If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re looking for information on whether you have to take your BMW to the dealer for maintenance or an oil change. Can I take my BMW to any mechanic? is a question you may have already questioned yourself. In summary, you can take your BMW to whichever mechanic you choose for maintenance and oil changes. There is a little more to it than that, but overall, you are under no need to visit the BMW dealer ever again if you choose not to.
You must keep in mind that not all mechanics are certified to operate on your BMW, even though you have a choice in who does so. Even though all modern cars have four wheels, many of them are very specialized, and sometimes that’s where the similarities between various manufactures end. We’re going to go into the specifics of getting your BMW serviced today, including some warning signs you should watch out for. In the end, we’ll provide you with enough knowledge to locate a skilled BMW mechanic in your neighborhood. Since it’s in their best financial interest to have you return to them for everything, including the needless nitrogen for your tires, you probably won’t hear this information from your BMW dealer.
The dealership industry has a little-known secret: “Service and repair” is their “bread and butter.” They make every effort to prevent you from taking your repairs elsewhere because of this. They advocate against independent mechanics since it will put more money in their own wallets even though they are fully aware that they provide the same services for less money. You need to hear this if you’re still wondering, “Can I take my BMW to any mechanic for service?”
In This Article...
Can I replace my own BMW’s oil?
For a BMW owner, performing an oil change themselves is a terrific endeavor. if you have the resources. Fortunately, if you have the oil filter cap wrench—which costs around $20 if you can’t borrow one from a friend—they are not difficult to complete.
After a few usage, the instruments typically pay for themselves. For $89.26 with free shipping, Turner Motorsports offers an oil change package that includes a BMW oil filter, 7 gallons of BMW synthetic oil, and a new drain plug. I’ve done a lot of articles and videos on oil changes because it’s a relaxing way to use your BMW.
How much does an oil change for a BMW cost?
How much does a BMW oil change cost? BMW oil changes typically cost between $135 and $175, with parts and fluids accounting for roughly $90 to $110 of that total and labor making up the remaining percentage.
What is the price of an oil change for a BMW 3 Series?
Oil change price range for a BMW 328i. A BMW 328i oil change typically costs between $210 and $237. While parts are priced between $154 and $166, labor costs are predicted to be between $56 and $70. Taxes and levies are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or special location taken into account.
Are BMW oil changes more expensive?
Response given by. You are correct! An oil change for a more cheap automobile will often cost between $35 and $75, while an oil change for a BMW will typically cost between $135 and $175. There are three reasons why prices differ: oil type, components, and labor
How do I know when to replace the oil in my BMW?
The oil may need to be changed if your engine seems to be louder than usual while you’re driving or starting it up. If your BMW exhibits “sputtering performance,” this is another simple sign that it needs an oil change.
Is BMW oil required for my BMW?
You don’t have to use BMW-specific oil in your car. Many other brands will function even though this oil will be compatible with your engine.
Make sure the oil you select complies with BMW Longlife requirements. You may find the required oil rating in your owner’s manual.
Since 2009, BMW Longlife-98 oils are no longer in use. For vehicles produced prior to the model year 2002, this oil is advised, although Longlife-01 products can be used in its place.
All vehicles produced after the model year 2002 must have BMW Longlife-01. It is entirely artificial.
Due to their low HTHS viscosity, BMW Longlife-01 FE oils have characteristics that improve fuel economy. Only the N54, N63, N1x, N55, N74, and N2x engines can use this oil grade.
The BMW Longlife-04 is appropriate for cars with diesel particulate filters. As an alternative to BMW Longlife-98 or Longlife-01, you can use this product.
Some gasoline engines, as well as the 2013 model-year Nx701, Nx7k1, and Nx7U1 diesel engines, are compatible with the BMW Longlife-12. Engines with two to three turbos are ineligible for the usage of this oil.
N20 and Bx8 gasoline engines from the model year 2014 are compatible with BMW Longlife-14+.
You can find these requirements in a ton of oil brands, so don’t feel compelled to use solely BMW goods.
Can normal oil be used in a BMW?
You shouldn’t skimp on the quality or type of motor oil you put in your BMW because it’s the second-most crucial fluid after fuel in your car. Because of this, BMW advises using only synthetic motor oils in all BMW engines.
How long does a BMW need between oil changes?
Your Routine for Oil Changes It is advised that BMW car owners get their engine oil and oil filter replaced after 10,000 miles or every 12 months. Although many manufacturers advise doing so every 5,000 miles or six months (whichever comes first)
What type of oil is used by BMW?
The majority of BMW engines ship from the factory with a 5W-30. Additionally, BMW advises an oil change every 15,000 miles.
Mobil Full Synthetic 5W-30 High Mileage, Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40, Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30, or Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30 are the brands that BMW utilizes. Since 2015, BMW has advised using Shell/Pennzoil PurePlus Oils as its aftermarket oil.
