The car was sitting on 13,000 exactly. Now the inspection counter says 15,500. Does this mean 15,500 on this oil change? No way. I'll more then likely split the difference and change in in 7,750.

Service was top notch they asked if we wanted new wipers, wife mentions something like a wet winter coming. The replaced all 3

 

Yup, that's what it means. The merits of this have been discussed here ad nauseum so let's not get into that, but that's what it means.

 

I must be misunderstanding something.

You waited until 13,000 miles to get the FIRST oil change but you don't want to wait 15,000 for the second one ?

Ours have around 6,500 miles on them now and I just pulled out the dipsticks last week... oil is still as clean as the day The Twins were born. So I'm going to stick to the plan to take them in when they get close to 10,000 miles as the service plan indicates.

 

Actually the service plan depends on what the onboard computer says when you first fire up the engine and that can vary driver to driver. Mine wanted service around 11k and others I've read about aroud 9k. Depends on how you drive it.

I'll wait till it says to go in again for service although the individual at the dealership said I should come in after 5k after my first service I'll ignore her. My M.A. said that at the least go by the computer (which I will). Just about anything engineered now-a-days has a factor of safely built in to it. Where I work it's not uncommon for that factor of safety to be 5 (meaning if it's supposed to withstand 10psi it's been tested to 50psi (or 5 times what is required). All that said I'm willing to be that BMW also uses a factor of safety and if they say the first oil change should be around 10k then likely it'll go safely quite a bit further than that. There are lots of folks here that change oil every 3k and I say good, but unless you're a conspiracy theorist or racing all the time or a taxi there's not much need to waste your money. I haven't heard of anyone in years for any car having problems by following the mfr's specs.

 

I changed at 6,000 because I was leaving on a 3000 mile road trip. I have heard that 10k is ok but i have never heard of 15,500

 

Jib,

Mine showed the same thing. 15,500 for the next inspection and oil change. I thought it odd too, but the way I'm driving that will be in months instead of years.

I personally check my oil weekly.

 

The 15,500 is a countdown. So if you got your first @ 13,000 add approx. 15,500 for your next service. And depending on your driving habits it will countdown faster or slower.

 

Do you have to wait until the countdown gets completely to zero to take it in? Or can you take it in a little sooner?

 

Depends on your dealer. In order to get the free maintenance most dealers will not take a car in till its within 100 miles from the countdown end.

 

Call your dealer & ask. Mine said that as long as I was closer than 2,000 miles to the service they'd do it. I was very surprised they told me that. My next service was 15,500 last Saturday & today it's down to 15,000. I'll change my oil twice before I reach the next free service.

 

a few little extras go a LONG way.

 

I believe they will change your oil after a year since that is the recommended maximum time. Don’t know if they will do the other Inspection I items at that time or make you come back.

 

I had my first service at 14000 miles. Now my indicator says 15,500. It probably will adjust down some- I expect I will end up getting my second service after another 14000, unless my driving habits change.

Don't forget, synthetic oil doesn't break down the same way dino oil does. Also the quality of the filter makes a big difference. SO no reason to follow the same schedule you used to follow 20 years ago, using the old oils and filters. Technology marches on! Don't be left behind.

To me, that's the big advantage of the synthetic oils- longer change interval.

 

I cahnge mine every 3k miles. Maybe im just excessive! hmm...