Are you changing your oil early?

[paulmon]

I'm now at 9500km on my MCS, the computer tells me that at 16,000km is when I have to change the oil. This sounds like a VERY VERY long time, even taking into account synthetic oil used. How many of you are going to change your oil early or wain until it's time according to the car?

[richmds]

Already have. Three times in fact.
My meter currently is recommending 12,000 miles.
Changed oil at 1,500 miles, 5,000 miles, and 9,500 miles. It was consuming oil and very dark brown. Perhaps just paranoid but it helps me sleep better at night.

[Sejanus]

Oil looks pretty clear still (I've got 7800 miles on my MINI so far) so I'm going to go by the book.

[HarryHBMCC]

I said no even though I actually went in when it had 400km to go I take it you meant earlier than that. Next one is now less than 24K km away...

Harry

[MiniTiger]

I changed my oil at 3000 miles (4800km) and I'm glad I did. The oil was very black.

I usually go ~5-7k miles on synthetic. So the free oil change will come right on schedule.

[LuckyRVA]

Yes, I've changed my oil twice since I've had the car and with only about 5500 miles in the car. First time was at about 2000 miles and then again at 5000 miles.
I think my scheduled maintenance is at about 10,000 miles, that's much too long IMO!

[GordonD]

I plan on changing every 5,000km plus filter

[richmds]

Wow I thought I was cautious. Can I ask why you decided to go 600, 1600, and 2600? I know some want to get rid of metal shavings but at those intervals it seems the oil would still be honey colored.

Also what is Lubrication Engineers 8530?

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave
I like new oil.
Did mine at 600, 1600 and 2600 miles.
I'll change again at 5K just to make it easy.
That and I'm dying to try some new oil I purchased. Bought some of the Lubrication Engineers 8530.

[kshapiro]

I'm waiting for the 10,000 mile mark. I always changed my new cars oil at 1,000 then 3,000 then every 3,000 after that. Why the new outlook? More than a few BMW techs have told me that changing sooner would only waste money. I'm an old car guy (49) and new technology just doesn't create the contamination and "metal shavings" some of you are talking about. My car has over 8,000 miles on it, has not used any oil to speak of, and is still light in color. My dealership could have gotten the $ out of me, bbut advised me not to waste my money...they said some BMWs are 15,000 mile cars.

[paulmon]

Well, I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and change the oil sometime in the next few hundred kms. In fact I'm going to be at my dealer in a couple of weeks getting the black grill installed on my DS/B MCS so I might as well get them to do the oil change then.

Paul

[HarryHBMCC]

This is just a butt dyno observation but when I got my MINI Cooper's oil changed for the first time at 14339km (almost 9000 miles) I was expecting a big change after that as several cars I've had in the past really did better after an oil change, the engine felt much looser. Not this car, as free revving after as before. I believe the synthetic keeps the dirt away from where it does harm. At the cost of using synthetic, you might as well get your miles out of it. If you're going to change every 7500km or less, why bother using synthetic? Regular oil can go that long, so as I figure it synthetic can go twice as long without trouble.

BMW has long maintenance schedules for all its cars with synthetics so if it was costing them high warranty replacements, they wouldn't do it.

Harry

[MiniTiger]

We don't have that long a warranty for the MINI.

If you never changed your oil, your engine would probably last past the warranty period... so why should BMW offer to change oil every 3-5000 Miles. Three grattous oil changes would cover their butts for warranty periods.

[HarryHBMCC]

But there is no included service here in Canada, nor any optional TLC package. In this case why wouldn't my service manager suggest a more frequent change period, just for peace of mind, if it truly were better? Or do you think they really want to sell replacement engines? I find that hard to believe, though I guess Ford did it for years with automatic trannies. I'm not a high mileage driver. Some people are going to hit 80k km before I do so I guess we'll see what happens.

Harry

[richmds]

Its true synthetic can go longer without changes but changing early cant do harm. And its true BMW has long maintenance intervals it doesnt mean its a particularly smart thing. If you research some of their cars and their history many have had serious mechanical problems that they like to keep quiet. Seeking reparations from them is even more difficult. Ask any 7 series owner that has spent upwards of $100K on the car what happens when they contact BMW about obvious design flaws preventing the car from running as it should.

What I am getting at is just because BMW says something doesnt mean its always right, use your common sense and do what suits you.

[erichui]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniTiger
We don't have that long a warranty for the MINI.

If you never changed your oil, your engine would probably last past the warranty period... so why should BMW offer to change oil every 3-5000 Miles. Three grattous oil changes would cover their butts for warranty periods.

i agree with that.
in sydney the car only comes with a 2year warranty, which is so short that it is most likely to last thru 2 years (well u can add money for the 3rd year warranty, which i find useless)
when i did my first oil change at 4000km.
the oil was like completely black which i am glad i did an oil change, and afterwards the car rev much more freely
i think that for those little amount of money its always do no harm to change oil more often.