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  #1  
Old 07-22-2008, 06:10 PM
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Successful 15,000 mile oil change intervals

Seems to have worked for this guy. E46, 7 oil changes in 9 years, all at the recommended interval. BMW 5W-30 and OEM filters.

Not saying it is best for everyone, as severe service (short trips in the cold, lots of idling, etc) is a good reason to double up the changes. We also can't argue with the feel good factor of more oil changes. For all the early oil change advocates around, however, we are short on real documented results.

This thread has photos of a 92,500 mile engine that followed the above schedule. Take a look. Also links to his oil sampling results.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...4&nt=2&fpart=1
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  #2  
Old 07-22-2008, 09:57 PM
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I didn't expect the engine to be that clean with 15k changes.
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Old 07-23-2008, 06:33 PM
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I was one of the antagonists of the North American/BMW spec/Castrol oil, but this certainly makes me reconsider that position.
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Old 08-06-2008, 10:10 PM
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When I traded in my 2004 330xi in January to buy my new X5, it had 130,000 miles on it. I only changed the oil every 15,000 miles and followed the exact BMW maintenance schedule. With the exception of a window regulator at 105,000 miles, it had absolutely no mechanical or problems with the car and the engine sounded smooth until I handed over the keys. I for one think the 15,000 mile oil change intervals work well.
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Old 08-11-2008, 04:37 PM
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WOW, I would have never guessed that the engine would be that clean...

I am going to change my oil in my 01 3.0i for the first time since i bought her. I am just not sure when the oil was changed and i am going on a road trip next week to Door County.

So this person used the BMW 5w 30 from the dealer? I just called the dealer to see the price on the BMW 5w 30 and i was shocked how cheap it was (for a dealer)! $6.20 a qt plus tax. They told me that they do not give discounts on all fluids (CCA member) but i was still happy w/ the price. Also i was shocked when they told be the oil filter kit was under $11.00. I called the local auto shop and the price for Mobil 0w 40 was $6.99 a qt plus tax.

Thanks for the info! I am going to change the oil and go up to 5,000 miles and see what the oil filter looks like.
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Old 08-11-2008, 11:38 PM
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Many of use Castrol 5W-30 from the dealer, and the OEM filter, because they are not expensive, and the quality is fine.

Agree entirely with your plan to do a first oil change on your new-to-you vehicle. After that, however, I wouldn't do anything at 5000 miles, unless a year was up. That is 3 times as often as the pictures showed, and they showed the results over a much longer test cycle. You are out of the free maintenance period, so it is really up to you. People only opt for intervals of 7500 miles because it is an interim change between the dealer-supplied 15,000 mile changes (assuming high annual mileage). You could run it to 10,000 miles without any worries at all, you would be 5,000 miles in front of the factory recommendation, which was made on a poorer oil than is available today (check the API specs for your 2001 model in your manual, and what is sold now at the dealer, such as API SL).

I just don't see the point of checking the filter at 5000 miles. If you are going to open it up, just replace it even if you don't change the oil. Or you could just leave it.

Just my $0.02.
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Old 08-14-2008, 01:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
Many of use Castrol 5W-30 from the dealer, and the OEM filter, because they are not expensive, and the quality is fine.

Agree entirely with your plan to do a first oil change on your new-to-you vehicle. After that, however, I wouldn't do anything at 5000 miles, unless a year was up. That is 3 times as often as the pictures showed, and they showed the results over a much longer test cycle. You are out of the free maintenance period, so it is really up to you. People only opt for intervals of 7500 miles because it is an interim change between the dealer-supplied 15,000 mile changes (assuming high annual mileage). You could run it to 10,000 miles without any worries at all, you would be 5,000 miles in front of the factory recommendation, which was made on a poorer oil than is available today (check the API specs for your 2001 model in your manual, and what is sold now at the dealer, such as API SL).

I just don't see the point of checking the filter at 5000 miles. If you are going to open it up, just replace it even if you don't change the oil. Or you could just leave it.

Just my $0.02.
Hi JCL,

Thanks for the info! We do not drive to much so that was why i was thinking about ever 5,000 miles (should have wrote, sorry). I will see how many miles (and the date) we put on the X and go from there. Maybe i will go up to 10,000 miles and see how the filter and oil looks. Since we bought it on June 20th we have gone 1,020 miles as of today (We take the bus to work in dt MPLS). I bought my 1993 Range Rover back in 04/05 w/ 54,800 miles and it has 71,900 as of today (17,100 miles) and that is are only ride up to the X. I am starting to part out the 93 Rangie so the X5 (dodi) will be my only ride in tell i save up for a early to mid '70 911 Targa. Cheers!
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