Oil service and oil change in BMW

What does oil service at BMW consist of?

These are all maintenance activities related to changing the engine oil along with the oil filter. According to the manufacturer’s recommendations in the BMW and Mini models in question, the oil service is set at the factory for a distance of 30,000 km of mileage or a period of two years. After each oil change, we reset the counter to the next service distance.

For BMW models prior to 2000, the oil service distance is between 15,000 and 20,000 kilometers of mileage. This depends on the country for which the vehicle was dedicated.

In addition to the activities associated with the oil service itself, BMW’s procedures also include additional inspection activities (depending on the model), which include:

1. Visual inspection of the entire vehicle – chassis, brake system, tires, exterior lighting.
2. Visual inspection of leaks – coolant, oils.
3. Entry of the performed inspection in the vehicle’s electronic service book – this applies to F and G series models.
4. Zeroing of the vehicle’s maintenance indications.

What oil does BMW currently recommend? Do all BMW group cars/engines use the same oil?

Until 2014, the recommended oil for use in most BMW models was Castrol 5W/30 with LL-04 (Long Life) specification. As of 2015, BMW recommends Shell Helix Ultra oil with similar specifications. For diesel engines the recommended viscosity is 5W/30, for gasoline engines 0W/40.

The exceptions are M-Power and 4.4 and 5.0 engines, for which an oil viscosity of 10W/60 is recommended.

Older models should not be operated on semi-synthetic or mineral oils regardless of their mileage. Fully synthetic oils should be used until the end of their useful life.

It is also important that fully synthetic oils are miscible, that is, we can add another oil from any manufacturer with different viscosity markings to the engine as needed without the threat of engine damage. Top-ups are relatively small (about 0.5 to 1 liter).

How long does it take to perform an oil service/change on a BMW?

The time it takes to perform a full oil service is about 30 minutes. This includes the time it takes to drain the old oil, change the oil filter, fill the engine with new oil and reset the service settings in the vehicle’s inspection system.

Does BM Cars offer an oil service warranty and what does it cover?

Yes, as with all servicing and installed parts, BM Cars provides a two-year warranty. It covers the oil used for the oil change, the oil filter and all service activities.

What elements make up the cost of an oil service at BMW?

The cost of oil service consists of the following items:

• oil in the amount actually poured into the engine,
• oil filter,
• entry in the electronic service book (applies to F and G series models),
• deletion of the vehicle’s inspection system.