e90 BMW 320i Oil change

[Niju06]

Hi Guys, I wanted to get your opinion on when the best time is for an oil change. Reason I ask is because I have a e90 BMW 320i sitting on 23500km. Onboard computer says it only needs to happen in the next 10000km. Thats taking it to 33000km before the first oil change. Thats crazy right? I'm going on a huge road trip in a weeks time covering about 6000km. I wanted to get the oil change done before I go, but the dealers won't allow it because they can only change it according to what the on board computer shows. And to top it all off I don't have a dip stick to check the oil colour. Is it normal for first oil changes to happen only after 33000kms?

 

[Sankekur]

As far as I understand it, it might say that at the moment you need a oil change in 10k km's time, but that might go up further, I have heard of guys with e90's where the car only gets an oil service after 40000km. All I can say is the service intervals that BMW recommends nowadays is totally insane, even more so than normally. I guess the only thing you can do is to take the car in for a oil change at the dealers and pay for it, this way you can feel better and you can keep your motorplan.

 

[AshG108]

My E90 320i only had its first service at 39000km after being bought brand new, i had to top up oil at 44000km's and the onboard is telling me my next service(with oil change) is due at 50000km on the dot.

i feel this is too long for the cars to wait but then again like you mentioned above, BMW only do the changes etc when the car tells them, i am used to an oil change every 15000km's coming from Audi and VW which i have owned previously.

 

[ryanhouston_e46]

Take this from someone who works with lubricating oils every day.

NO OIL known to man will keep all its properties after that mileage. The lubricating properties and shear resistance start dropping off after 10000 km. Drain the oil, put in 4 L of Castrol SLX and let BMW service it when they think its correct. That N46 motor has sensitive valvetronic equipment that do not like thick dirty oil. 5W30 FTW.

Basically if they can get away with this car only having two services while under motorplan, they will. Every time.

 

[KING_RSA]

Mt E90 323i service light used to come on every 13000-18000 km's ... Was like that till I traded it in for the Diesel in December

 

[Niju06]

Thanks Guys. Its good to know that mine is not a special case. BMW has agreed to 'inspect' my engine and the oil next week, because they said its not usual to have the first oil change at 33000km. They want to check it out because next week when I go on my trip, the driving conditions change and the OBC drops the oil change interval from 10000km and I won't be in a situation to change it what with all the public holidays and whatever my current location may be at that point. I really hope they find that the oil needs to be changed. I'm thinking maybe even if they don't find anything wrong with the oil change, I ask them to do one? Anyone know how much that would cost at BMW?

 

[Niju06]

Just an update on this post.

So I took the car in today to get inspected and they found that the oil needs to be changed. So first oil change at 23600km. So now OBC has been updated and it shows I have 14000km till my next oil change. I think that's decent mileage to run before the next oil change based on what I've read on these forums.

 

[Spy007]

Avg I think is 25000km thats how the gophers work.
25000km oilchange then 25000km Service etc etc...