Oil Change
- Thread starter karamian
- Start date
If you are using the "BMW" oil I would be very careful about going more than 10k miles on that oil, unless you won't keep the car very long. Even though it is an A3 rated oil, I've read that this oil does not hold up very well, especially at 15K miles. It is also not a true syntheic like Mobil 1, Amsoil or redline.
Ben said:
Adding a quart of oil isnt really that hard, and if its really dark, maybe its time for it to be changed. or do you like watching bimmers blow up? ![[xx(]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_dead.gif "Dead [xx(]")
Yeah, I checked the oil and it was close to the lower end, so I added a quart of oil. I used Castrol Syntethic oil. As I said it is over 10000 miles and I feel the difference in the way the engine runs, so I guess I will make an appointment and take it for a change.
The stupid morons at the dealer go based on the 15000, so I will just ake it in sooner sometime next week and make them change it.
Yeah I am planning on keeping the car, but you never know i might change my mind. Either way I like to take care of the car.
I'll give the service department a call tomorrow and see what happens.
Vk
The stupid morons at the dealer go based on the 15000, so I will just ake it in sooner sometime next week and make them change it.
Yeah I am planning on keeping the car, but you never know i might change my mind. Either way I like to take care of the car.
I'll give the service department a call tomorrow and see what happens.
Vk
Pulled from another website. Seems accurate enough after the discussions taht followed:
1) All new BMW's require synthetic. As far as weight, only certain production dates of M3's and M5's require the use of Castrol TWS 10w-60.
2) The Factory BMW Synth 5w-30 is a version of Castrol TXT Softect sold overseas. A few important things about the BMW oil a) it is a Group III hydrocracked oil which cannot be called synthetic in Europe, b) it is a heavy 30 weight (30 weight can run from 9.3-12.5cst@100c, the BMW oil is about 12.2cst), c) it is a ACEA A3 oil which means that it is approved for longer change intervals and has a HTHS (High Tempurature High Shear) measured at 150c of greater than 3.5.
3) In the US, the only Group IV PAO Synthetics that are available are 1) Mobil 1, 2) Amsoil (but not the Xl-7500), 3) Royal Purple, and 4) German Castrol 0w-30 (it has the red label and says on the back, "Made in Germany). Redline is a Group V PolyEster based oil. All other Castrol, Quaker State, Pennzoil, Valvoline "synthetics" are a Group III hydrocracked oil. It is debated how much better Group IV base oils are than group III, but generally they are considered better.
4) When looking for oil for any BMW that does not require Castrol TWS 10w-60, you want to purchase an oil that has either/both of the following ratings, a) ACEA A3, or b) BMW LL-98 or LL-01.
5) Note that Mobil 1 0w-30, 5w-30, and 10w-30 are NOT ACEA A3 or BMW LL approved oils. This is because they all are thin 30 weight oils (approximately 9.8-10 CST@ 100c) and have HTHS of approximately 3.1. Mobil 1 0w-40 and 15w-50 are A3 rated and the Ow-40 is BMW LL-01 approved. For 99% of climates and users 0w-40 or 5w-40 is the appropriate grade. There are some 0w-30 and 5w-30 oils (like the BMW 5w-30) that are forumlated on the heavier end of the 30 weight scale and are accordingly rated A3. These oils will work well also. LOOK FOR THAT ACEA A3 rating. If the oil doesn't have it, pass on it.
6) Some people seem confused about how oil thickness is measured. The first number (0W, 5w, 10w, 15w, etc) is a measurement of how thick the oil is at tempuratures of -35c- -20c (depends on the grade). The lower this first number the thinner the oil is at LOW tempuratures. The second number (30, 40, 50) refers to oil thickness at 100c (operating tempurature). 30 weight can be from 9.3-12.5 cst, 40 weight from 12.6-16.2 cst, 50 weight from 16.3-22cst (approximate). So you can have two oils, one called a 5w-30 (i.e. bmw oil) another 0w-40 (Mobil 1) that are very similar thicknesses at operating tempurature. Compare this to Mobil 1 Xw-30 which is close to a 20 weight oil at 100c. For more information here is a link with exact numbers http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
7) BMW's recommended interval of 12,000-15,000 miles is to long. Used oil analysis has shown the BMW oil is generally depleted at 10,000 miles. Running it longer results in excess wear. It is highly recommended that you change your oil once between each BMW recommended interval (approx 7000-7500 miles). If you want to run your oil the BMW recommended interval, I would suggest that you use Mobil 1 0w-40 or Amsoil 5w-40 and change the oil filter at 7500 miles. I would encourage a full oil change at 7500 if you want your engine to last.
1) All new BMW's require synthetic. As far as weight, only certain production dates of M3's and M5's require the use of Castrol TWS 10w-60.
