How often do you really change your oil

[haigha]

I think mine had about 8k when I took it in for "early" annual oil change. I'm not sure I'm going to make it to the first Oil Service before the end of two years (currently 11.?k). Glad I'm subsidizing you high milers with the included maintenance

[Chris F.]

Originally Posted by quack

new member chiming in, leaving to pick up my 2002 X5 3.0 in an hour

if you are concerned about the condition of your oil, get it tested. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

i have a modified WRX wagon (+300hp) and had an analysis done after one of my oil changes and the results were that my 7500 mile changes were fine and i could actually run the oil for a little longer.

i'll take a sample on the X5 after 7500 and send it in to see how it looks.

Welcome aboard, and great first post

I agree, an oil analysis is a great thing to have done on your oil. Whats the cost, about $20 still? Blackstone is a good company to deal with.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by Rob_

RE: Oil Service consists of 1,4,5,14, checking the brake pads with special tool and checking park brake actuation.

As I posted, the Stlr did 1,4,5,&14...the "tech" didn't get near a wheel, other than walking around it, while car was in the air.

[quack]

Originally Posted by Chris F.

Welcome aboard, and great first post

I agree, an oil analysis is a great thing to have done on your oil. Whats the cost, about $20 still? Blackstone is a good company to deal with.

yep $20. the main reason i did the analysis is because i drive ALOT, and wanted to see what my oil condition was at the normal 7500 interval. turns out that they recommended going to 9k and do another analysis. when the time came for that change, i couldn't find my sample kit. i have 51k on my wagon that i bought new in Mar 2004.

[ATCX5]

7500

[Diamond]

I may get strung up for asking this but what the hell. Can a regular oil change place to the in-between oil change and would it Void the warranty. Thanks

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by Diamond

I may get strung up for asking this but what the hell. Can a regular oil change place to the in-between oil change and would it Void the warranty. Thanks

Not at all. A lot of BMW owners do this.

[UCrewX5]

Originally Posted by Diamond

I may get strung up for asking this but what the hell. Can a regular oil change place to the in-between oil change and would it Void the warranty. Thanks

I would recommend you go to a place that uses Castrol synthetic oil and I would take your own BMW oil filter with you for them to use. Many places will give you a credit for supplying your own filter.

[Juanted]

It's synthetic oil, which makes it MORE than usable for the recommended 15K miles. IF this were "regular" oil, then yes, I'd definitely be changing it ever 7500 miles. Oil technology has advanced greatly in the last 15 years or so, and today's synthetics could probably go 30k miles in between changes. I do not do an interim change. I do it every 15k miles. I don't really see a need to do it more often.

Juan

[Diamond]

Thanks guys. At first when the service guy I talked to explained it I thought I could do it but I can't. I'm just too old school I guess. I just can't drive that amazing vehicle with the same oil in it for 15,000 miles. So I was relived to find there are others out there who feel the same.