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  #1  
Old 09-10-2009, 08:47 PM
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Got the oil changed today on the 35d

Hi,

I bit the bullet and paid 150 to get my oil changed early today. Another dealer quoted me 190!! I also treated my X to a half gallon of Urea.

The service people were all super nice from start to finish. I was even allowed to watch. A pretty big deal in todays crazy world. I was glad I was there, since when I got let into the service area my car was up in the air. When I asked the tech how much oil she took, he pointed at the computer controled oil pump hanging from the ceiling. He told me that when he keyed in my vehicle type it would pump out the correct amount of oil.

I told him that I thought the d took a special type of oil: SLX. He checked with the service manager and went to the parts dept for the correct oil. When he got back, he lowered the car and cracked the oil filter housing. The SM was by my side then, and told me that cracking the housing will let the oil fall from the filter into the pan for draining.

The filter is very accessible: on the driver side of the engine, right by the half buried, urea fill spout. It takes a 32 mm socket and looks like there is room to use a small adjustable wrench instead. One thing that bothers me: there is no leaked oil by the housing or any indication that they actually changed the filter. I left before this was done (did not want to overstay my welcome). I would not have this concern if the car did not have to be lowered for them to crack the filter. That should have been done when it went up the first time - before I got there, not after. I keep wondering if they would have just replaced the oil had I not showed up in the service area... Lacking any leaked oil, I still wonder if they changed it? Is there a good way to confirm this?

I took home an empty bottle of the SLX oil to check it against the Castrol Edge I bought over the weekend. Edge is supposed to replace SLX but the specs are different on the labels. Its hard not to think its the same oil.... I called Castrol and they would only say that the OE SLX is unique to BMW and not available in retail stores. They would not say Edge is the same or meets BMW spec.... (OE SLX also has several VW specs on it as well that are missing from Edge too) Sounds like a marketing conspiracy to me.

They only (only?) charged 21 bucks for the Urea. (Like I said, all the people there were really nice, best run service center I have ever seen.) Its pretty simple once you figure out how the bottle works. The bottle has a small top that you unscrew (leave the blue sleeve intact!). This reveals a smaller diameter nipple. I screwed it onto the fill nipple on the passenger side of the car (easiest to reach). When you screw the bottle onto the fill nipple, nothing happens.... You must push down on the bottle itself. That releases the fluid. It went in without spilling a drop. A master piece of design work for this nasty product!
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  #2  
Old 09-10-2009, 09:22 PM
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Great post, appreciate the detail. The only way to conform the filter was changed is to go back and ask the tech directly. I would assume you also got charged for it and I doubt they would invoice you for something they did not do (think good thoughts!).

In regards to the nomenclature on one oil and not on the other, I would not dismiss it as marketing. If the oil meets LL-04 specs and/or VW specs, it should state so on the container period. If Edge met the specs, why wouldn't Castrol have it on the container? Review the attached data sheet and it does not show the BMW or VW specifications.
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File Type: pdf Castrol_EDGE.pdf (246.7 KB, 420 views)
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  #3  
Old 09-10-2009, 09:23 PM
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Urea is supposed to be covered under the free maintenance plan, no?
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Old 09-10-2009, 09:42 PM
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I had my oil replaced (3.0d diesel) yesterday... Castrol SLX Professsional was used.... AUD 192.73 and AUD53.93 for a Oil filter !!!
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Old 09-10-2009, 09:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Blast View Post
Urea is supposed to be covered under the free maintenance plan, no?
I believe it is only in conjunction with the scheduled oil changes, i.e., when you get a free scheduled oil change, they fill the urea tank.


P.S. In preparation for receiving my Diesel in a few weeks, I've been reading up on it. I noticed the oil filter used on the Diesel is about twice as long as the one on my Z4, i.e., 6 inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter, vs. the Z4 which is about 3 inches long and a bit less than 3 inches in diameter.
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Old 09-10-2009, 10:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Destination: Moon View Post
...
They only (only?) charged 21 bucks for the Urea. (Like I said, all the people there were really nice, best run service center I have ever seen.) Its pretty simple once you figure out how the bottle works. The bottle has a small top that you unscrew (leave the blue sleeve intact!). This reveals a smaller diameter nipple. I screwed it onto the fill nipple on the passenger side of the car (easiest to reach). When you screw the bottle onto the fill nipple, nothing happens.... You must push down on the bottle itself. That releases the fluid. It went in without spilling a drop. A master piece of design work for this nasty product!
Thanks for the detailed info.

