high speed drives. Learn to do it yourself if possible.
Thank you! I mainly commute for about 15 minutes each way with longer trips thrown in, and (although it is considered city driving) the roads here can get up to 75 and I rarely hit traffic. However, I do drive it spiritedly and sometimes straight up romp on the little thing, so I will change ASAP. I would do myself but I have no time/too lazy, but I do have an indy that I trust a lot.
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      08-15-2018, 12:20 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by FLATBMW View Post
I have taken my car into BMW for an oil change and had them tell me I didn't need one. I still like sticking to the 5, 6, 7 or 8K whatever scheduled. My old Jeep with 250K and a 4.0 inline 6 was still running strong when I sold her on to a teenager. I was changing the oil every 3K. It's super easy and inexpensive to do yourself or look for a BMW dealer coupon. I use Castrol 03101 EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil made in Belgium! BMW or Mann filters.
Thanks!! I have heard good things about that castrol oil and LiquiMoly
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      08-15-2018, 12:52 AM   #6
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Thanks to all who replied! I thought i could justify leaving my oil unchanged for 7k miles until 60k, but I was quickly put in the right place. I will change at 5k (57k miles for me) and just change the oil again at 60k. I really want the oil changes to be in the 60k, 65k, 70k pattern, so an extra oil change in there can't hurt. Rather be safe than sorry. I do feel stupid for asking, though Thanks to everyone who replied.
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      08-15-2018, 11:01 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smeard View Post
Thanks to all who replied! I thought i could justify leaving my oil unchanged for 7k miles until 60k, but I was quickly put in the right place. I will change at 5k (57k miles for me) and just change the oil again at 60k. I really want the oil changes to be in the 60k, 65k, 70k pattern, so an extra oil change in there can't hurt. Rather be safe than sorry. I do feel stupid for asking, though Thanks to everyone who replied.
Not sure about everyone on here obeying a 5K interval change. I think that is more for 135i owners, not 128i owners.

Use a LL-01 approved oil and going ~7500 miles between changes should not be a problem. 5K is overkill for your engine (using a LL-01 oil) and you are throwing away good oil. You can always have Blackstone analyze your oil if you are worried.
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      08-15-2018, 01:51 PM   #8
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Hey fellow 128i SoCal-er!

Like you, my daily (spirited) commute to and from work is about 15 minutes through the streets. I typically change my oil once a year, approximately 5K-7K miles... Doing it yourself is a really simple task, the toughest thing is getting access to the drain plug (I use ramps).
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      08-15-2018, 05:29 PM   #9
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I'm in the 5k mile OCI club. It's easy to remember (I'm old) and doesn't require much math (again, old, and also no so bright).

One thing I will add is that a Stahlbus valve is your friend unless you like painful contortions and having your hand soaked in waste oil a couple times a year.
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      08-16-2018, 12:15 AM   #10
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Thanks again for your replies! Getting oil changed 60k (which would put 7k on oil) and then i will go with 5k oil change intervals. I have no doubt these oils can go 10k with highway, but temps hit past 110 here and I drive it very enthusiastically sometimes haha
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      08-16-2018, 08:03 PM   #11
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The only thing I would add is I would not trust CarMax to use BMW approved oil - or even any synthetic oil. I don't think 7K miles will kill your engine but I think immediately changing the oil and filter on any new-to-you car is a good idea. I would be surprised if CarMax doesn't just dump in whatever they have a barrel of regardless of the vehicle make.
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      08-16-2018, 10:46 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
The only thing I would add is I would not trust CarMax to use BMW approved oil - or even any synthetic oil. I don't think 7K miles will kill your engine but I think immediately changing the oil and filter on any new-to-you car is a good idea. I would be surprised if CarMax doesn't just dump in whatever they have a barrel of regardless of the vehicle make.
Good point. It's not like the car was a CPO from a dealer.
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      08-18-2018, 04:24 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by JimD View Post
The only thing I would add is I would not trust CarMax to use BMW approved oil - or even any synthetic oil. I don't think 7K miles will kill your engine but I think immediately changing the oil and filter on any new-to-you car is a good idea. I would be surprised if CarMax doesn't just dump in whatever they have a barrel of regardless of the vehicle make.
Very true. Would conventional oil be the same color as synthetic after 7k miles? The oil now is only slightly brown, something I would only expect from synthetic oil. No lifter ticks or knocking of any sort since I have had the car.
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      08-18-2018, 04:25 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by bmw1racer View Post
Good point. It's not like the car was a CPO from a dealer.
yes i wanted a CPO but this car was the only M sport manual i could find with low miles
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      08-18-2018, 05:10 PM   #15
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Anytime I buy a used car, I change the oil two or three times in the first month.... just to flush out the engine. Oil is cheap(er) than internal engine parts.