2) The Factory BMW Synth 5w-30 is a version of Castrol TXT Softect sold overseas. A few important things about the BMW oil a) it is a Group III hydrocracked oil which cannot be called synthetic in Europe, b) it is a heavy 30 weight (30 weight can run from 9.3-12.5cst@100c, the BMW oil is about 12.2cst), c) it is a ACEA A3 oil which means that it is approved for longer change intervals and has a HTHS (High Tempurature High Shear) measured at 150c of greater than 3.5.
3) In the US, the only Group IV PAO Synthetics that are available are 1) Mobil 1, 2) Amsoil (but not the Xl-7500), 3) Royal Purple, and 4) German Castrol 0w-30 (it has the red label and says on the back, "Made in Germany). Redline is a Group V PolyEster based oil. All other Castrol, Quaker State, Pennzoil, Valvoline "synthetics" are a Group III hydrocracked oil. It is debated how much better Group IV base oils are than group III, but generally they are considered better.
4) When looking for oil for any BMW that does not require Castrol TWS 10w-60, you want to purchase an oil that has either/both of the following ratings, a) ACEA A3, or b) BMW LL-98 or LL-01.
5) Note that Mobil 1 0w-30, 5w-30, and 10w-30 are NOT ACEA A3 or BMW LL approved oils. This is because they all are thin 30 weight oils (approximately 9.8-10 CST@ 100c) and have HTHS of approximately 3.1. Mobil 1 0w-40 and 15w-50 are A3 rated and the Ow-40 is BMW LL-01 approved. For 99% of climates and users 0w-40 or 5w-40 is the appropriate grade. There are some 0w-30 and 5w-30 oils (like the BMW 5w-30) that are forumlated on the heavier end of the 30 weight scale and are accordingly rated A3. These oils will work well also. LOOK FOR THAT ACEA A3 rating. If the oil doesn't have it, pass on it.
6) Some people seem confused about how oil thickness is measured. The first number (0W, 5w, 10w, 15w, etc) is a measurement of how thick the oil is at tempuratures of -35c- -20c (depends on the grade). The lower this first number the thinner the oil is at LOW tempuratures. The second number (30, 40, 50) refers to oil thickness at 100c (operating tempurature). 30 weight can be from 9.3-12.5 cst, 40 weight from 12.6-16.2 cst, 50 weight from 16.3-22cst (approximate). So you can have two oils, one called a 5w-30 (i.e. bmw oil) another 0w-40 (Mobil 1) that are very similar thicknesses at operating tempurature. Compare this to Mobil 1 Xw-30 which is close to a 20 weight oil at 100c. For more information here is a link with exact numbers http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
7) BMW's recommended interval of 12,000-15,000 miles is to long. Used oil analysis has shown the BMW oil is generally depleted at 10,000 miles. Running it longer results in excess wear. It is highly recommended that you change your oil once between each BMW recommended interval (approx 7000-7500 miles). If you want to run your oil the BMW recommended interval, I would suggest that you use Mobil 1 0w-40 or Amsoil 5w-40 and change the oil filter at 7500 miles. I would encourage a full oil change at 7500 if you want your engine to last.
Tell me if I'm wrong.
I just put Mobile 1 syntetic oil in my 2001 530i and it is running totally different. It seems like engine has less trouble getting to higher RPM. Did anybody experience that too?
Also, I have this wierd feeling that at 2 and 3rd gear it feels like my clutch is "sliping", don't now if this is due to maybe clutch wearing off or the new oil? Any thoughts? It feels like engine is running higher at certain speeds that it should.
I just put Mobile 1 syntetic oil in my 2001 530i and it is running totally different. It seems like engine has less trouble getting to higher RPM. Did anybody experience that too?
Also, I have this wierd feeling that at 2 and 3rd gear it feels like my clutch is "sliping", don't now if this is due to maybe clutch wearing off or the new oil? Any thoughts? It feels like engine is running higher at certain speeds that it should.
Actually haven't changed the oil myself yet. I'm just basing my opinion on Mobile 1 on what I've read on the many car forums I frequent. It consistently gets good reviews and is what Mercedes and Ferrari use so I figure it can't be that bad.
As for my BMW, well, it surprisingly doesn't see too many miles so the first oil change was done for free at 7500 miles cuz it was a year old. The BMW free maintenance program gives you the free oil change at either 15,000 miles, or one (1) year. Whichever comes first.
As for my BMW, well, it surprisingly doesn't see too many miles so the first oil change was done for free at 7500 miles cuz it was a year old. The BMW free maintenance program gives you the free oil change at either 15,000 miles, or one (1) year. Whichever comes first.
![[scratch]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_headscratch.gif "Head Scratch [scratch]"){kind=icon}