Should I change my oil more often than my computer tells me too? 1998 BMW 328I. Should I use Synthetic?

Question

My dash computer tells me when to change my oil. Like all BMWs. The thing is it tells me to change it only at about 9 thousand miles. The oil still looks great at that many miles and my engine doesnt burn or leak any oil. One of my mechanics says to just put what BMW says to put in it. Non-synthetic, and just go by what the computer says to. He is an intependent BMW master mechanic. Another mechanic says to put synthetic in it every 4 to 5 thousand miles at the most. HE is just a europian auto mech. not a BMW mech. The car has 95,000 miles on it and purrz like it should. What about additives?

Answer 1

I will do it evey 3000 - 4000 miles if you have time to do so. You should go to some 15 min oil change place instead of BMW service (in USA). they charge for less ($25 to 35). but make sure you go to a good shop. Only go to BMW service when the service indicator tell you to. Synthetic oil cost little more why not using it. You driving a Bimmer!

Answer 2

BMW recommends every 15k. The oils do not break down like earlier oils did. Now some will argue that dirt and other materials are a factor. This is true. So if you plan to keep the car for many years then every 5000 - 7500 would be fine. I don't see hardly any problems yet do to oil issues, key word (hardly). I have seen a couple but only a couple of how many cars I see a year and have been seeing more and more with 150k +. Oil change at the dealer runs about $100

Answer 3

I have a 1994 325is and it holds 7 quarts of oil (a little expensive if you are using a full synthetic like Mobil One). You could change the oil every 3000 to 4000 mile and the oil filter every other change. I have played with the idea of changing the oil every 5000 miles, but haven't done so yet.

Answer 4

Synthetic is great, especially if you are a hard driver or live in extreme climates; othewise, I agree with the poster who says 3,500--5,000.

Actually some people get an oil analysis to test whether their oil is still viable or not. It's the only really scientific way to know.

You can't tell if oil is good or not by looking at it---give that idea up or it may come back to bite you some day. My two cents.....

Mobil 1 is an excellent synthetic, and don't believe the stories you hear about "oil leaks" when switching to synthetic.

Answer 5

Use Synthetic oil and change every 5000 to 7000 mile.

Answer 6

Every 7,500 miles is fine, use BMW full synthetic or Mobil 1 0W40. Add Chevron Techron to the tank every once in a while to keep the injectors clean.

Answer 7

Here's a Bemer website where they discuss this. The consensus seems to be between 3-5,000 miles. They also say that the car registers not how far you drive it, but how hard.

http://www.unitedbimmer.com/forums/e36/2505-oil-change-how-often-honestly-poll.html

Answer 8

I work at a BMW dealer. Use synthetic...with 95K do it every 7000 mi. especially if you dont know the entire history.

Answer 9

hi there.the only precise answer u can tell it is in ur hand .easily u should check the oil in 5000 miles by ur self and see whether its viscous or not.and so on till u can decide whene u gonna change oil

Answer 10

always every 3,000 miles