Oil Changing

bravenrace wrote: In reply to wbjones: Are you sure about that? I thought all synthetics were created from organic oil.

A lot of it is synthesized from natural gas and not petroleum, but it does all comes out of the ground.

it's my understanding … (disclaimer: I've been wrong many times in the past, and anticipate being wrong often in the future LOL ) … that the "pure" synthetics are born in test tubes (at least for Amsoil)

And the feedstock comes from underground, one way or the other.

Full synthetic oil and a good filter is the best bet because you change the oil much less than traditional oil. Also, some repair shops and usually, all the part stores will hear you say "BMW", perk up a little, and give you a 10% increase in price compared to an appliance vehicle.

Positive oil recommendations are almost always undermined by an absence of evidence, i.e., "nothing blew up so the oil must be good." Only oil analysis will really tell you anything non-destructively, and then you need multiple data points to validate it; tearing down a working engine is not something most people are willing to do to see just how much bearing and valvetrain wear their oil is allowing.

In other words, follow the manufacturer's spec (LL-01 in this case, or if you want to be a little lenient, ACEA A3/B3 or A3/B4, from which the BMW spec is derived) if you're concerned with oil suitability. Mann or Mahle filters are OE.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: Full synthetic oil and a good filter is the best bet because you change the oil much less than traditional oil. Also, some repair shops and usually, all the part stores will hear you say "BMW", perk up a little, and give you a 10% increase in price compared to an appliance vehicle.

Uh No. BMWs (and Mercs and pretty much anything Euro) is (was, may be more suitable here) just generally more expensive to maintain. Something most people dont think about when buying these cars.

I say was may be more suitable, because pretty much everything new takes a goofy oil nowadays. Many "appliance" car require synthetics in 0w weights, and even some trucks are requiring synthetics or something like GM dexos certification, not much stuff left you buy off a lot you can just drop dino 5w30 in.

Ran Castol Syntec in the Audi and LubroMoly in the MINI.

like them both. Also, like everyone is saying, MANN or Mayle filter

Pelicanparts.com has filters for a good price.

I run Mobil 1 0-40 and I know that my car has had Mobil 1 only since its first change. 215k and it still runs smooth. Alternatively, I picked up a cheap beater E36 a couple of years back and ran Castrol 20w-50 (OE oil from what I know) and it purred like a kitten. Either is fine I imagine.

Opti wrote: Uh No. BMWs (and Mercs and pretty much anything Euro) is (was, may be more suitable here) just generally more expensive to maintain. Something most people dont think about when buying these cars.

What, you mean 18" wheels made of peanut butter, 12-14" rotors, suspension components made of aluminum and pivoting off of solid bushings that sieze or deliberately compliant bushings that tear easily, and engines that take nine quarts of $10+ per quart oil, make a car expensive to maintain? You don't say!

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: BMW owners seems to be rabid for Motul oil.

Same with the Subaru guys. Walmart carries it, at least the one by me does. I haven't used it yet, butI will my next change.

I threw my hands up and just bought my oil at the BMW dealer parts counter for the MINI. It was reasonably priced (believe it or not) and is the same stuff they recommend for their other cars. Sometimes it said MINI on it, sometimes BMW.

Everyone is recommending the Mann or Mahle oil filters, a store near me has K&N OE replacement oil filters at a decent price and they're rated pretty highly. Anyone use them before?

Don't skimp on the filter. NAPA stocks MANN iirc. I got the last one for the Cooper there.

The one on my side of town seems to.

There are only a couple of filter manufacturers. K&n aren't bad but I wouldn't go out of my way to find them.

One time I looked at a Fram filter for a vw I had and inside the box was a Mann filter.

Did you look surprised and exclaim "That's a MANN, baby!"?

In reply to Knurled:

I had strange, confusing, and exciting new feelings when I discovered I was looking at a Mann.

i work at a quick lube and dont know of any special 10% price increase for foreign cars and we use the oil and filter the owner asks for if they dont want a penzoil filter and penzoil platinum for a full synthetic. Most of the local bmw/mercedes owners seem to prefer mann filters it seems.

Picked up castrol edge euro formula 0w40 full synthetic because wally world had it on sale. Gonna go get a filter tomorrow morning and get the oil change done early, hope it doesn't rain that would suck.

One last simple after oil change question, I changed the oil and everything looks good, but the electric dipstick in the console should that be near the max line or dead in the center on an e90 bmw 328 xi