New Z4 Service Question

[BimmerZealot]

Hi, I have 1500 miles on the clock and I was wondering what intervals I should be bringing the car in for service? Thanks

[takedown8]

Oil change every 15,000 miles or once a year.
Inspection I at 30,000 miles
Inspection II at 50,000 miles

Your car will let you know with the service notification on your gauges.

[BimmerZealot]

Cool, thanks, for some reason I had this nagging thought in the back of my mind that there was a 1500 mile first service or something like that. Looks like I have plenty more miles to enjoy it before I have to bite my nails and drop the Z off at the dealer. =p

[ovrkll]

1200 mile check up/oil change if you have the //M version.

[angelsz4]

Originally Posted by takedown8

Oil change every 15,000 miles or once a year.
Inspection I at 30,000 miles
Inspection II at 50,000 miles

Your car will let you know with the service notification on your gauges.

did i read that right? oil change every 15,000 miles?

[epbrown]

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? The party line is that the current synthetics last a lot longer than dino oils used to and modern filters are better. Several people have posted the results of oil analyses they've had run independently and no one's found a problem yet. I change mine every 7500 - it's likely a waste of money in terms of maintenance, but the peace of mind is worth every penny.

[ovrkll]

Originally Posted by angelsz4

did i read that right? oil change every 15,000 miles?

Or less, depending on how you drive the car. On-board computer figures out when the oil needs to be changed, but on average is around 15K

[epbrown]

I've read that the computer simply goes by gallons consumed - 600 gallons of fuel = oil change. That means that someone that drives their car hard, or does mostly city driving, or both, shortens the interval, while someone that does mostly highway miles will extend it.

[Gel]

Dude, 600 Gallons before a change?

Don't you mean gas consumed?

[Yal]

Originally Posted by epbrown

I've read that the computer simply goes by gallons consumed - 600 gallons of fuel = oil change.

That's what I understood from his post.

[Rey]

My question is what is so exotic in a "M" version that requires its first oil change at 1200 miles, compared with the base version's 15K requirement?

Perhaps the M has some special cylinder wall treatment with its iron block, or maybe some special piston rings? Whatever, my thinking is what is good enough for the M is good enough for the base. The only disadvantage with a more frequent oil change for base owners is they will have to pay for it, which is no big deal.

[Dammmittt]

I think the base z4 has a 2000 mile service. Check your owner's/service manuals to be sure.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Rey

My question is what is so exotic in a "M" version that requires its first oil change at 1200 miles, compared with the base version's 15K requirement?

The M has a higher-revving drive train and I think its engine is higher compression as well. They also use a lighter, less-durable, non-detergent oil in the Ms, which has to be changed out.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Gel

Don't you mean gas consumed?

Yep, that's why I wrote "the computer simply goes by gallons consumed - 600 gallons of fuel = oil change."

I know we Americans take some liberties with English that you in the UK have trouble with, but that seemed pretty plain to me.

[155MPH]

You can also get BMW to do a low mileage oil change once a year if you drive less than 15000 a year. It is included in the warranty. Make sure you change the oil at least once a year if this is not your daily driver!!!

[TopDown]

Originally Posted by Rey

My question is what is so exotic in a "M" version that requires its first oil change at 1200 miles, compared with the base version's 15K requirement?

Perhaps the M has some special cylinder wall treatment with its iron block, or maybe some special piston rings? Whatever, my thinking is what is good enough for the M is good enough for the base. The only disadvantage with a more frequent oil change for base owners is they will have to pay for it, which is no big deal.

The M's engine oil, trans fluid, and LSD fluuid are changed out at the 1,200 service. Because the M's various tolerances are tighter, the factory fluids are designed only for rapid break-in and not for long-term use. There are various warning stickers on the M (including a window sticker) that remind you to get the 1,200 mile service performed (at BMW's expense).

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by TopDown

There are various warning stickers on the M (including a window sticker) that remind you to get the 1,200 mile service performed (at BMW's expense).

Unless you are outside of your warranty area...

[ZEEFOUR]

Originally Posted by epbrown

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? The party line is that the current synthetics last a lot longer than dino oils used to and modern filters are better. Several people have posted the results of oil analyses they've had run independently and no one's found a problem yet. I change mine every 7500 - it's likely a waste of money in terms of maintenance, but the peace of mind is worth every penny.

Also add that the engines run much much cleaner than 10 years ago, and they are able to run at high temperatures and dissapate heat faster which burns off the contaninments in the oil. When Mobil 1 and a few others first came to the market they advertised every 25K miles between oil changes with a filter change. I still believe that will work, they put Mobil 1 in a NY taxi and did not change it for 100K miles and the engine was fine. Jiffy lube and a few others convinced folks that 3K mile oil changes are necessary.

Personally, i stick to the recommend intervals in the benz and z4 which is over 12K on both, i still believe that nobody knows more about what oil and how often it should be changed than BMW since the have invested billions in developing their motors

[ZEEFOUR]

Originally Posted by epbrown

Yep, that's why I wrote "the computer simply goes by gallons consumed - 600 gallons of fuel = oil change."

I know we Americans take some liberties with English that you in the UK have trouble with, but that seemed pretty plain to me.

I think its a bit more sophisticated than just gallons used, usually its the number of starts, temperature of the coolant, and the conduit of the oil which increase as it gets dirty, that 15K can vary and does not match a rolling 15K on the odmeter.

[Godspeed]

Other than the counter's sole purpose of triggering the 'free' oil service, why are we even talking about this? Use the recommended oil, factory filter, change it every 5k miles, and be done with it. 15k service intervals might be fine for a 'disposable' lease vehicle, but not for an owner.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by ZEEFOUR

I think its a bit more sophisticated than just gallons used, usually its the number of starts, temperature of the coolant, and the conduit of the oil which increase as it gets dirty, that 15K can vary and does not match a rolling 15K on the odmeter.

BMW did all that with the E36, and decided it was too complicated. Now, the computer just counts gas consumed.

Originally Posted by ZEEFOUR

Personally, i stick to the recommend intervals in the benz and z4 which is over 12K on both, i still believe that nobody knows more about what oil and how often it should be changed than BMW since the have invested billions in developing their motors

The problem isn't what they know, it's where do their interests lie - in the car lasting you for 10-15 years, or in selling you a new one every 4 years or so? Most people that do their own maintenance suspect the latter is how they're deciding on service intervals these days. A lot of people nowadays simply trade-in when the warranty is up - that's got to make BMW happier than having thousands of Irv Gordons out there.

[ZEEFOUR]

Originally Posted by Godspeed

, why are we even talking about this?

Use the recommended oil, factory filter, change it every 5k miles, and be done with it. 15k service intervals might be fine for a 'disposable' lease vehicle, but not for an owner.

Just answering a question by a new owner. By the way the wifes 2000 MB C class has over 150K miles doing 15k mile oil changes (mobil 1) and the engine burns no oil nor needs any added between changes. Thats only 10 oil changes in a 150K miles versus 30.

Its a personal choice, your car do as you like, but you don't have to. With todays sophisticated cars the only thing owners have control over is the oil and tires, and thats what you see the most internet chat about, nobody seems to question the life-time fill transmission or differential fluid, or the
150K mile/15 year coolant.