Hello everyone,
I'm new and would like to know how frequently I should change the oil in my '05 mcs/a. I have 23k miles and have only changed the oil once (around 12k miles).

 

It all depends.

It depends upon if you have drunk the BMW coolaid.

If you are a member of the BMW knows all set, then your dashboard computer will count down and tell you to change it somewhere out there in never-never land of about 25K miles, give or take. You admit that you changed your first oil at 12K miles, so I'm guessing you have a purple tongue. Or whatever color BMW coolaid is nowdays.

If you are a member of the old fart maintenance club, then you are already overdue for about three oil changes. As in 1K, 5K, 10K miles.

This is a very debated topic. Watch out for a variety of answers.

I myself run my MINI on a flux capacitor and oil is not needed at all. So I will just stand by and watch this one.

YD

 

all you need to know, right here:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

For the record, I don't drink the Bimmer kool-aid. 1st oil change at 1,494 miles, and I used German Castrol 0W30. (The magic elixir). Planning my second change around 7,000 miles.

Hunker down, the high miler, (I think changing oil less than 10K is a waste), club members will be diving in....

 

Thanks everyone...I was wondering why my tongue was turning purple. Maybe that little voice in my ear was really my little "green machine" trying to tell me something, eh what?!

 

Javelina1, How's the temp in AZ? If I lived in AZ, I would seriously consider going to something other than 0W30 oil. My new Bentley manual says not to use 5W30 when the temps are above 50°F. It says use 15W40. I have looked and can't find 15W40 M1 in this area. I'm in Tennessee and plan to go to 10W30 soon. Just a suggestion for something to think about.

YD

 

Howdy Yo..

the GC 0W30 is actually on the "heavy" side. It's closer to a 40W oil, (per BITOG). No issues whatsoever with this oil. We're hitting around 100F during the day now. With June around the corner, those 115-118F days are fast approaching...

The GC 0W30 is ACEA A3/B3 & LL01 rated. Good stuff! So is Mobil 0W-40. I'll be switching to that at some point. Can't find the German Castrol 0W30 at the local Autozone's any more.

 

Javelina1,

Please help me here. Can you point me to the BITOG reference indicating that 0W30 is a heavy oil? I went to his site but failed to find this sort of info.

thanks,

YD

 

Hey Yo,
take a peek into the "German Castrol" (GC) section. Lot's of info about that magic oil.

Here's are some good links about GC:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...e=0#Post711581
http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...e=0#Post711450

I wish I could've stocked up on this stuff before Autozone pulled it...

 

Yippee!!! German Castrol is back at Autozone. Just stocked up. 0w-30, good stuff!!!