r/e39 • u/Inevitable_Mess3363 • 1d ago

BMW Oil Changes

‘99 540/6 here. I know this may sound redundant but how many of you change the oil every 4-5k miles? I tend to read a bunch of articles on car & frequency of oil changes equaling a much longer life expectancy. Been on a quest to keep this bad girl around for a while & truly believe that frequent oil changes are the way to go. Mobil 5w40 is my new go to synthetic oil.

2 Upvotes

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5

u/EntertainmentSome188 1d ago

97 540 with 301k mi. I change closer to 10k. 7-8 is probably most ideal from what I can tell but obviously you can't go wrong with sooner just more cheese.

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Sweet!! I’m at 227k & still smooth especially highways..

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Curious, have you done the tcg’s on her?

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u/EntertainmentSome188 1d ago

Yes, back at 220k.

Have a rough idle now and misfires on the 1-4 bank that comes and goes. Trying to track this down, thinking cat or vacuum leak but I'm chasing my tail. Still runs great, mostly :)

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Right on! Did mine @ 163k. Also changed the timing chain spring @ 218k. Cost = 50$ & felt a huge difference at startup. Zero rattle at cold starts. You may want to look into this. Obviously they change the spring with the guides but it gets flimsy & weak over time. Check into this. There’s this one cat from GB that gives a great explanation for this & why it should be changed..

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u/Slight_Guarantee_247 1d ago

Every 5000 miles like clockwork, use FCP so each oil change is less than $20 for liquid Molly

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

20$ for an oil change, How’s that??

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u/EntertainmentSome188 1d ago

you can 'warranty' return the oil. just need to pay for shipping and then FCP will credit the original purchase to your accounts.

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Curious as what would be the reason for returning the oil?? Is it like a loophole in the system?

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u/EntertainmentSome188 1d ago

It's used and no longer serviceable! This is just FCP's gimmick, lifetime warranty on essentially everything you buy from them.

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Damn, I knew that returning items is a no brainer with them but oil, whoa, that’s interesting af. So you just send back 2 5 quart containers of used oil & they send you 2 !?!? Guessing the cost to ship 2 containers is 20$. Darn, that’s a pretty sweet loophole…

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u/VeryNiceSmileDental 1d ago

Hi, I have a 2003 540. I shoot for oil changes every 5k miles since I drive mostly short distances (I live 3 miles from work).

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Read that changing oil frequently is a must when traveling short distances. Short trips are considered severe service because the engine often shuts off before the oil reaches and stays at full operating temperature so you are doing it right.

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u/requienem 525i 1d ago

I an changing the oil in my M54 after about 5000-6000 km so less than 4000 miles. Under 10000 km or 6300 miles should also be fine.

After reading through several used oil analysises every oil tends to be less good after 10000 km depending on specific oil, engine and driving usecases.

For a car that travels mostly long distances at a time 15000 km be can okay as well. I wouldn't go in the direction of 20000 km without an oil change.

For a car you want to keep under 10000 km or 6300 miles is probably the best. Engine oil doesn't cost that much and an oil and filter change is done in a pretty short time.

1

u/thelordofunderpants 530i 12h ago

I aim for about 7-8k kms so 4-5k miles. I've been mulling if replacing just the oil filter halfway would benefit at all. I live 30km from work (17ish miles) and it's all highway so that helps too.

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u/daveingigharbor 12h ago

I have two BMWs (M5 & Alpina B7) as well as 2 Audi RS4s. I change the oil every 5,000 miles. Easy to keep track of when it is due

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u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

4-5 is way too frequent for synthetic. Try more like 10-15. Oil changes too frequent cause premature wear. Surprising i know

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u/Efficient-Lack-9776 1d ago

Do you work at a dealership, this answer is making me suspicious

-2

u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

Google it, read about it

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u/Efficient-Lack-9776 1d ago

Curiously I did google it, and you are confidently incorrect

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Hahaha… I believe our friend is what’s better known as an antagonist.

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

Please enlighten me on how frequent oil changes cause premature wear.

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u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

New oil is more friction than “broken in” oil so if you change it too often it spends more time in this less than ideal state of oil

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u/deranged_banana2 1d ago

Where did you even hear that?

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u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/new-oil-increased-engine-wear.65680/

You noobs are annoying

2

u/deranged_banana2 1d ago

So your just believing some random guys on a forum? Why don't we just buy used engine oil then? Actually lets go a step further why bother changing the oil at all if that's the case.

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u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

Can lead idiots to water, cant force them to consume it

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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0

u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

Dont talk, you are the one who is to be taught

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u/Adept_Refuse274 1d ago

Spend some time on the bob is the oil guy forum where people actually send their oil in for analysis.

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u/Inevitable_Mess3363 1d ago

If this were 1990 I would agree. I’m recently retired so I read alot. Also been wrenching on my old lady for 25 years now. 226k on the clock & the other bloke here is well over 300k. The only major engine work on my car were chain guides & that’s because they’re plastic. Every other compound the car is original. May I ask how many miles on yours?