[Kev314]

I know this is well trod territory. But I've looked and can't find a reasonably unambiguous response. Maybe it's there but can't find it. Yes, I've read the manual.

Without further apology:

2014 328xi at ~47,000 miles. Retired + covid yields about 3,500 miles in past year. Last service including oil change was one year ago (Jan 2020) at dealer. The CBS says service due now, in Jan 2021. But the CBS also says oil change not needed for 7,000 miles. I'm an extremely mild, unenthusiastic driver. Most trips are highway/suburban and I often extend trip to get engine fully warmed-up to operating temp. New England weather and temps.

Question: if it were you, how comfortable would you be waiting 3 or 4 months for next service/oil change assuming you had reason to delay?

Thanks

[Elvisfan]

Change the oil once a year. Don’t go much more than a year.

[Billfitz]

The CBS will tell you it's due at 1 year or 10k miles, whichever comes first, so that's why it's calling for it now. Don't. You want to change the oil in the spring, to get rid of the crud that accumulates in the oil pan over the winter. If you've only driven 3500 miles since the last change another 1000 or so won't bother it. Do it in late March or early April, at which point it will reset itself for yearly changes on that schedule.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Kev314

Question: if it were you, how comfortable would you be waiting 3 or 4 months for next service/oil change assuming you had reason to delay?

Thanks

I would be totally comfortable. Don't stress about it. Get it changed in 3-4 months when time permits. (Coming from someone who has an F30 N20 with 117k miles that has seen regular 17K OCIs for the first 50k miles and even had a couple of "late" oil changes when I didn't put on enough miles in one year).

[Kev314]

adhrp and billfitz,

THanks - corroborates my own thinking but I was a little uneasy at first. I want to wait till spring to synch servicing with Mass state inspection and thereby avoid a little covid exposure.

[dmaxdmax]

I got 10K miles on my oci. I know the 'yearly' rule, and it's good, but given your mileage, I agree you're fine...though...I'd make sure I took it on a good 'battery charging, fuel/oil drying' run maybe once every couple months?--up to op temp for a bit--maybe 20-30 mins. at steady speed on a highway...get the humidity out of things.

[dave14x28]

anybody know if the CBM on a 2014 X1 w/ N20 can be reprogrammed for a shorter OCI, like the 1 yr/10k max? A dealer told me no, but I wonder. I just got my oil changed and it's telling me 14k...

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by dave14x28

anybody know if the CBM on a 2014 X1 w/ N20 can be reprogrammed for a shorter OCI, like the 1 yr/10k max? A dealer told me no, but I wonder. I just got my oil changed and it's telling me 14k...

Just change the oil once a year and reset it.

[Billfitz]

Really. The condition based number is a maximum interval. If you want to change it more often then do it. You don't need the car's permission.

[dave14x28]

Yeah, I realize that. Since I was not paying enough attention to this issue over the years, I was uninformed and was foolish to think that following the CBS intervals was a good idea. And if BMW changed their tune and officially shortened the intervals, that would look like admission of guilt now, wouldn't it?

[Wires]

Originally Posted by dave14x28

Yeah, I realize that. Since I was not paying enough attention to this issue over the years, I was uninformed and was foolish to think that following the CBS intervals was a good idea. And if BMW changed their tune and officially shortened the intervals, that would look like admission of guilt now, wouldn't it?

It really depends on the amount of oil in the pan, and the different types of oil they are spec'ing to meet emissions. My 2008 335 had a 24000 km (15000 mi) change interval. My 2016 340 is 16000 km (10000 mi). The 2016 uses a different grade of oil at a lighter viscosity.

[chowser51]

It’s manufacturer specific too. My BMWs use 0W20 with 1 yr / 10k miles intervals. My daughter’s Subaru uses 0W20 and they call for 6 mo / 6k intervals. Once she’s out of warranty I will probably switch her to 1 yr / 10k intervals. I just did her second oil change at 11k miles and sent a sample to Blackstone.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by chowser51

It’s manufacturer specific too. My BMWs use 0W20 with 1 yr / 10k miles intervals. My daughter’s Subaru uses 0W20 and they call for 6 mo / 6k intervals. Once she’s out of warranty I will probably switch her to 1 yr / 10k intervals. I just did her second oil change at 11k miles and sent a sample to Blackstone.

How much oil does it take though? My 340 requires 7 litres which does dilute/extend the interval. In the "olden days" and engine typically had as many litres of oil as displacement on larger bores, and displacement + some for smaller ones.

My 3.2 L Acura (non-turbo) used a single 4.4L jug of conventional oil and asked for much more frequent changes.

[BMWILUVU]

I am using a one month interval for dealership oil. I left the 30 weight LL-01Fe in for a month and I am going to drain it out.

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by Kev314

I know this is well trod territory. But I've looked and can't find a reasonably unambiguous response. Maybe it's there but can't find it. Yes, I've read the manual.

Without further apology:

2014 328xi at ~47,000 miles. Retired + covid yields about 3,500 miles in past year. Last service including oil change was one year ago (Jan 2020) at dealer. The CBS says service due now, in Jan 2021. But the CBS also says oil change not needed for 7,000 miles. I'm an extremely mild, unenthusiastic driver. Most trips are highway/suburban and I often extend trip to get engine fully warmed-up to operating temp. New England weather and temps.

Question: if it were you, how comfortable would you be waiting 3 or 4 months for next service/oil change assuming you had reason to delay?

Thanks

Maybe you want them to have a close look at your timing chain, too? together with the oil change.

[chowser51]

Originally Posted by Wires

How much oil does it take though? My 340 requires 7 litres which does dilute/extend the interval. In the "olden days" and engine typically had as many litres of oil as displacement on larger bores, and displacement + some for smaller ones.

My 3.2 L Acura (non-turbo) used a single 4.4L jug of conventional oil and asked for much more frequent changes.

Her car requires 4.7 qts. so a 5 liter jug is perfect.

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by chowser51

It’s manufacturer specific too. My BMWs use 0W20 with 1 yr / 10k miles intervals. My daughter’s Subaru uses 0W20 and they call for 6 mo / 6k intervals. Once she’s out of warranty I will probably switch her to 1 yr / 10k intervals. I just did her second oil change at 11k miles and sent a sample to Blackstone.

Is 0W20 the Oil BMW recomends in your area? I wonder why there ar such big diferences since our oil is 5W30 or 0W30. But are least thicker at higher temperatures

[chowser51]

Yes, it's been 0W-20 since I got my '18 F33. Same for my '19 F39.

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by chowser51

Yes, it's been 0W-20 since I got my '18 F33. Same for my '19 F39.

Which engines do you have in the other cars? They are not all N55?

[chowser51]

I wish. I have the B48s in my current gen BMWs (430,X2). My last two were E90s 325 and 328. I'm looking at some B58s for a family car.

[BWbimmer]

The B58 is a great engine. Lots of fun

[Wires]

Originally Posted by BWbimmer

Is 0W20 the Oil BMW recomends in your area? I wonder why there ar such big diferences since our oil is 5W30 or 0W30. But are least thicker at higher temperatures

That is what the dealers in Canada put in our cars (0W20). The service ticket just says 0W oil though.

I was getting my Dinan shockware done at a BMW certified Indy shop, and the owner said 0W20 was too light in his opinion (done for emissions/fuel economy) and recommended 0W30, which they also had in BMW litre bottles.

If you read your manual, they specify all 3 grades, but are VEREY unclear why one over the other, but loosely mention "can be used in special circumstances". A very non-helpful comment.