R56 Outcome of religious oil changes...
#1
Outcome of religious oil changes...
Today, the valve cover was pulled off my engine to replace a leaking valve cover gasket. The heat from the turbo apparently caused the valve cover gasket to fail over time and leak some oil at the valve cover corner right behind the turbo.
I was able to take a few pictures of my engine internals while the valve cover was off. It looks like my religious 3 to 4K oil change intervals paid off big time. The engine looks very clean inside. The technician working on my car was quite impressed. My car just had its 17th oil change at 50K miles!
Here are some pics:
I was able to take a few pictures of my engine internals while the valve cover was off. It looks like my religious 3 to 4K oil change intervals paid off big time. The engine looks very clean inside. The technician working on my car was quite impressed. My car just had its 17th oil change at 50K miles!
Here are some pics:
#5
#6
#7
I change the oil myself every 3 to 4K miles. It is really easy to do it on your own. There are very good instructions available here on NAM. I have an extended maintenance plan (which I bought mostly for the JCW brakes service until 100K miles) so I go to the dealership when the time comes for a free oil change every 15K miles or so. I have been using Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol Syntec 0W-30 when I change my own oil. Dealer puts in their BMW/MINI 5W-30.
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#8
BTW...You're engine L@@KS amazing!!
#9
I change the oil myself every 3 to 4K miles. It is really easy to do it on your own. There are very good instructions available here on NAM. I have an extended maintenance plan (which I bought mostly for the JCW brakes service until 100K miles) so I go to the dealership when the time comes for a free oil change every 15K miles or so. I have been using Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol Syntec 0W-30 when I change my own oil. Dealer puts in their BMW/MINI 5W-30.
#10
Getting my first oil change this weekend. I just have a 1000 miles but want to get the break in oil and filter out and put in the some new clean fluids and filter. Then it will be every 4k miles. I can't imagine waiting 15k miles between oil changes. When the dealer told me about their policy I asked him if that was a policy of "designed obsolescence"? Meaning did they want my car not to last very long. He just looked at me rather confusedly.
Last edited by juliansorl; 04-30-2010 at 05:34 AM.
#12
Great pics. Gives me peace of mind. I've been doing two oil changes a year, the dealer freebie and then one myself. I put about 7000 a year in miles so I'm about your interval. Looking through the oil filler cap it looks pristine, so I'll continue.
In answer to the 5000 mile question, that shouldn't be a problem with Euro formulated Castrol Syntec (BMW/Mini brand or Euro blend 0w30).
In answer to the 5000 mile question, that shouldn't be a problem with Euro formulated Castrol Syntec (BMW/Mini brand or Euro blend 0w30).
#13
I would think 5k changes would be great. My MINI in the future will be changed every 5k miles.
#16
Nik
#17
#18
I have MINI dealers change my oil every 5k miles. One strange thing, I took mine in at 15k for just an oil/filter change and the SA asked me if I wanted my computer reset at that time so I told her to do what ever. When I got it back, they had flushed the brakes and put new wipers on in addition to the oil/filter change. I still had about 4k to go for the free maintenance per the computer but they counted that one since it was 23 months old I guess. Not a month later, I came in and spoke to my MA about a new MINI and during that time, I spoke again to my SA telling her I just wanted an oil change and didn't expect the free one at that time. I told her about my 5k interval and she told me that have it done that day to keep it in some type of warranty even though I told her MINI dealers had done the maintenance each time. I had them change the oil again with just a couple a hundred miles on that oil. She still could't explain the reason to me so I could understand. Anyone out there who can????
BTW, both engines above look like what I expect to see. It is scary seeing images of sludge buckets after they say they are taking care of their engines
BTW, both engines above look like what I expect to see. It is scary seeing images of sludge buckets after they say they are taking care of their engines
#19
If you had follwed the OP's program you could have bought a new engine with what you would have spent on oil changes every 3K. I like your approach better.
#20
A reasonable interval for an R56 would be around 5,000-8,000 miles. At that rate, oil changes would cost $500-800 per 100,000 miles.
#21
#22
I forgot to mention in my first post that the main reason for my 3 to 4K oil changes is because my car frequently sees track time (see my sig picture). On a street car that never sees track time, I believe 5 to 8K would be more than enough. Also, there are reports of turbos getting destroyed on cars that follow the factory recommended 15K to 20K interval.
#23
Can you point these out to me. I would be interested in reading about them. Did a search and only came up with hood scoop melting issues and cool down questions.
#24
I change the oil myself every 3 to 4K miles. It is really easy to do it on your own. There are very good instructions available here on NAM. I have an extended maintenance plan (which I bought mostly for the JCW brakes service until 100K miles) so I go to the dealership when the time comes for a free oil change every 15K miles or so. I have been using Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol Syntec 0W-30 when I change my own oil. Dealer puts in their BMW/MINI 5W-30.
5k intervals for me....and mine gets 0W-40 as well, good stuff!
#25
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ied-turbo.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-warranty.html
Also, there is a service information bulletin issued by BMW about this problem. See the following link:
http://www.minitis.net/tsb/bulletins...p/M110308g.htm