BMW inspection I & II details... where can I get?

[SharkmanBMW]

Hey Chris -- remember my PDF on sludging? That's what 15k oil changes do to engines; we're not even talking about the other fluids, here. Did an inspection II on a '01 540i/6 last week. Owner complained of a harsh shift into 2 and had just bought the car with ~ 80k on it. The tranny was marked "lifetime" and I drained it to find the original fluid in it. Ugh. Replaced with royal purple and the thing works again...amazing.

Here's one hot off the press -- a CPO'd (therefore dealer serviced) 2001 330 with about 80k on it. Can you believe a dealership sold this thing to someone?



If we're talking about your new car -- do the maintenance at 2x the rate of what BMW recommends -- ~6000 to 7000 miles, max, if you want to keep the car for a while.

And the PDF is in here: http://www.bimmer.info/~lowell/

best, whit

Whit, in those pics... is it the oil or the duration it was in there that caused it, or both?
Should I do my oil changes with "dealer" castrol or ???

[Kalevera]

Chris, these are examples of dealer maintained (bmw service schedule/"recommended maintenance") cars. So they've only had the BMW synthetic, which may or may not be more sludgeworthy. It has been suggested physical location and the way the car is driven -- ie, scenarios such as hot/humid climate and short trips -- will affect sludging of oils. I don't care what Bidoli says, any oil can and will sludge.

If you have any kind of warranty on the car, take it in for service (or do the service yourself if they'll let you) on their terms, and then double the frequency of "inspections"...if you want to call them that. Regardless of who does the "in between" services, don't let the oil service counter get reset (might as well keep the dealer from wondering why you're bringing in the car at the appropriate mileage/time, yet the service counter isn't going bananas). Otherwise, use whatever you like and do synthetic oil changes between 6 and 7k, with discretion on the inspection items.

best, whit

[Gayle]

Here's one hot off the press -- a CPO'd (therefore dealer serviced) 2001 330 with about 80k on it. Can you believe a dealership sold this thing to someone?

eeeek That is a bmw nightmare. I can't stand these scary pictures.

[SharkmanBMW]

Assuming it has been only changed as indicated by the car, should i do anything "special" for the next oil change in about 6k miles? de-sludger!!?!! (not saying it needs it)
The car was always running - 50k miles in 2 years.

[mattyb]

i have them, will find and put em on later

[onewhippedpuppy]

Pics like that make me feel good about changing my synthetic and filter every 3-4k. It may be overkill, but I don't want my engine to look like that. If anything kills it I want it to be the Nikasil.