[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Asiann

Based on that test I wonder how BMW can only recommend changing the oil once a year? Clearly the oil needs changing about twice a year. Changing the oil directions in the DIY forum?

BMW AG actually say once every 2 Years, so will your car

Its a USA thing where they do 1 yearly changes eventhough the car doesnt call for it

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

BMW AG actually say once every 2 Years, so will your car

Its a USA thing where they do 1 yearly changes eventhough the car doesnt call for it

Once every 2 years..........that's 40,000 miles for me!!!!!

[HRC]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Once every 2 years..........that's 40,000 miles for me!!!!!

Danny

[E90Fleet]

Can someone please tell me what on the report makes everyone think they need to change oil soon??

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Once every 2 years..........that's 40,000 miles for me!!!!!

No, 2 years if you havent done the between service milage

[Brunotheboxer]

like i said, if there was no 4 year maintenance plan would it still be once every year or would it be sooner.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

like i said, if there was no 4 year maintenance plan would it still be once every year or would it be sooner.

Most of europe doesnt have a service plan, and they call for it every 2 years or the indicated milage

[E90Fleet]

Also dont know why people are so scared

I know lots of E46 and E39 that followed the same service intervalas as the E90 , lots with over 100,00miles on them , and none have any problems.

1 of a friend ( E46 330i ) was stripped down for conversion after about 120,000 miles and the tuner reported everything was still well within spec in the engine

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Also dont know why people are so scared

I know lots of E46 and E39 that followed the same service intervalas as the E90 , lots with over 100,00miles on them , and none have any problems.

1 of a friend ( E46 330i ) was stripped down for conversion after about 120,000 miles and the tuner reported everything was still well within spec in the engine

I just do it because it makes me feel better about how I am taking care of the car.

I have a saying that goes like this: "An engine has never suffered from running in fresh oil."

It gives me a level of comfort to know that my high-performance, high-tech BMW engine is turning in only the best and cleanest. It is worth it to me to spend money on extra oil changes to get this feeling.

So, I guess it is a psychological thing.

[NaTuReB0Y]

My dad and brother changed their oils every 3,000 miles..........

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Also dont know why people are so scared

I know lots of E46 and E39 that followed the same service intervalas as the E90 , lots with over 100,00miles on them , and none have any problems.

1 of a friend ( E46 330i ) was stripped down for conversion after about 120,000 miles and the tuner reported everything was still well within spec in the engine

I agree with you Fleet... There is PLENTY of other things on the car that will fail long before the motor does from a lack of oil changes.
I knew a girl who had an old Datsun pickup that had never had the oil changed. The pickup had well over 200,000 miles on it.

[E90Fleet]

Just to be clear, I have no problem with changing oil early, and also like to have fresh oil in, its just some people make it sound like the cars about to die if the oil isnt changed at 1/4 of the reccomended milage

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by voltron1011

I agree with you Fleet... There is PLENTY of other things on the car that will fail long before the motor does from a lack of oil changes.
I knew a girl who had an old Datsun pickup that had never had the oil changed. The pickup had well over 200,000 miles on it.

In those "plenty of other things" cause can be due to severely contaminated oil. Oil lubricates. Its like have your bone with no tissues around them. What happens? say good bye to your bones.

those of you feeling good with not-so good looking oil(actual oil analysis is better than talking here.). Its like break-in procedure. pre-caution measurement that is better when taken.

[RedStripe]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114712089483346960.html

BMW Removes the Dipstick
May 9, 2006; Page D6

Q: I recently purchased a BMW 2006 330i, which I absolutely love. It's my second BMW in eight years and I have become extremely loyal to the brand. However, the car has no dipstick to check its oil levels, only a computer readout. More worrisome to me still, the car runs on synthetic oil and mandates that I not change oil for the first 10,000 or so miles, yet consumed a liter of oil in its first 6,000 miles. To someone like me, raised on the credo that oil is the lifeblood of an engine, not changing oil and burning oil are both heresy. Any thoughts on why BMW has done this?
-- John Rosenberg
Greenwich, Conn.

A: Last fall I drove myself to distraction while searching for an oil dipstick under the hood of a BMW 530xi station wagon I was test driving. That car, your 330i and other BMW models are powered by a new six-cylinder engine called the N52 that uses sensors to monitor the oil level and alerts the driver with those disconcerting computer readouts on the instrument panel. For someone accustomed to using the dipstick to reveal not only the amount of oil in the engine, but also its color, consistency and even its smell, BMW's omission can seem insulting.

