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e39 oil change???

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5.6K views 24 replies 15 participants last post by  bluebee  
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#1 ·
A friend of mine who also owns a e39 told me that you can only get an oil change done at a bmw dealership because they use German synthetic oil or else it messes up your car:eek:.I recently got the light that says I need an oil change and was planning to take it to jiffy lube until my friend told me.Is what my friend said true?Or can I get an oil change anywhere?
 
#2 · (Edited)
This is one of the most discussed topics on this forum. You can do several things...go read the many DIYs in the FAQ thread or do a search of this forum using some simple key words like "jiffy lube", "change oil".

If you care for your car, Jiffy Lube wouldn't even enter your mind. As simple as changing the oil is on an e39...you really should read some of the DIYs and learn to do it yourself...or if you need to pay someone...take it to someone that is familiar with BMWs. You don't have to take it to a dealer, there are many good Indys around...but JiffyLube/QuickLube is NOT one of them. They usually wind up destroying either the oil pan drain bolt, or using a cheap filter kit with a weak O-ring that will leak.

For example, here's a link to my own DIY oil change...its for the M62/M62TU...but the basics are the same for the inline 6...the biggest difference is the location of the oil filter reservoir and the amount of oil is about 1 liter less: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3134093/1999-bmw-5-series/page-5
 
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#3 ·
I worked with a guy who had worked at a jiffy lube. They were pressured to complete changes in unreasonable times and tell customers they *needed* overpriced and unnecessary work. They were not provided with the correct tools to do the job and the oil they used was of the lowest quality. Dishonesty was rewarded.

Do it yourself. Takes an hour the first time if you dont know what you're doing, 15 min if you do.
 
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#6 ·
bmw_n00b13 said:
I worked with a guy who had worked at a jiffy lube. They were pressured to complete changes in unreasonable times and tell customers they *needed* overpriced and unnecessary work. They were not provided with the correct tools to do the job and the oil they used was of the lowest quality. Dishonesty was rewarded.

Do it yourself. Takes an hour the first time if you dont know what you're doing, 15 min if you do.
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To add to this I had an oil change done to my van at a jiffy lube once. They must have thought they drained it and didn't then added oil. So when I received the car it had double the oil it should and was spilling out smoke and just about killed the motor! Do it your self it is easy and you can be rest assured you know what is going on. And you will take better care of your car than any shop.
 
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#4 ·
Not much magic about oil changes

There is no truth whatsoever to the "Special Oil" theory. There are many posts here debating what oil is best, but any synthetic with a BMW LL-01 rating will be fine. Such as Mobil 1 0W-40). Actually the dealer sells a synthetic that is fairly reasonable as well.

With the canister type filter, it's really quite simple to change the oil. Just be sure to use a new crush washer and don't overtorque the filter cap or the drain plug. (18 ft-lbs for both)
 
#7 ·
Here are the approved oils by BMWNA: http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Owner/SyntheticEngineOils.aspx

Basically any oil that has a "BMW LL-01" spec is okay. To be honest, if you are changing it more frequently than the BMW recommended 15,000 miles, such as 5,000 mile or 7,500 mile intervals, I would imagine any 5w-30 full synthetic is fine. But I am sure others might argue that point. I personally, try to stick with LL-01 approved oils.
 
owns 2001 BMW 540 M-Sport
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#10 · (Edited)
apollochristian said:
A friend of mine who also owns a e39 told me that you can only get an oil change done at a bmw dealership because they use German synthetic oil or else it messes up your car
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Not true.
 
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#13 ·
bluebee said:
I disagree with everyone on this forum!

BMW says "Use Castrol" clearly on the oil filler cap. You can use nothing else!

Only the dealership uses "German synthetic oil" (presumably Castrol) and anything else truly "messes up your car".

Your friend is right. Trust him! Don't do any searches on this forum for "oil change" as nobody has ever asked this question before.

Next time you need advice, just ask the same friend about transmission fluid and power steering fluid while you're at it. Again, there is nothing on this forum about fluids (nobody thought to ask, I guess).

But your friend truly knows BMW. Trust him with your life!
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:nono: bluebee, I see you forgot to use the sarcasm font.
 
#20 ·
bluebee said:
I disagree with everyone on this forum!

BMW says "Use Castrol" clearly on the oil filler cap. You can use nothing else!

Only the dealership uses "German synthetic oil" (presumably Castrol) and anything else truly "messes up your car".

Your friend is right. Trust him! Don't do any searches on this forum for "oil change" as nobody has ever asked this question before.

Next time you need advice, just ask the same friend about transmission fluid and power steering fluid while you're at it. Again, there is nothing on this forum about fluids (nobody thought to ask, I guess).

But your friend truly knows BMW. Trust him with your life!
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It is because BMW has an agreement with Castrol.
Money.
That is why BMW recommends everything Castrol.
 
#21 ·
Jason5driver said:
BMW recommends everything Castrol.
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Yeah. I know. We did a study on the BMW:Castrol marketing relationship a while back (it's been beaten to death quite a few times).