IF you really only drive 15 miles to work... your engine is never warming up fully. I think you meant to say you also drive the car on longer trips(per week) - right? IF you only really drive 15 miles to your work... I'd be changing your oil every month! That's a sure fire recipe for sludge buildup.

For me... I would rather change the engine oil too(more) often than what the CBS says. An oil change every 15K(or 10K now) is what BMW says. But they are in the business to sell you a new car every few years. I plan on keeping my 1er... so I go a little bit over board with oil changes. Oil changes are really the only "real" servicing that a modern BMW see's these days. Sure there are other minor things... but fresh oil is the best oil!

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      08-19-2018, 03:30 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
Anytime I buy a used car, I change the oil two or three times in the first month.... just to flush out the engine. Oil is cheap(er) than internal engine parts.

IF you really only drive 15 miles to work... your engine is never warming up fully. I think you meant to say you also drive the car on longer trips(per week) - right? IF you only really drive 15 miles to your work... I'd be changing your oil every month! That's a sure fire recipe for sludge buildup.

For me... I would rather change the engine oil too(more) often than what the CBS says. An oil change every 15K(or 10K now) is what BMW says. But they are in the business to sell you a new car every few years. I plan on keeping my 1er... so I go a little bit over board with oil changes. Oil changes are really the only "real" servicing that a modern BMW see's these days. Sure there are other minor things... but fresh oil is the best oil!

Dackel
Yes 15 miles, but occasionally over 50+ miles in a day. Depends on when I have to do an errand that is beyond city limits, so i take highways. I have never heard of sludge build up issues on my engine (N51) even when the car gets 15k oil changes, but I understand the concern. I am almost definitely sure this car got new oil when I got it as the oil was literally golden and there were fresh oil stains on the engine cover. Leads me to believe they never reset oil life on CBS, so CBS has always read way less than 15k intervals (but the date was right, one year after purchase is next oil change). Also, the oil is still, after 4k enthusiastic miles, a nice light brown color. I think i will go ahead with the 5k changes when I hit 60k (only 3k more away)
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      08-20-2018, 10:34 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
Anytime I buy a used car, I change the oil two or three times in the first month.... just to flush out the engine. Oil is cheap(er) than internal engine parts.

IF you really only drive 15 miles to work... your engine is never warming up fully. I think you meant to say you also drive the car on longer trips(per week) - right? IF you only really drive 15 miles to your work... I'd be changing your oil every month! That's a sure fire recipe for sludge buildup.

For me... I would rather change the engine oil too(more) often than what the CBS says. An oil change every 15K(or 10K now) is what BMW says. But they are in the business to sell you a new car every few years. I plan on keeping my 1er... so I go a little bit over board with oil changes. Oil changes are really the only "real" servicing that a modern BMW see's these days. Sure there are other minor things... but fresh oil is the best oil!


Dackel
I agree on changing the oil immediately upon buying a used car but 15 miles is more than enough to get the engine up to temp. I used to drive 15 miles each way, and the oil is at full temp (135, so I have the gauge) after 5 miles or so.

Quote:
Originally Posted by smeard View Post
I think i will go ahead with the 5k changes when I hit 60k (only 3k more away)
I'd be much more inclined to change it now, use Castrol LL-01 so you know it's what should be in there and then go to 65k.
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      08-20-2018, 04:43 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amg6975 View Post
I agree on changing the oil immediately upon buying a used car but 15 miles is more than enough to get the engine up to temp. I used to drive 15 miles each way, and the oil is at full temp (135, so I have the gauge) after 5 miles or so.
It depends on your climate/outside temp and your oil viscosity. But generally speaking... driving just 15 mile's is not enough of a drive, to get your engine oil up to temp "fully". Not to mention your trans and diff oils too - those will take longer.

I would say one needs to drive for a longer time period (25 miles/25 minutes or more) to get things up fully. Fully meaning 220'F to 250'F on your oil temp gauge.

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      08-20-2018, 10:28 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
Fully meaning 220'F to 250'F on your oil temp gauge.
But 128i's don't have an oil temperature gauge or even access via OBDII.
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      08-21-2018, 03:42 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw1racer View Post
But 128i's don't have an oil temperature gauge
I thought we were talking about guys who retrofitted a 135i kombi instrument panel to a 128i.


Quote:
or even access via OBDII.

IF you use an OBD-II dongle and an app(like Torque)... you should be able to monitor oil and coolant temps.

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      08-21-2018, 08:26 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
I thought we were talking about guys who retrofitted a 135i kombi instrument panel to a 128i.
I didn't see that mentioned in this thread.

Quote:
IF you use an OBD-II dongle and an app(like Torque)... you should be able to monitor oil and coolant temps.
I've got an Ultragauge plugged into my OBDII and only coolant temps are accessible, not oil temps.
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      08-21-2018, 01:17 PM   #22
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I think you may need to go to Scangauge. Mine on my truck would not show transmission temp until some recoding was done. Can be done online.
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