The whole auto industry has been heading in this direction for some time. Over the past 10 years or so many vehicles' engines have receded under vast plastic covers that, in addition to giving a neat appearance, stave off meddling owners who might want to remove a spark plug to check for fouling. We're likely to see dipsticks disappear from other BMWs as well as engines made by other companies.

While synthetic motor oil generally lasts longer and works better than conventional oils, I would feel better having a mechanic take an occasional oil sample to check its condition. BMW says your car's appetite for oil should ease once the engine is broken in, but keeping track of its consumption is still a good idea.

[742]

Audi used to offer free maintenance, and when they did so the oil change interval for the 1.8T was twice that of the same engine when installed in VWs.

This is not a black/white issue. Rather it is a balancing of risks, their odds and money. The majority of engines will no doubt "make it" on the BMW schedule. Some will not, since there are numerous things that can shorten oil life. Off spec oil, coolant leaks, improper filter installations and so on.

I want this car to last, and I don't want valve train problems at 100,000 miles. My oil will be coming out "early".

[john802]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Can someone please tell me what on the report makes everyone think they need to change oil soon??

The only thing it shows on that report is the small amount of different metal particles mix w/ the oil. It doesn't show the TBN(total base number) left on the oil to determine how much additive left in the oil. The TBN is the key if you want to use the extended oil use intervals.

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

In those "plenty of other things" cause can be due to severely contaminated oil. .

.

Actually I was refering to all the little things outside the engine that break and begin to nickle and dime you to death... I.E. fuel sensors, fuel pumps, timing chains/belt/tensioners, CV/UV joints, automatic transmissions, power steering pumps, water pumps/cooling systems, exhaust systems, ABS brake systems, computer glitches, ignition coils, power window regulators, etc, etc....

Don't get me wrong, I believe that oil is the life blood of a car as well... However, most people spend too much extra money on unneccesary oil changes (every 3000 miles?). I think people should bank away the money they would ordinarily use for one of their 3000 mile oil changes, and save it for when one of the other costly things go wrong.

[RPM90]

Feelings are nice for world peace and Valentines day.
Oil, however, is science and pretty much devoid of how one "feels" about changing it. Testing the oil is the BEST method to determine when.
The report listed here pretty much indicates all is well at such a low mileage, and that the oil is still fine to use. So, if the oil is still in there you're good, if you changed it you wasted some cash and time, which are 2 more things not concerned with "feelings". Yet those 2 things can certainly make you "feel" bad for throwing them away.

[742]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Testing the oil is the BEST method to determine when.

I'll buy that. But, asking as a new owner, how do we draw oil samples without a dipstick?

[brian32e]

early oil changers -- did you go to the dealer? If so, how much...and if not, where did you go?

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Can someone please tell me what on the report makes everyone think they need to change oil soon??

It is not anything in the report per se but what is didn't say. They stated that the oil is good for 6000+ miles. How long can the oil actually go based on personal driving experience? I know the car is monitoring driving behavior but all cars deposit some metal during break-in and waiting a year later to change that oil seems too late. I'm from the old school of changing oil every 3k and trying to extend that based on new technology. I know advances have come a long way but how can you be sure the oil can last as long as BMW says? Someone said the majority of the engines will have no problems but what about the others that are affected. No difference in some people experiencing problems with glitchesi in their car. We all hope not to have the same experience. Why not just use regular gas since the engine will compensate. I think experience goes a long way and for some changing the oil early is easing on the mind and just good precaution if you are willing to take action on your own.

[irowharderthanyou]

Originally Posted by brian32e

early oil changers -- did you go to the dealer? If so, how much...and if not, where did you go?

I didn't go to the dealer because for me, changing the oil myself saves me time and money and the fact that knowing it was done right makes me rest easier. I bought a bunch of oil and filters from Bavarian Autosport . They have really reasonable prices and I didn't have to pay for sales tax or shipping. When I do my oil changes, I only use BMW OEM products and pay about $50; I asked my dealer and they wanted ~$125 to do it, although many people on the forum have dealers that charge much lower than that. I hope this helps. :rocks: