1200 mile oil change?

[fun2drv]

What is the consensus about doing the first oil change after the break-in period? BMW did that on my '04 M3 and I want to do the same with my new 135i.

[KingOfJericho]

Not necessary but if you want to spend the money then go for it.

[Alext]

IF it makes you feel better do it. But you know what ...I have done this on all my cars including the 135i and I don't reckon it is worth it...not unless you plan on keeping it for 200k+ miles imho. Think about it, 90% of the cars you see on the road drive past you everyday probably havent had such pampering. I am still to read/see a case where an engine failed due to not changing the oil at 1200 miles (unless recommeded by the manufacturer)!

[JimD]

I don't think you are looking at an immediate break down or anything by not doing it. The question for me was whether it was worth spending ~$60 (for materials, I changed it myself) to help a ~$35,000 car last longer. I like to keep cars about 10 years and I have given the last several to my son. I don't know that he will get the bimmer but my point is just that making them last helps if not me, a family member.

The oil will not be in bad shape at 1200 miles but the question is whether it will have any metal particles from the initial engine usage. If it has any, getting them out will help the bearings last. Most of the engine bearings are babbitt which is very soft. If you have metal particles circulating, they tend to inbed in the babbitt which will result in damage but not that you can see immediately. It is not highly likely that you will have this damage if you don't do an early oil change. It is not a sure thing that you won't if you do the oil change. It just seemed to me to be worth the $60 to give myself a little better odds of a long lived bimmer.

Jim

[shodanusmc]

I did it on ours. Guess I am old school. If BMW was not providing the "Free Maintanance", would they tell you to wait 1 year of XX,XXX miles? For me, it was peace of mind. We bought it. Maybe if I leased it, I would not have done it with a 3 year lease.

[Angry3]

I did a 1500 mile change on my car even though it's a lease. Cost me $85 or so at the dealer with a service coupon? Why? Love the car, might buy it out, if so I think the preventative oil changes on this engine are a good idea.

That said I wouldn't argue with anyone that said I was nuts for spending the money to do it

[fun2drv]

I just went ahead and did it this morning. I measured how much oil came out of the engine and it was pretty much close to the full 7 qts... The oil that came out was pretty dark already after only 1139 miles. Now, I have peace of mind.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

I did it on ours. Guess I am old school. If BMW was not providing the "Free Maintanance", would they tell you to wait 1 year of XX,XXX miles? For me, it was peace of mind. We bought it. Maybe if I leased it, I would not have done it with a 3 year lease.

Well, in a way they do, because even after the 50k warranty is passed the oil change interval is still the same. The interval doesn't get shorter once the vehicle is past the 50k mark. And, a used certified BMW still has the same oil change interval even though BMW no longer provides the oil change service for free, while still covering the engine and it's whirrly bits up to 100k miles.
They cover the engine for 100k miles on a certified automobile even though it's oil change interval was about 15k miles with NO required "break in" oil change. If not doing the break in oil change were catastrophic I seriously doubt BMW would cover an engine for 100k miles, staking their reputation on it.

There's nothing wrong per se if one wants to change their oil more often.
But, there is an environmental cost to putting all those extra used oil filters somewhere. At least the oil can be recycled if disposed of correctly.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by fun2drv

I just went ahead and did it this morning. I measured how much oil came out of the engine and it was pretty much close to the full 7 qts... The oil that came out was pretty dark already after only 1139 miles. Now, I have peace of mind.

You can't judge an oils capability via it's color, especially in a turbo engine.
1100 miles on synthetic is barely used.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Well, in a way they do, because even after the 50k warranty is passed the oil change interval is still the same. The interval doesn't get shorter once the vehicle is past the 50k mark.

And the longer BMW recommended change intervals began with OEM sunthetic oil around 1999. The free maintenance was in effect before that with intervals of approx. 7,500 miles, just like other cars still using dino oil.

Tom

[m_thompson]

I changed mine at 1100 miles and sent the oil to Blackstone Labs for analysis. There was quite a bit of aluminum, magnesium, iron, etc in the oil. Not unusual for a new engine. I will have about 5,000 miles on the car when the annual oil change is due. I will get the analysis done again so I can insure that the amount of metals in the oil is getting lower.

[Why Knot]

Originally Posted by fun2drv

What is the consensus about doing the first oil change after the break-in period? BMW did that on my '04 M3 and I want to do the same with my new 135i.

How much do you like your car and how long do you plan to own it?

[fun2drv]

Originally Posted by Why Knot

How much do you like your car and how long do you plan to own it?

That was the reason why I was asking. I like cars in general and try to take good care of them. I have been using Mobil 1 on the leased Civic that the 135i is replacing. My friends tell me that I'm crazy for doing that to a leased car. For the small price difference, I want a "happy" car.