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View Poll Results: How often do you change your oil?
At the factory recommended interval (15k miles). 24 45.28%
At 7500 miles. 24 45.28%
3-4000 miles. 4 7.55%
Never. 0 0%
What's an oil change? 1 1.89%
Voters: 53. You may not vote on this poll

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      02-29-2012, 03:10 PM   #1
CaliRubicon
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Oil change intervals

How often do most of you change your oil. I have a hard time wanting to wait 15k before changing fluids. I like to kep my cars for a good while and always perform a strict level of mantanence. I would find it more comfortable to go for half of the suggested mileage. I'm looking for some good evidence one way or another. Does anyone know for how long this has been the recomended interval?
I just want to do what is best for the vehicle even if I have to come out of pocket for the extra service.
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      02-29-2012, 03:16 PM   #2
raleedy
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All the evidence (Consumer Reports did a study on taxicabs a few years ago, for example) indicates that more frequent oil changes don't serve any purpose. But many people do them anyway.
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      02-29-2012, 07:20 PM   #3
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I struggle with waiting 15K and mentioned this point when finalizing the paperwork with my BMW person Finance Professional (during the purchase). Just so happens he is a auto fanatic and explained the oil is synthetic and VERY DIFFERENT to what most of us learned about oil changes. He indicated I could certainly change the oil more often, but there would be little benefit and underscored that the computer will indicate when lubrication needs replacement.

All said, this is a change management issue with me personally (and probably most of us boomers). I'll probably give it 10k or 12 months and then change the oil.
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      02-29-2012, 07:24 PM   #4
02420X3
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My X3 recommended an oil change somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 miles. The oil change was done for free under the service plan. So, either drive it like you stole it, or have lots of short trips or revs over 4,000, and your X3 may decrease the change interval on its own...
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      02-29-2012, 08:12 PM   #5
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This was just beat to death a few weeks ago. Search it out.....
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      02-29-2012, 11:38 PM   #6
CaliRubicon
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As is always the case if you take the time to search it out the answer is out there. Thanks for the heads up. There was a mouthful said and some great points. The synthetic blend does seem to favor the longer interval. If someone quicker then I could put a link in that would be helpful. Thanks.
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      03-01-2012, 12:21 AM   #7
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While I'm not sure if it's necessary to change the oil before the 15k mark I think you should do it if it provides you with peace of mind, it'll cost you less than $200 anyways. Myself personally I had the oil changed around 6k miles because I plan on keeping the car beyond 4 years and I figured there might be some metal shavings or other stuff as a result of the break-in period. If you do have your oil changed before the suggested 15k mark make sure to ask the technician to not reset your X3's original countdown for the 15k mile oil change.

Here are some previous threads regarding oil change intervals.

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showth...&highlight=oil

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showth...&highlight=oil

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showth...&highlight=oil
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      03-01-2012, 10:39 AM   #8
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Did my first oil change @ 3K miles but told them not to reset the counter, so technically mine will be at the 12K mark this time.

I've had enough turbo cars using synthetic oil that I'm not afraid one bit of waiting the full 15K for the next interval; I used to do my own on my other cars and could see that even 10K oil looked way too much like new, even on modified engines/old 100K+ miles cars.
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      03-02-2012, 08:27 AM   #9
Rodion
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When OBC tells me to, which in EU is max 60 000km or 2 years.

So no appropriate choice for me in the poll.
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      03-02-2012, 10:24 AM   #10
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BMWs position now seems to be that they allow dealers to charge them for oil changes in the first four years if the customer has driven less than 6K miles in the past year
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      03-04-2012, 12:47 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodion View Post
When OBC tells me to, which in EU is max 60 000km or 2 years.

So no appropriate choice for me in the poll.
What? It should be 30000km ..
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