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      06-28-2014, 02:15 AM   #1
etc123
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Oil change every 3k or 15k miles?

I just got my new 2014 750Li two weeks ago so I'm pretty new to the forum and BMW in general. In all my previous cars, I used to change the oil every 2,500-3,000 miles. It seems that oil change for the Bimmer is between 10k-15k miles depending on the driving style. Even though the newer cars have a lot of electronics, mechanical parts do exist and are responsible for the physical movement of the car. I just cannot make peace and allow myself to destroy the engine by changing the oil every 10k+ miles. I know i'm paranoic about this and usually do end up changing the oil sooner than most people but I just cannot accept changing it at more than 10k miles regardless of what synthetic oil they put in.

Does anyone have any comments on this topic?
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      06-28-2014, 11:56 AM   #2
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If you love your BMW and plan to keep it for a long time, ignore BMW's crappy oil change intervals and change the oil as often as your wallet can bear.
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      06-30-2014, 03:45 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markymarc1979
If you love your BMW and plan to keep it for a long time, ignore BMW's crappy oil change intervals and change the oil as often as your wallet can bear.
I don't want to throw money away but, at the same time I'm interested in other opinions on this matter. Would anyone disagree that changing the oil every 10k miles will potentially have a life-shortening effect for the engine and other mechanical parts? And yes, I do intend on keeping the car for a long time.
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      06-30-2014, 06:30 AM   #4
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I would personally change the oil every 5000 miles if you're keeping the car. I never liked the long oil intervals BMW has set out because every car is driven in different conditions.

For example,my car sits in the garage for a good 3-4 months during the winter plus I barely drive 5000 miles in a year so I can't imagine getting a oil change every 2 years. Also over time the oil's viscosity drops as dirt and gas get mixed so again imagine the condition of your oil after 10k.
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      07-03-2014, 12:51 PM   #5
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Every 4k miles for me with Royal Purple.
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      07-03-2014, 08:59 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TXSTYLE
Every 4k miles for me with Royal Purple.
Wow, so not too many of you are following the BMW guidelines. That's encouraging! I was thinking 3k-4k miles and probably will end up doing just that. Thanks everybody for the feedback and please continue to chime in if you have an opinion on this.
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      07-03-2014, 09:29 PM   #7
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Its the blood of your car. Keep it pure and clean!
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      07-04-2014, 09:29 AM   #8
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I'm in agreement with the others here. On my 2011 X5 with the N55 engine I changed it once a year at about 7500-10000 miles. It was a lease but it still bothered me to no end as I've always been one to change the oil every 5K with full synthetic (sooner than that I think is a waste unless your really driving it hard).

On my wife's new 2013 X5 I'm changing it every 5000-7500 MAX, as I too don't put that many miles on our cars.

My 2015 650 I plan to change the oil every 3000-5000 miles as well as it probably won't be driven that many miles each year anyway (Chicago weather).

As others have mentioned, if your planning on keeping the car and want to keep it running it's best, every 5000 miles is a good average for the new synthetic oils that they put in them.

In the end, it's kind of cheap insurance.
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      08-05-2014, 12:16 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWOO7
I'm in agreement with the others here. On my 2011 X5 with the N55 engine I changed it once a year at about 7500-10000 miles. It was a lease but it still bothered me to no end as I've always been one to change the oil every 5K with full synthetic (sooner than that I think is a waste unless your really driving it hard).

On my wife's new 2013 X5 I'm changing it every 5000-7500 MAX, as I too don't put that many miles on our cars.

My 2015 650 I plan to change the oil every 3000-5000 miles as well as it probably won't be driven that many miles each year anyway (Chicago weather).

As others have mentioned, if your planning on keeping the car and want to keep it running it's best, every 5000 miles is a good average for the new synthetic oils that they put in them.

In the end, it's kind of cheap insurance.
Thanks for everybody's feedback. I've decided to change it every 5k miles.
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      08-24-2014, 09:09 PM   #10
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If the recommendation is 15k and you're a spirited driver just cut that recommendation in half.
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      08-27-2014, 05:12 PM   #11
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My "d" requirement is every 10K or every year.I plan to keep it a long time so i'll be doing 5K miles and 6 months.Gassers are different so maybe wisdom would require a different strategy for you.
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      10-24-2014, 12:37 AM   #12
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I found out that BMW's recommendation of 10k-15k miles oil change interval is based on some calculations given average speed and other factors and not on the oil quality. It's basically a counter which is advertised as intelligent by BMW. I'm very disappointed and am now questioning their other recommended maintenance intervals (brakes, other fluids, etc).

