2002 530i Oil Change - Shall I DIY or Dealer?

[rufryder]

I believe I need to get an oil change done on my car. I've owned it for 3 months and it has 56k miles now (don't know when the last one was done) and it's telling me to "check oil level" and no other signs. It doesn't seem like it has enough oil (while measuring with the dip-stick).

So, whats the BMW recommend oil filters? Castrol oil (as stated under the hood)? Where is it a good place to purchase these? Also should I DIY or how much will the dealer charge? Any writeup?


Thanks all for your input.

[brosher]

You don't need to do a change to get that oil level up. You need to fill the oil immediately or you are going to be looking for a new engine. You probably have a leak, have you been noticing any oil under the car when parked?

I highly recommend learning to do your own oil changes as you will gain a much more intimate understanding of your car. But for right now get that oil level topped off!

[mamilapon]

oil should be checked first thing in the morning before you start it. Do it yourself man this site will tell you how. Get your **** from BMA.com

[Paul in NZ]

change the oil and the filter.Go to the dealer buy a filter and then go to some car parts chain and buy some synthetic oil and change it.Whle your at the car parts place buy a oil change kit to catch your old oil,and then at a local garage ask them if you can recycle it there.This is the best way because as you say you dont know when it was last changed(have you got any service book?) and you don t know what was put in there.Changing the oil is easy.depending on the heigh of the car you might have to jack one side of the car up a bit to reach the sump plug.Dont go under the car when its on the jack!

[Alexlind123]

oil should be checked first thing in the morning before you start it. Do it yourself man this site will tell you how. Get your **** from BMA.com

Does anyone really actually do that? I thought i was anal for checking tire pressures once every couple weeks...

[rufryder]

change the oil and the filter.Go to the dealer buy a filter and then go to some car parts chain and buy some synthetic oil and change it.Whle your at the car parts place buy a oil change kit to catch your old oil,and then at a local garage ask them if you can recycle it there.This is the best way because as you say you dont know when it was last changed(have you got any service book?) and you don t know what was put in there.Changing the oil is easy.depending on the heigh of the car you might have to jack one side of the car up a bit to reach the sump plug.Dont go under the car when its on the jack!

Thanks for the heads up. I have changed the oil in my other two vehicles (Maximas). Wasn't sure if I should do it myself or take it to the dealership since t's still under warranty and don't know how it will impact it once I do it myself. What's usually covered under 60k or 65k miles Inspection?
which syntehtic oil is recommended 5w-40 or 5w-30?
thanks

[Zeuk in Oz]

I believe I need to get an oil change done on my car. I've owned it for 3 months and it has 56k miles now (don't know when the last one was done) and it's telling me to "check oil level" and no other signs. It doesn't seem like it has enough oil (while measuring with the dip-stick).

So, whats the BMW recommend oil filters? Castrol oil (as stated under the hood)? Where is it a good place to purchase these? Also should I DIY or how much will the dealer charge? Any writeup?


Thanks all for your input.

A little more information might be helpful.
What do your service lights say ? - how many green lights on the dash at start up ?
Do you have a service record for the car ?
Given that BMW's service lights and inspection system organises around approx 12-15,000 miles, if the previous owner did what BMW tells them to do, an oil service would have been done at 15k, an Inspection I at 30k, another oil service at 45k and it will be due an Inspection II very soon.
Therefore, presuming it has not been done, it might be worthwhile finding a non dealer BMW specialist and getting them to do a full Inspection II service, unless you are able to do it yourself. You can obviously use a dealer if you wish.
This should include changing brake and coolant fluids if this has never been done, or possibly anyway as it will probably be due. Replacing the thermostat and waterpump might also be worthwhile.
This service should identify any oil leaks or similar and will get you off to a great start with your car.
Following that, changing oil and filter yourself half way between recommended intervals is probably wise, and given that your car has double vanos I would suggest using a good synthetic oil. I use Mobil 1 0W-40, as does my local dealer and my independent.
If you are going to just change the oil now, use a similar oil.

[BillionPa]

+1 for M1 0W40, good oil. other oils on my "good for BMW" list are lubro moly vollsynthase 0W40 and 5W40, castrol syntec (the german one) 0W30, and Amsoil AMO.

change the oil now, to whichever one of those you can get easy and cheap. inspection 2 at 60K will have another oil change, and if they are gonna use the BMW 5W30 oil, supply your own. a good thing to do is when you are getting your filter there, find out what kind of oil they use and ask here if thats a good one.

your in new york, so a 0W40 oil with changes every 15K oil service and another one half way between the service would be the best. you do NOT want to go 15K between changes in an environment like NYC, unless you like an engine full of sludge and metal particles.

[JohnnyBlue]

remember the oil pumps in most 530I m60 get loose and loose there bolts and they fall in the oil pan! I removed my oil pan in my 1994 530i m60 and foun 4 bolts in the pan and the balance loosened on my pump!this model is famouse foe hi pitch vibration that losens the oil pump! jblouin@remaxcrown.ca

[Denton]

remember the oil pumps in most 530I m60 get loose and loose there bolts and they fall in the oil pan! I removed my oil pan in my 1994 530i m60 and foun 4 bolts in the pan and the balance loosened on my pump!this model is famouse foe hi pitch vibration that losens the oil pump! jblouin@remaxcrown.ca

2002 530i is an M54.

OP: I'd change the oil and do an Inspection II. That way, you have a baseline as to how much oil it consumes/how dirty it gets over x miles.