Oil change - E36 M3

KPAKKIRI

Member
Hi guys,

Just wanted to know whether I should change the oil in the car every year even if I don't do the mileage (approx. 1500km)?

Regards
 

AdiS

Well-known member
Yes, definitely do an oil change at least once a year, regardless of mileage. Should be an easy DIY, the oil filter can be bought from the dealer at a decent price, and use the right oil.
 

andrewbuch

///Member
If you only doing 1400km a year would it not be better to just do oil change once a year and oil & filter change every second year?


Others opinions welcome.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2
 

AdiS

Well-known member
andrewbuch said:
If you only doing 1400km a year would it not be better to just do oil change once a year and oil & filter change every second year?


Others opinions welcome.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2

I was actually wondering the same thing.
 

kugs330

New member
Yep the filter is cheap rather change it with the oil cause theres about a pint in the filter and housing :thumbs:
 

AdiS

Well-known member
The debate about changing the filter I think is more to do with the fact that an oil filter takes a little bit of mileage before it starts filtering 100%. Hence if the annual mileage is so low, not changing the filter might be better? I'm not sure how time influences the filter performance.
 
Well, if you have a BMW still under plan they will not service until the necessary milage or service indicators are reached.

On that milage - I'd say once every 2 years is fine so long as you use good oil and you are not doing 50 / 60 5kms trips, but rather 10 or 20 50kms trips per year. Put simply oil degredation is related to heat cycles.
 

KPAKKIRI

Member
Thanks guys for the valuable information. I contacted BMW and they said that I need to do an inspection service since the last oil change with them was 5 years ago (119 000km) and now the car is at 124 000km. The cost is R2800 booked for tomorrow. What does the inspection service entail and is worth it or should I do it myself?

Regards
 

AdiS

Well-known member
KPAKKIRI said:
Thanks guys for the valuable information. I contacted BMW and they said that I need to do an inspection service since the last oil change with them was 5 years ago (119 000km) and now the car is at 124 000km. The cost is R2800 booked for tomorrow. What does the inspection service entail and is worth it or should I do it myself?

Regards

I would say its worth getting the dealer to do the inspection service purely on the basis that they do a lot of checking around the car, and the price isn't that bad. If they find problems, then you can consider alternatives to the dealer in terms of fixing those.
 

KPAKKIRI

Member
AdiS said:
KPAKKIRI said:
Thanks guys for the valuable information. I contacted BMW and they said that I need to do an inspection service since the last oil change with them was 5 years ago (119 000km) and now the car is at 124 000km. The cost is R2800 booked for tomorrow. What does the inspection service entail and is worth it or should I do it myself?

Regards

I would say its worth getting the dealer to do the inspection service purely on the basis that they do a lot of checking around the car, and the price isn't that bad. If they find problems, then you can consider alternatives to the dealer in terms of fixing those.
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In the interim, which reputable mech's would you suggest on the East Rand apart from the dealerships?
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
do the dealers check? :fencelook:

its quite easy to get a list of what should be checked with the inspection i would DIY and know it was done... but thats me...
 

AdiS

Well-known member
moranor@axis said:
do the dealers check? :fencelook:

its quite easy to get a list of what should be checked with the inspection i would DIY and know it was done... but thats me...

Good point.. hehe. I guess it depends on the requisite DIY knowledge.

EDIT: Sometimes it is just easier to get the dealer to check, assuming the dealer does it properly.
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
OP did mention DIY if he can that would be the way to go provided he has some time to do it :rollsmile:
 
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