Oil Change - Does it matter where?

Hi guys!

does it matter whether I go to BMW dealer, BMW indy, or a place like jiffy lube for an oil change.

I just bought my 530i 2001 used at 130K and I want to get the oil changed just to be safe since the previous owner did not have oil change records.

Contests!

I would prefer an Indy over a chain, especially if you have an aluminum oil pan (not sure if yours does as ive only had a 540it). Plus you might want to have them do a quick once over on the car and get a list of maintenance that might be overdue, like differential fluid, brake fluid flush, trans fluid, etc.

But a reputable chain could handle it if you're in a hurry.

I'd generally avoid Jiffy lube and the like, they are quite expensive for cars that take ~7 quarts of synthetic oil. Cheaper (and better job) at a Indy, and as said they could give it quick check over while there.

Personally doing it yourself is the cheapest and best option for BMW*. I reckon filter + oil for mine is ~$50, Jiffylube want $120+. I can also leave the car to drain for long time and get more of the old oil and junk out.

* a lot of cars that take 4/5 quarts of "dino" oil the savings for doing it yourself are small.

I would avoid Jiffy Lube like the plague. Do a search on this forum for why. For the cost of a dealer oil change, you can buy yourself a mityvac pump and wrench. 15 minutes to change you oil without getting under the car. It pays for itself after the first change.

You betcha! I just bought one. I can pressurize the vessel to pump the oil out into recycle jugs!

I'd say, if one considers the car nothing more than an appliance, and not a Thing of Joy, by all means, surrender it to the Morons at Jiffy-Lube!

A mundane oil change can turn into big disaster, so listen to above reply!

Since you are in L.A., my cousin owns a BMW indy shop, go there, they will take good care of you and your car:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/south-bay-independent-gardena-2

South Bay Independent
18020 S Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
(310) 532-3145

I'd suggest doing it yourself to save money. An oil change is a very easy DIY, mine costs about $86 for oil and filter I use the BMW oil from the dealer at $7 a quart

Originally Posted by airplanelover

does it matter whether I go to BMW dealer, BMW indy, or a place like jiffy lube for an oil change.

These threads make me laugh.

I'm sure my first couple thousand threads must have made others laugh, so, don't feel badly by me saying that. Here are just some examples of really bad threads of mine:
- How not to do an E39 gravity feed oil change (1)
- How not to do an E39 vacuum extraction oil change (1)

There is no answer to your question. The answer is actually dependent on the personality of the owner of the car.

I make no claims to be a psychologist - and - we've already fleshed out the three personalities regarding WHAT OIL is chosen ...
- Religious algorithms specific to BMW motor oil selection (1)

Let's take a stab now at the personalities involved in WHO CHANGES that oil.

I have no idea what these personalities are ... so this is ad hoc psychology at its worst.

Here we go.
a) Owners who think that a BMW is 'special' so it needs people who know how to change special oil
b) Owners who don't want to get dirty & who don't have a garage and basic tools & who don't feel like changing their oil themselves
c) Owners who change their own oil because they like the oil selection, economy, and satisfaction that it provides.

Hmmm... maybe my personality shows too clearly in that list ... but let's move on with that assumption.

As you lie on the couch relaxing, allow me to ask one question:
Q: WHICH OWNER ARE YOU?

If you are owner (a) (i.e., this BMW is magically special), then go to the ste... ummm. .. go to the BMW dealer. Only they know what oil to use and how to change it properly.

If you are owner (b) (i.e., oil is yucky but the BMW isn't anything special), then go to the indy. They change oil every day and it's just fine. I guess you can also go to Jiffy Lube ... but do they really provide any cost advantages over an indy? I don't know.

If you are owner (c) (e.g., most people here), then you'll spend your time figuring out which oil you like, and which filter is correct, and the procedure, and you'll just do it yourself. Of course, you'll get your hands dirty and you'll eventually have to accept the chance of the oil-change-gone-bad every once in a while (ask me how I know).
- See Cn90 How to change your oil;

Now let's summarize.

I. Where you change oil is not at all dependent upon the vehicle, nor the oil. Where you change oil only depends on your personality.

II. You haven't told us anything about your personality (and, most importantly, what you think of your engine - with respect to its need for oil and filters).

III. We can not give you the specific answer until/unless you determine who YOU are. Once you tell us who you are, the answer is obvious.

Avoid the chains like Jiffylube and Midas. I change the oil on my GF's car, but one day, she took it to Midas (unbeknowst to me) because her coworker gave her a free oil change coupon. Out of curiousity, I checked her car's dipstick, and it had old oil on it, and I recognized the oil filter as an older one that I had installed! Midas didn't do squat, but told her they changed her oil and gave her a list of "other problems" they found and can fix for her.

A friend of mine brought his car over to my house one weekend for some general maintenance items (he hadn't been doing any of his own work, so I offered to show him how to do some of the basic stuff if he just paid for the parts) and I was shocked when we opened the oil filter housing. He had been getting his oil changes at, let's just say... one of those national oil-change chain stores... and it was clear they had not been changing the oil filter at all. It was totally fouled and, when I tried to lift it out of the housing, the filter media just crumbled to the touch. I do all my own work (except for body work or transmissions) but, if I did consider one of those oil-change places, I would insist on seeing the oil AND the filter they were going to use before I let them touch anything. The oil mostly because I always use synthetic and don't want to pay for that and get dino, and the filter because they might not even have a filter that fit my car and I wouldn't even know they didn't change it till next change.

It seems hard to believe, but changing the oil on our cars is one of the easiest oil changes possible. No oil filter canister to hunt for, drain plug is easy to get to, and adding exactly 7 quarts of oil is simple. Try it once, and you'll never let anyone change your oil again. Give yoursef 45 minutes the first time, after that, it should take you about 20 minutes. Just reading the horror stories above makes me wonder why anyone would NOT change thier own oil.

Jerry

As a fellow Mityvac owner, I agree with Fudman and edjack. It makes oil changes so clean and easy, it's ridiculous. Don't worry whether it gets all the oil out. The difference between draining the oil via the drain plug vs. using the Mityvac is absolutely inconsequential.

Originally Posted by bobdmac

using the Mityvac is absolutely inconsequential.

Mitymac good. Motive bad.
- Why I don't recommend the Motive Vacuum Oil Extractor ...