Dbinc what are you basing your recommendation of every 3k on? I agree that changing your oil more frequently certainly can't hurt but BMW recommends much longer intervals (15k on my 335i and 10k-15k on my X5). Considering BMW is on the hook for 4 years or 50k(and most of the cars end up CPO'd to 6 yrs/100k), I would assume that following the manu. recom. must not be detrimental to the engine and that changing the oil more frequently is just a waste of money (for a BMW running synthetic anyway, I would take a different position for cars running standard oil ).

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2005 ///M3 Competition / Interlagos Blue-Black /6spd/SS Race Exhaust/Angel Eyes/Passport HW/Mich. Super Sports Soles (love em)
2008 ///M3 Melb Red w/ Beige Novillo, Tech, Prem, & 19" (Retired)
2005 X5 4.4i Estoril/Grey Sport, Nav, DSP, Prem, Pano, etc. (Wifey's)
2007 335i Silver/Black SP,PP,CWP, Comfort access, & Sirius (Retired)
2001 X5 3.0i (Retired) Silver/Gray Sport w/19"/Prem/DSP/CWP
2002 YZF600R (Retired)