1 month with my X5, and a couple of questions and comments..

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by marcx5

aside from maybe the break in period.... you're wasting time, energy, materials, money, etc... by doing oil change every 7500. this car really does not need it until every 15,000 or whenever it tells you. the synthetic oils used today are completely fine for these intervals.

Not true...changing your oil every 7500 miles will have an effect long term in the life of the engine.

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by X5FX

Not true...changing your oil every 7500 miles will have an effect long term in the life of the engine.

how many bmw engines have you seen fail that have had regular oil changes every 15,000 miles as they were supposed to? none i bet.

the synthetic oils last much longer than what you're probably used to from years ago.

[X5FX]

so thats how you gauge it.

[peakpro]

Originally Posted by X5FX

Not true...changing your oil every 7500 miles will have an effect long term in the life of the engine.

i don't agree but to each his own....

[MD11F]

Gentleman, there is no way getting around it... new oil is better than old oil at lubrication, partly due to heat breakdown, and partly due to the detergents getting spent and the suspension capability of the oil degrading. Sure it will meet the minimum spec of the manufacturer if kept in the crank case for 15000 miles, but what about 15001? Are we to believe that magically the oil goes from perfectly suitable to unacceptable in one mile? Think for yourself and don't let others think for you.

So clearly there is SOME benefit to having newer oil in the crankcase.. And I'm sorry, but a one size fits all 15000 interval is meaningless.. I live in Phoenix where it's extremely hot and there is a lot of idling of engines in extreme heat.. This is in contrast to someone who might live in a much cooler (but not frozen) climate, and yet again we're both in contrast to someone living in a sub zero climate.. some of us might drive mostly long freeway trips and others might do stop and go all day long..

If you are leasing your car and couldn't care less about how long it lasts after your 36000 or what ever miles.. do what BMW says. BMW (and all other makers) have to balance the economics of maintenance costs with the life of the car. If they told you to do everything possible to keep it running well for 250,000 then it would cost too much to own for some and they'd loose sales. They know that most 100,000 cars wind up on the 3rd world market or other sub market where the buyers don't get involved in new car buying decisions and have little effect on reliability ratings so they don't really care. I however will own a vehicle for 150,000+ miles before I personally sell it off, and I want it to be trouble free for all of those miles!

Nuff said.. do what you want, and I'll do what I want.

[MD11F]

Originally Posted by marcx5

how many bmw engines have you seen fail that have had regular oil changes every 15,000 miles as they were supposed to? none i bet.

the synthetic oils last much longer than what you're probably used to from years ago.

You didn't read my post about aircraft oil. Engines don't necessarily fail from poor service, but they certainly degrade, and could fail.

BTW, when did BMW institute the 15000 service? And how many 250,000 mile BMW's are on the road from that time?

[genew]

Hey MD11F..Couple of quick questions. See you have a E 320 CDI. How many miles do you have on the diesel and how do you like it?? Is the 420 CDI coming to the US?? Did you test drive the ML 550 before you bought the X-5?? Thanks.

[MD11F]

Originally Posted by genew

Hey MD11F..Couple of quick questions. See you have a E 320 CDI. How many miles do you have on the diesel and how do you like it?? Is the 420 CDI coming to the US?? Did you test drive the ML 550 before you bought the X-5?? Thanks.

I have 18500 or so on the CDI which is pretty much 2 years old now. I it's been 100% mechanical failure free and only had one electronic issue with the COMAND system which the dealer replaced and now it's trouble free.

I get as much as 40mpg driving at freeway speeds and 28-31 city.. it's the last of the iron block I-6 powered Mercedes MB's and I frankly wouldn't trade it for the aluminum V6 diesel if you paid me. I looked at the GL and the ML and found both of their build quality and interior materials sub par (compared to the German made MB's and BMW's). I also found the drive of the ML and GL to be less "fun" than the X5. I wouldn't trade my CDI for anything, but you can keep the ML and GL as far as I'm concerned.

The CDI is going to be my 500,000 mile car. I plan to give it to my 6 year old son to drive as his first car!