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  #1  
Old 07-11-2010, 03:22 AM
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Engine oil analysis=bad news

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Last edited by xriderob; 02-09-2012 at 08:02 PM.
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  #2  
Old 07-11-2010, 09:41 AM
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Not trying to simplify your ordeal but since the vehicle is certified, why don't you keep driving it, properly service it, and if/when something major happens to the engine, have it fixed under CPO?
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Old 07-11-2010, 09:49 AM
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Well, in some cases certified is only as good as the person doing it and business ethics of the individuals involved unfortunately. The BMW mothership puts out the guidelines for certification, but if the individual dealer/tech wants to flat rate the job and take the money without doing the work or push cars out that don't meet the guidelines that is an individual case of deception.

If the next oil analysis shows similar results maybe all you could do is find the right symptoms for them to diagnose that will eventually lead to engine replacement under CPO as the correction. In which case you could consider yourself ahead as you will have a new engine.

Just get all the info you can to back up your claim, if you suspect excessive piston/ring wear maybe have a cylinder leakdown test done.
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  #4  
Old 07-11-2010, 01:42 PM
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I really wouldn't be as worried as I am if there was a BMW dealer or shop near me but I am 500km away from one so hay complicates things big time for me. If my engine goes in the highway is what I am really worried about. I am going to get the dealer I bought it from (800km away) to take the vehicle and check into all this and if they can justify it go for an engine replacement or at leaser major overhaul. They agreed they would look into that so I guess just waiting. Just sucks because it's far away and may take quite some time.

It is sad that certified is just s guideline, I am sure many shops follow it to a t and wouldn't compromise. But I am sure most just make it look pretty, and put it back out on the lot with a few thousand tacked on. Thanks for the imput
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Old 07-11-2010, 05:37 PM
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I am confused as to whether the engine is making noises consistent with failure, or you are simply concluding all of this based on a single oil sample. If the engine is in fact noisy, piston slap and bearing noise, etc, or you have other symptoms consistent with the Blackstone suggestions, then go to your dealer, get them to use a boroscope to have a look at it, and go from there. You have a CPO warranty, so that isn't really a problem. Certified means that it has a warranty more than that the condition is certified, IMO.

If you have no physical symptoms, I would file the oil sample away under the 'unnecessary anxiety file' and not think about it again until after your next oil change.

Do you know that the oil was never changed in 38,000 km and 5 years? Or are you assuming that from the Blackstone comments? Ask to see the dealer work order. If there is oil and filter on that work order, I would safely assume that the oil was changed. The dealer can also look up the key and see what work was done apart from the CPO work order. It is more conclusive that Blackstone's comments.

What was the TBN? That may provide more information on elapsed time.

Ask Blackstone what they are using as the 'typical' numbers for each sampled metal. I suspect they aren't using numbers from a significant population of BMW engines, but rather universal numbers from their database. If so, you have to decide how relevant those numbers are.

Suggestion of a coolant leak? So was there coolant in the sample or not? If there was simply moisture, you should think more about condensation from short trips, than a coolant leak. Blackstone are not likely familiar with the BMW engine and how condensation collects in the engine during multiple cold starts and short trips, without sufficient warm up to burn off the condensation.

If you do another sample, you could validate the results by using another lab. Send it to Blackstone as well if you like. You could go to the SOS lab on 170th at 109th in Edmonton (pick up a sample bottle and drop it off at the parts counter there - the lab itself is at 15810 114th Ave). If you are in Fort Mac, there is a branch of the same equipment dealer there. They have a very large lab, and don't just do samples on 797s and D11s.

Oil labs don't fix engines. They sell sampling services. What was the first thing that the oil lab told you to do? More samples. It is the standard response when you get a sample, that you should do more of them, more often. There is some logic to the more sample idea, in that if you have four or five or more samples you can trend the results. One sample, unfortunately, tells you very little. You may very well have problems inside your engine. Don't conclude that based on this one sample however.

If you want to scan and post the sample results, some of us can provide comments on them.
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Old 07-11-2010, 06:45 PM
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Nice that you took the time to get an analysis done, but I have to agree with the guys above, I wouldn't massively sweat it either and to go as far as to call it a lemon I think is pretty excessive. You have a good analysis. Like you plan on doing, get the next oil change done early, run another analysis and see what it tells you. Right now you have a nice car that is CPO and frankly that should mean less worry for you. If the next analysis is concerning, but there are no symptoms then I'd leave it alone. If you want to keep the car after CPO and don't want to worry massively about it, then get an extended warranty.
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Old 07-11-2010, 07:14 PM
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i also have a new to me 2005 X5 3.0d it was serviced by BM only days after i got it and the service counter reset, i have since done 9000 km and it has dropped only one green bar, i personally dont believe the service interval thing and will be having mine serviced every 10K, at my own expense ( even though i have extended warranty for a further year)
i just wont have the service indicator reset
no oil can offer protection to a motor for the length of time BMW reckons it can, i have no idea what they are thinking, my old XJ jeep still goes strong after 390,000 km, i have changed its oil and filter EVERY 10k without fail

Ewen
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Old 07-11-2010, 07:30 PM
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Another comment on the universal averages they are using. I looked it up, and it appears to be based on engines of similar displacement and fuel type. They do point out that they don't separate out different oil brands or types in their universal averages, so if they provide a 10,000 km universal average it includes data from things like a 1966 Ford 289 V8 with non-synthetic oil, changed at 10,000 km. I am not sure I see the relevance of the universal averages.

Also, when they say 10,000 km for their universal averages, they are not suggesting a 10,000 km oil change. They are stating that their database shows xxx as a universal average for other samples with 10,000 km on them.

Use 3000 km if you like, as a one-time diagnostic aid, but I would find out the oil change history before making that decision.
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  #9  
Old 07-11-2010, 07:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwave2255 View Post
i also have a new to me 2005 X5 3.0d it was serviced by BM only days after i got it and the service counter reset, i have since done 9000 km and it has dropped only one green bar, i personally dont believe the service interval thing and will be having mine serviced every 10K, at my own expense ( even though i have extended warranty for a further year)
i just wont have the service indicator reset
no oil can offer protection to a motor for the length of time BMW reckons it can, i have no idea what they are thinking, my old XJ jeep still goes strong after 390,000 km, i have changed its oil and filter EVERY 10k without fail

Ewen
See when it drops the next green bar, it may be at close to 10,000 km.

BMW have years of history at these oil change intervals now. Do it early if you like, but there is not evidence of the recommended maintenance schedule causing premature engine failure.

Does your old XJ Jeep hold over 8 litres of oil? You may have double the sump capacity in your BMW, providing twice the km between changes.
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  #10  
Old 07-11-2010, 07:50 PM
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oh sure im aware of the increased oil capacity of the BM, the jeep holds 5 litres inc filter

im still un comfortable with the extended service intervals, when shopping for this car i saw so many knocked around X5,s, it seems most were bought for mum to cart kids around in, and where traded before racking up to many k,s and minimal maintenance done, so having found a good one and not being a millionaire i work on prevention being better (and cheaper) the cure

Ewen
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