Since everything is electronic, how can you tell if the mechanic/dealer is actually changing the oil? With no oil dip, how would I check to see if I have new oil put in?
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      10-24-2014, 02:57 PM   #13
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I've used the recommended settings on my car. While my current 750 only has 88000 km on it, a couple cars back I had a 540i that was able to do about 430,000 km with oil changes about every 22000 km or so. I'd have no problem continuing doing what the car recommends.
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      10-31-2014, 09:47 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etc123
I just got my new 2014 750Li two weeks ago so I'm pretty new to the forum and BMW in general. In all my previous cars, I used to change the oil every 2,500-3,000 miles. It seems that oil change for the Bimmer is between 10k-15k miles depending on the driving style. Even though the newer cars have a lot of electronics, mechanical parts do exist and are responsible for the physical movement of the car. I just cannot make peace and allow myself to destroy the engine by changing the oil every 10k+ miles. I know i'm paranoic about this and usually do end up changing the oil sooner than most people but I just cannot accept changing it at more than 10k miles regardless of what synthetic oil they put in.

Does anyone have any comments on this topic?
If you really drive your 750li hard enough to require an oil change every 5000 miles---you won't need to change it because you [in some cases] won't have any oil in your car to change.

Yes, if you run your engine at top speed for long durations, you will consume 1 quart every 1000 miles. If you baby your engine like most drivers, changing the oil is like changing the air in your tires---it has no effect.

Now, bmw recently lowered its intervals, but you can still go the distance and not worry.
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      10-31-2014, 11:23 PM   #15
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Thats not always true. I beat the crap out of the car, yet it doesn't use a drop of oil. The dealer keeps telling me that the N63 has weak valve seals and that its gonna destroy them and need new seals or heads, but I don't buy it. If I can't break it, its not weak. I break everything.

The chassis is proof of that. It's squeaking and creaking and rattling like crazy. It couldn't handle hard driving and poor roads.
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      01-15-2015, 07:23 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etc123 View Post
I just got my new 2014 750Li two weeks ago so I'm pretty new to the forum and BMW in general. In all my previous cars, I used to change the oil every 2,500-3,000 miles. It seems that oil change for the Bimmer is between 10k-15k miles depending on the driving style. Even though the newer cars have a lot of electronics, mechanical parts do exist and are responsible for the physical movement of the car. I just cannot make peace and allow myself to destroy the engine by changing the oil every 10k+ miles. I know i'm paranoic about this and usually do end up changing the oil sooner than most people but I just cannot accept changing it at more than 10k miles regardless of what synthetic oil they put in.

Does anyone have any comments on this topic?
The rule of thumb is, since BMW gives you a free oil change @ 1yr/15k miles... I would do a mid service oil change at 7500 miles but NOT reset the CBS so that when u reach 1yr/15k miles they will do the free oil change.

generally you are not using dino oil, you are using synthetics... The only true way to know when is a good time to change is by doing a used oil analysis. My other rule of thumb for my using Mobil1 0-40 euro LL-01 5qt jugs from walmart, your car can drive 1000 miles per liter of oil you store in the motor. So if your car holds 7qts of motor oil... Then i would be comfortable going 7000 miles before changing the oil.

I have done 10k intervals on my 335xi with no issues
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      01-15-2015, 10:20 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frieseke View Post
I've used the recommended settings on my car. While my current 750 only has 88000 km on it, a couple cars back I had a 540i that was able to do about 430,000 km with oil changes about every 22000 km or so. I'd have no problem continuing doing what the car recommends.
+1 Same here.

For each BMW I've ever owned, I've always followed BMW's guidance for oil changes using the condition-based prompts the cars give me and have had no oil / lubricant related problems with any of the cars whatsoever. I've put well in excess of 100K miles on each of them (and am now approaching 90K on my 2012 F02 7 Series). I drive a LOT of highway miles.
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      01-15-2015, 10:54 AM   #18
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Lightbulb

You will see once you take your car in under this "N63 Customer Care Pkg" as I already have, that BMW is now stating oil change to be every 10k.
But I myself change it every 5k. This engine is an INCINERATOR and puts mucho stress on ALL components of this engine.
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      01-16-2015, 09:05 PM   #19
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5K intervals for me as well.
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      02-28-2015, 12:29 AM   #20
etc123
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Good insight, thanks everybody! I'm changing mine every 6k miles.
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      03-01-2015, 12:29 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etc123 View Post
I just got my new 2014 750Li two weeks ago so I'm pretty new to the forum and BMW in general. In all my previous cars, I used to change the oil every 2,500-3,000 miles. It seems that oil change for the Bimmer is between 10k-15k miles depending on the driving style. Even though the newer cars have a lot of electronics, mechanical parts do exist and are responsible for the physical movement of the car. I just cannot make peace and allow myself to destroy the engine by changing the oil every 10k+ miles. I know i'm paranoic about this and usually do end up changing the oil sooner than most people but I just cannot accept changing it at more than 10k miles regardless of what synthetic oil they put in.

Does anyone have any comments on this topic?
I would do it at half the suggested and before I take long trips. I drive a lot. Not locally since work only 2 miles away. I like to take trips like Colorado mountains Utah etc
But I do my own work. So lot cheaper than taking to get serviced. Myself doing it cost like <$90 dealer >$150 some areas like $200
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      03-16-2015, 11:04 PM   #22
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Every 7500 miles for me.
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