Would it be really stupid to take my 328 to one of those instant oil change places?

[ryanf]

1) It's currently 10*F outside and snowing, so I don't relish doing it myself. I do not have a garage.

2) The only dealership within 80 miles says they have no openings for another for 2 months. I can drive somewhere else, but I'd have to take a day off and lounge in the waiting area.

3) It's been about 12k miles, and my service indicator is on red. Due to recent events, I'm driving about 800 miles a week.

Dare I take it to jiffy-lube or valveline?

 

[JUS]

ryanf
Check for a local shop that works on bmws? If not call jiffy-lube/valveline and ask if they have the oil reset tool indicator, and do they have syntec oil, also keep a close eye on your car while they perform the oil change.


JUS

 

[Big Daddy]

Jiffy Lube etc can do a good job, just make sure they have the proper oil, filters and reset. I would say with the car and watch the process to make sure.

 

[ryanf]

Thanks for the replys. I'll feel a little better about doing it now.

I'll call ahead, then go have it done. I have my own service reset tool, but it'd probably be a good sign if the shop had one too.

 

[mazachan]

Personally, I'd be really careful. I've heard stories about jiffy lube where they drain your oil and forget to put in the new oil. Also, they may not change your filter either. If you do take it to those places, I would check the oil level and the oil filter afterwards as a precaution

 

[deutsch100]

2) The only dealership within 80 miles says they have no openings for another for 2 months. I can drive somewhere else, but I'd have to take a day off and lounge in the waiting area.

QUOTE]


I would def. call BMWNA and tell them that your only dealership is telling you there is a 2 month wait list for service. BMW really strides itself on Service, and I am pretty sure they will find 2 months totally ridiculous. They can make an appt. for you, if you file a complaint. Last year our dealer told us there was a 2 week wait list, and I thought no way. I called BMWNA, and got an appt in 2 days.

 

[gpoints]

Personally, I'd be really careful. I've heard stories about jiffy lube where they drain your oil and forget to put in the new oil. Also, they may not change your filter either. If you do take it to those places, I would check the oil level and the oil filter afterwards as a precaution

Like mazachan says, just verify that you've got a new filter and the proper level of oil before you drive away.

 

[MrElussive]

Personally, I'd be really careful. I've heard stories about jiffy lube where they drain your oil and forget to put in the new oil. Also, they may not change your filter either. If you do take it to those places, I would check the oil level and the oil filter afterwards as a precaution

Urban legends, I'd say. Even the worst service garages will change your oil & filter as you pay them to do so. People like to say those "15 minute oil changes" are so fast it's because they don't even do the work, but that's simply not true. All of these garages, you can see your car clearly from the waiting room, so there's no way they're gonna not change your oil and try to get away with it. And at the very least, Jiffy Lube is more reputable than some random garage.

 

[bmwrocks]

I have heard of them stripping the plug threads. And that is very easy to do with our aluminum pans.

I say be sure they use a torque wrench when putting the plug back in or just tell them to not torque it too hard. Twenty lb-ft is recommended I think.

 

[kumafa124]

i've gone to EZ Lube once to get my oil change due to time issues .. and plus it was done in like 15 mins .... it just depends on which store you go to and the guys there. the EZ Lube i went to .. no problems at all

 

[mazachan]

Urban legends, I'd say. Even the worst service garages will change your oil & filter as you pay them to do so. People like to say those "15 minute oil changes" are so fast it's because they don't even do the work, but that's simply not true. All of these garages, you can see your car clearly from the waiting room, so there's no way they're gonna not change your oil and try to get away with it. And at the very least, Jiffy Lube is more reputable than some random garage.

Urban Legend or not, it's still a good precaution to take

 

[ryanf]

Well, I took it to jiffy-lube. It wasn't too bad, but I'm not sure I'll do it again.

I called them up and asked if they did BMWs, and they were like "All the time!"
They knew were the oil filter was, which was a good sign, but they clearly had no clue at all about reseting the service indicator. They weren't even aware it existed. It's not a big deal since I have my own reset tool, but if they work on them "All the time" they should be aware of it.

They also told me the previous oil change was normal, non-synthetic oil. I have no idea how they tell that or if I should believe them, but if so, the dealer has some things to own up to.

Total cost was 80$, so not a great value either.

I think the solution is to move to a house with a garage so I can do it myself year round.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Big Daddy]

I change my own (having a garage) and spend about $33.00 using Mobil One and a Mahle filter kit. Without doing an chemical test I too am not sure how they know if it is synthetic or not?