What Service Intervals Do You Practise?

[anxious]

Guys what service intervals do u practise. Mind sharing with us. I wonder how many forumers:- i) Follow strictly the Service Lightsii) Follow a particular mileage eg 10000km @ 12000kmiii) Follow a particular period Eg 3 moths, 6 months @ 12 months You may also mention ur model, yr and mileage Let me start:- 1988 E30 318i (A) (Previous Car) mileage > 200k km Service Interval : every 5000km @ 4 months ( I followed the mleage more closely) Oil used : Castrol Magnatec Semi Syn 10w-40Average annual milaege : 15000km 1995 E36 325i (A) ( Current Car) mileage

 

[Bix]

Well, I am more or less like you. I usually follow the mileage indication written by my mechanic. However, there are times that I service the car earlier, within two and a half months cos I feel that I've been using the car in and out more often than the usual.

1997 E36/7 Z3 (Former Ride) Mileage > 40,000 KM

Service Interval : 10,000 KM or 6 months (I Followed The Mileage)
Oil Used: I wasn't particular then. Mechanic chose it.

2003 E46 330Ci (Current Car) Mileage > 45,000 KM

Service Interval: 10,000 KM or 6 months (I still follow the mileage)
Oil Used: Mobil 1 5W50

 

[evilnickwong]

Wah still posting at 2 and 3 am, you guys no need work wan ar?
Here's mine:

1991 E30 318i (M) Mileage > 246,000+ km

Service Interval : every 4500 - 5000km
Oil used : Ravenol 10w-50 (normal mineral oil)
Average annual mileage: 10,000+km

 

[ICEMAN 68]

1992 E36 318i (A) Mileage > 250,000+ km

Service Interval : every 30~45 day ( 1K k/m or less )
Oil used : Nasa GD 11

 

[infinityKL]

1997 E36 328i (A) > Mileage 148,000+KM.

Service Interval : 5000KM/3Months.
OIL : ELF 15W/50 Semi-Synthetic.
Average Mileage/Annum : 10-12K KM's

*service lights just makes me confused!

cheers...

 

[initialM]

Mine every 5,000km religiously without fail. Dun trust the service lite indicator.
Using semi synthetic only. Cant afford fully. As for auto oil every 20k. My advice dunt save on engine oil change. It save you a lot for long term & driving pleasure:top:

 

[Russie]

My turn:

1997 E36 318i. Current mileage: approximately 85k Km
Service interval: every 6,000 km (if using semi-syn oil - Elf)
Just changed my engine oil last Saturday using Ravenol fully syn - so will be changing oil at next interval of 10,000 km.

 

[JKay]

You guys just do oil change all the time?

As far as I know, it should be roughly like this
15k miles : Oil Service
30k Miles: Insp 1
45k Miles: Oil Service
60k Miles: Insp 2
etc etc

and start again with Oil Service at intervals of 15k miles

Of course service will come earlier or later depending on how you drive but thats meant to be the loose guideline

I just followed my service indicator, and for my 318Ci Valvetronic, I was advised to use ONLY Castrol SLX Fully Synthetic, which I did

 

[anxious]

I agree that regular oil change is better than prolong change. However it is interesting to see how forumers treat their cars.

I think a lot of people who buy from AB rely on AB or the service indicator to tell them when to service.

Therefore for E60s and E90s you probably get cars doing 25000km b4 they get their oil changed.

Of course a lot of forumers wont wait that long and change oil at 12500km.

For E36/E46 using fully synth I would think 10-12k would be the norm.

E36 on semi 5-6k.

Anyway keep posting.

 

[jasonnn]

I change the oil at about 8k - using castrol fully syn
besides changing the oil, and oil filter..
what else is there to change during normal service?

 

[astroboy]

Former ride:
1992 E36 318i (M), religiously follow the service indicator and have absolute peace of mind trusting it. Used it for 3 years, no problem with engine. Downgraded after that, reluctantly.

Current ride:
2007 E90 320i (A), mileage only 1.5k, planned to replace engine oil and filter at 5k, 15k before returning to SC for BSRI at around 25k km. ATF? Still got 2 years to decide.. First oil change will be using Petronas Syntium3000 because still got one complementary bottle at home.. Next change dunno yet, see Carrefour got Mobil1 discount or not la.

 

[anxious]

Astroboy, while I think its good that u r planning to change oil @ 5k (kinda of run in ), then 15k B4 going back to AB, shouldnt u be using the same oil as far as possible. Maybe you should get what ur SC uses.

By the way what engine oil does a new Bimmer come with from the factory?

 

[Russie]

I change the oil at about 8k - using castrol fully syn
besides changing the oil, and oil filter..
what else is there to change during normal service?

Besides changing the engine oil & oil filter, ideally, one should do the following:-
1) Clean the air filter.
2) Visual check on the radiator coolant level, brake oil level, power steering fluid level, check if there are oil stains on any part in the engine bay, check for any sign of hoses loose or cracking, visual check on all beltings.
3) Check if all lights are working.

Basically, those are simple things to do but not every mechanic would perform such checks. Well, we can always do it ourselves just like what some of us here practise doing... check all 4 tyres prior to getting in the car and start a journey.

 

[Mouse]

2000 E46 318i Mileage > 120,000+ km

Service Interval : 8000KM or 6 month (whichever come first)
Oil used : Q8 F1 10w-50 (Fully synthetic)
Average annual mileage: 15,000km

 

[JKay]

Heres a list of what is supposed to be done during oil service, Insp 1, and Insp2, if done at a main dealer

 

[JKay]

My opinion is, if BMW themselves advise longer service intervals, whats the point in changing the oil so often?

 

[cppeng]

2003 E53 Mileage 63,000+ km

Service Interval : 8000KM or 6 month (whichever come first)
Oil used : F1 10w-50 (Fully synthetic)
Average annual mileage: 10,000km

 

[astroboy]

...
By the way what engine oil does a new Bimmer come with from the factory?

Last spoke to AB SA, he told me that Petronas has just seal the contract of supplying engine oil to BMW Malaysia and that Syntium3000..

My opinion is, if BMW themselves advise longer service intervals, whats the point in changing the oil so often?

You have got a point there.. maybe we want our keep and run our BMW forever without overhauling.. while the manufacturer is recommending rebuild of engine every 300k km.. :stupid:

Owner and fixing a BMW in Malaysia is not cheap. So many prefer to shorten the recommended maintenance interval hoping to stretch the life on the car.

 

[jasonnn]

My opinion is, if BMW themselves advise longer service intervals, whats the point in changing the oil so often?

For me the reason is, our m'sia climate is hot and humid..and also lots of traffic jam..stop & go situation
hence the reason for a more frequent intervals of changing the oil..

 

[initialM]

My opinion is, if BMW themselves advise longer service intervals, whats the point in changing the oil so often?

Depend on individual lar. For me regular oil change keep ur engine healthy. 5,000km clocked doesn't inclusive idling, traffic jam & so on. My cars r old. After overhaulin the engine, wanna keep it as good as new to serve me longer. That's why my car feel smooth & lighter pedal feel.