There are two of these urea 'filler nipples' in the engine compartment. The other one is on the drivers side (US models). How did you know which one too use? Do they both fill the both tanks? Or does one fill the 1.6 gal 'active' tank and the other fill the 4.5 gal 'reserve' tank?

Funf Dreisig
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Old 09-10-2009, 10:34 PM
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I'll have my diesel in a few weeks, and plan to change the oil myself at around 1,200 miles. One thing I really, really, hate about BMW is how they treat their technical information as a proprietary secret and do not even put the oil capacity in their owner's manual.

Now, I've change a lot of oil in my life and it typically is nothing complex, but it would be nice to have some details about the oil change process, e.g., a few engine have two drain plugs to ensure complete drainage, etc.

Is there anyone out there with access to the BMW Technical info that could provide a few details?

Oil capacity

Drain plug location(s)

Drain plug torque spec

Oil filter cap torque spec

Any other unique points to know?

Maybe I'm a bit obsessed with using a torque wrench, etc,, but then I've never had a stripped oil drain plug ever either.

If I do it myself, I'll know for sure the right oil went it, a new filter went in, and the plug is torqued right.
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Old 09-10-2009, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lubehead View Post
(think good thoughts!).

If Edge met the specs, why wouldn't Castrol have it on the container? Review the attached data sheet and it does not show the BMW or VW specifications.
Think good thoughts: Have you been reading the newspaper lately??
Companies are begging, borrowing AND stealing to stay in the black. They did that when times were good. I can only guess whats going on today!.....

Its funny that "CASTROL" is stamped right onto the oil filler caps on our cars. BMW and Castrol have some kind of relationship that is not for your or my benefit. Years ago, someone might have suggested anti-trust shennanegans. That world is long gone.

Big biz rules the roost. I cannot fathom that BMW has formulated some magic oil that is only good in their cars. My guess is that BMW has agreed to buy all their oil from Castrol. In return, Castrol has agreed to make a proprietary OEM label to thwart the 5 or 6 of us that want to do our own oil changes, after the 4 year free service runs out. Castrol sells a heck of a lot more oil to BMW than they would to us DIY'ers.

Meant to mention the capacity is somewhere between 7 and 8 quarts. And if you do it yourself, DO NOT OVERFILL!!! You can blow your engine if too much oil is in the car.

As for the Urea, I like to know how consumables in all my stuff is replaced. Especially anything that could leave me stranded. I am about to go on a trip into some back water places in canada, towing a small travel trailer.
Thinking my rate of consumption on the urea will go up. Some people have had the urea light come on with less than 5000 miles on the car (some at 1600). Now I know how to replace it. I have another 1/2 gallon onboard. And, if push comes to shove, I can buy it at any of the German car makers and install it myself (if they have it in stock - which is iffy at this point in time).
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Old 09-10-2009, 10:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Destination: Moon View Post
Its funny that "CASTROL" is stamped right onto the oil filler caps on our cars. BMW and Castrol have some kind of relationship that is not for your or my benefit. Years ago, someone might have suggested anti-trust shennanegans. That world is long gone.

Yeah, it's often some marketing bucks at work. My Ford Focus has a BP Starburst and "Ford Recommends BP Gasoline" printed on the fuel filler cap


But you can buy the oil from your dealers parts department. Pricing depends upon the dealer, but mine sells BMW/Castrol synthetic oil (gasoline engine) cheaper than Wal-mart sells Mobil 1.
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  #10  
Old 09-10-2009, 10:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FunfDreisig View Post
Thanks for the detailed info.

There are two of these urea 'filler nipples' in the engine compartment. The other one is on the drivers side (US models). How did you know which one too use? Do they both fill the both tanks? Or does one fill the 1.6 gal 'active' tank and the other fill the 4.5 gal 'reserve' tank?

Funf Dreisig

I used the more easily reached one on the passenger side. I am guessing (a total guess) that this is the reserve tank. Thinking the Active tank is the harder to reach one and only needs filling if you drive a substantial distance after the "Add Urea" lamp comes on. I am guessing (another guess!) that it is set up like this to lessen the effects of freezing since the stuff does freeze and needs room to expand so as not to damage the tanks and if it does, get quickly melted by engine heat. If anyone knows for sure please post!
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