I also covered it in this DIY (even the fact Castrol doesn't meet BMW requirements - which also has been beaten to death).
- Step-by-step DIY for a 2002 E39 (BMW 525i) vacuum extraction oil change
- Otherwise, historically, at least in the United States, the main reliable measure of quality has been the American Petroleum Institute (API) "Service" rating (buy API SL for older BMWs or API SM or better for newer BMWs) printed on every can of oil sold in the US. This more readily available API quality designation is chronological, i.e., SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SI, SJ, SK, SL, & SM. Over time, this API quality designation moved higher and higher in the alphabet as more and more problems are specified and overcome by the petroleum engineers (note SA is unspecified, and note each specification exceeds the prior specification).
- Note that anyone who says "use Castrol" or "get Mobil1", without suggesting the BMW or ACEA or API quality rating, isn't providing enough information to make the right quality decision for you; brand and price and label hype are meaningless for this purpose (for example, even some BMW-branded oils don't meet BMW specifications for M cars).
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Point is, there is more information on what oil to use for the E39 than almost any other topic on the planet.

The OP asked a question that, well, depending on your mood, says more about the decision-making ability of the OP than about the problem at hand. If they only searched, they'd find out all that they needed to know - and - most importantly - if they just thought about it a bit - they'd have more than enough information to make a good decision.

I just had trouble giving a serious answer to the question. Maybe I'll start over and try to give a serious answer. That might calm me down a bit! :)
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#12 ·
first540i said:
how about lubro moly? thats what i am planning on putting in my car for the next oil change.

was thinking 5w40 or 15w40
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They are okay, not sure if there is anything special with them. (I do like their gasoline additives like "Ventil Sauber" (intake valve cleaner) and "Jectron" fuel injector cleaner. The preferred weights for the 540 are typically 5w-30, 0w-30, or 0w-40 or 5w-40. 15w-40 is going to be pretty thick upon cold start, not recommended by BMW anymore. Again, I posted the recommended oils by BMWNA in a link above.

Warning. With Lubo Moly or Liqui Moly (same company) it would be preferrable to only use their products labelled "fully synthetic". If it says "synthetic technology" then it is not a true synthetic oil...much like most of the Castrol Syntec products, with the lone exception, their Castrol Syntec European Formula 0w-30.
 
owns 2001 BMW 540 M-Sport
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S
#16 ·
bluebee,
I'm sorry I can't resist.
Unfortunately they not only drive on the same roads, they vote, they have kids and then teach their kids everything they know!!!! I wish the Darwin theory would work a little faster!
Don't worry about hurting their feelings, they have beautiful participant trophies to admire when they go home!
Keep up the good fight.
My.02
 
#19 ·
owns 2001 BMW 540 M-Sport
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#22 · (Edited)
OK. These will be serious answers ... (although some are so basic as to defy an answer that doesn't "sound" sarcastic) ...

apollochristian said:
A friend of mine who also owns a e39 told me that you can only get an oil change done at a bmw dealership
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You can get an oil change:

  • At the BMW dealership
  • At a Chrysler dealership
  • At a Hyundai dealership
  • At any dealership
  • At a local gas station
  • At a JiffyLube
  • At any place that does oil changes
  • At home
  • and other places I didn't think of

Point is, you can get an oil change anywhere on the planet.

apollochristian said:
because they use German synthetic oil or else it messes up your car.
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Maybe back in 1944 the Germans had a step up on the rest of us for synthetic oils; but nowadays, you can use any synthetic oil that meets specifications - and - truth be told - you can use any non-synthetic oil that meets basic specifications also.

BMW DOES have their specifications (e.g., Long-Life 2001, aka LL01) for the E39 ... so if you want to read all about it, this link:
- BMW approved oils

In reality (and this is where all the discussion lies so go read the other threads if you want to argue with me) ... you can use almost any oil that is sold in the United States. Yes. Almost anything. As long as it's "good" oil (which is discussed ad infinitum on the other threads so I won't go into it here).

What matters most is that you change it; not what you put in it (as long as what you put in it is "good" oil).

apollochristian said:
I recently got the light that says I need an oil change
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Happens all the time. Change your oil. In fact, most people here change it more frequently than the indication on the dash (read prior admonishment that it's more important to change it than what you put in it).

apollochristian said:
and was planning to take it to jiffy lube
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See the first answer. You can take it anywhere. Most people here change their own oil. See the previous links referring you to how to do that.

apollochristian said:
until my friend told me.Is what my friend said true?Or can I get an oil change anywhere?
Click to expand...
You can get an oil change anywhere. Almost any oil can be used ... as long as it's "good" oil (see many threads on what is "good oil").

Basically, I think I can put everyone into one of three "oil" camps:
1. "Bob is the oil guy" camp (down to the exact technospecs)
2. "Only what BMW recommends" camp (only the brands and specifications that BMW literally lists)
3. "The engine is no different than any other engine" camp (the best SAE & API specifications are just fine)
 
#23 ·
As a cross reference, I opened up a new thread just now discussing the hypothesis that the reason for all the oil discussion is because knowledgeable people fundamentally fall into one of these three religious camps.

  1. The "Only what BMW marketing recommends" camp
  2. The "Bob is the oil guy datasheet" camp
  3. The "My engine is no different than any other engine" camp
They're all correct.

Well, to be precise, the first camp thinks all the rest are incorrect; the second camp feels the third camp is too simplified and that the first camp is too rigid. And the third camp thinks the other two make something so simple way too complicated and way too constrained.

If you have an opinion on that, let us know over here since it's OT for this thread.
 
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#24 ·
???what was the question??
Ok do not take the car to any of those quick oil change shops
You may take the car to the dealer, however, you will pay for it.
Your best solution is to find yourself a good indy

For oil, I prefer mobil 1. Any high quality oil is fine....unless you are talking to someone in group one :)
 
#25 · (Edited)
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