There is a sizable aftermarket performance modifying community for BMWs. If you read the conversations on forums or Facebook groups, you’ll notice that owners of tuned BMWs frequently praise Liqui Moly 5w-40.
Take the climate into account In warmer climates, consumers frequently choose the 5W-40 oil kind. You should choose the 0W-40 oil type if you live somewhere with a cooler environment. In comparison to 5W-40, which takes a few minutes to warm up to the ideal lubricating temperature, 0W-40 lubricates the bearings better upon beginning.
How often should a BMW have its oil changed?
They are made to go up to 12,000 or even 15,000 miles between oil changes, or nearly one driving year. Even the owner’s manual for your BMW suggests having your oil changed every 15,000 miles.
Needs synthetic oil for BMW?
Natural oils can be used in many car brands, however BMWs need synthetic engine oils, with some models having differing requirements than others. Chemical compounds are used to create synthetic oils in a regulated manner, removing impurities. Natural oils can contain pollutants that survived the refining process as they are processed from crude oils.
Even though they are more expensive than natural alternatives, synthetic oils are made to assist clean your engine and prevent buildup, so you can go longer between oil changes. They also function better at both low and high temperatures.
Are BMWs oil-intensive?
The BMW 5 Series V8 engines are 27 times more likely to waste too much oil, according to Consumer Reports. What other BMW vehicles come in first place?
According to Consumer Reports, BMW is the worst offender in terms of new cars using too much oil (CR). Why is there a V8 in the BMW 5 Series? In the Top 30 vehicles that consume significantly more oil overall than the average for their model years, according to a new Consumer Reports survey, BMW is the worst offender.
According to CR, the worst case study revealed that owners of BMW 5 Series cars with V8 engines are 27 times more likely to experience excessive oil consumption than owners of typical cars. The BMW 6 Series, 7 Series, and BMW X5 are further BMW models that come in first place.
Additionally, CR discovered that the 3.0 liter V6 and 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engines from Audi both ranked highly for excessive oil usage. These engines are found in Audi models such the Q5, A3, A4, and A5. Subaru’s 3.6-liter V6 is also on the list, albeit to a lesser extent. The worst offenders were BMW’s 4.8-liter and 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engines.
All three manufacturers—Audi, BMW, and Subaru—admit that oil consumption is a regular aspect of their engines’ operation and that this is the case here. According to Subaru, a quart of fuel should be burned every 1,000 to 1,200 miles. According to the requirements for some Audi and BMW vehicles, a quart of fuel should be burnt every 600 to 700 miles.
These are ridiculous amounts for any vehicle and are high for a new car. Customer Reviews claims, “As a car reaches 100,000 miles and beyond, it’s common for some oil to burn. We think the powertrain warranty should cover any engine that burns oil in between oil changes. In the small print of their owners manuals, automakers frequently cloak their identities.”
BMW does take precautions and even specifies such consumption in its manufacturer guidelines. Even better, you can get an oil travel case from the dealer to keep in the car’s trunk for when you need it.
Hector Arellano-Belloc, a BMW spokesperson, wrote in an email to CR, “Oil consumption is normal on all engines.” “BMW automobiles require frequent oil changes (10,000 miles). Under specific driving circumstances, BMW engines (apart from the BMW M) may use up to one quart of engine oil every 750 miles.” He continued by saying that BMW’s M performance variants might use even more oil.
It’s intriguing that in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Initial Quality Study, BMW received a very high ranking (IQS). In their respective categories, the 2015 BMW 2 Series, BMW 4 Series, and BMW 5 Series all came in first place. BMW outperformed the industry average and came in at number six among all the brands. Read more here.
There are 30 cars that consume much more oil overall than the average for their model years, according to data from Consumer Reports’ 2014 Annual Auto Survey of owners of 498,900 vehicles from the 2010 to 2014 model years. Eight BMW automobiles appear on the list. BMW 335Ci, BMW 335i Sedan, BMW 5 Series (6-cylinder), BMW X1 (6-cylinder), BMW 5 Series (V8), BMW 7 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW X5 (V8), and BMW 5 Series (V8) are on the list, starting with the worst offender. Visit this page to view “The Thirsty 30” in its entirety.
Why use so much oil in a BMW?
Oil consumption is a hallmark of BMW engines and an unintended side effect of the company’s ambition to create potent, effective, and low-friction engines that can run for well over 200,000 kilometers.
BMW builds some of the best sports vehicles and luxury sedans available today, and their engines are built to live up to these high standards.
Oil consumption is an unintended consequence of this precision engineering, but BMW accepts it in order to create engines at the level of quality and performance that is now standard.
Since BMWs outperform other vehicles on the road in terms of power and performance, many owners have come to terms with the oil consumption.