oil change + 15k = big grin!

Rip, yeah probably. I don't know the specifics, but the oil is supposedly formulated to last 15k (I'd bet it starts to lose viscosity more quickly after about 10k and at 15k it's at the minimum allowed for the engine) so it'd be like changing regular oil at, say, 4-5k instead of 3k. Believe me if this wasn't a lease I'da changed the oil much sooner!

webguy330i said:

Sadly I'm projected to finish my 36mo term with over 74k miles. I only bought 54k.

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Just curious... why did you lease? It seems any cost savings could be eaten away by mileage.

I had a similar thing happen to a '93 Grand Cherokee. I bailed early on the lease within the alotted mileage. It wound up costing me about $1200. Fortunately, the Jeep held a good amount of resale since it was an early model and residuals hadn't been fully defined.

webguy330i said:

Sadly I'm projected to finish my 36mo term with over 74k miles. I only bought 54k.

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I just brought my car in today for the cooling fan for the second time, plus my 15K service (I have about 14K miles, but the indicator says "fix me up"). I too have only had the car for about 6 months. That's part of the reason my next car will not be a lease. I figured leasing made sense for me this time since I only plan to have the car another 2 months or so. I'll just end the lease and not have to worry about how many miles I have. Last time I checked, it would cost me a whopping $0 to end my lease. I hope that doesn't change in the next two months!

jw, I actually plan on coming out of my lease way under the alotted mileage; I've just been driving a lot these early months. Since my oil change I've put a whole 300 miles on the car; whereas before I was doing about 300-400 a week!

I like the idea of a lease for these reasons:

1) cheaper every month (cha-ching);
2) the resale value is currently much more than my payoff amount;
3) less down payment (ditto #1);
4) no maintenance worries after warranty (although I may be 4k over the warranty due to my extra mileage)

The downside is the cost of the extra miles ($0.15 before EOL, $0.20 after) and the fact that any money I put in the car I will never recover (i.e. tires, wheels, intake, etc.). But hey, at least I can put more per month into my M3 fund. =)

Imola Ed,
How can you end your lease without a penalty? Last I checked there was AT LEAST a $350 disposition fee. But do enlighten me, it may be a path I look into.

webguy330i said:

Imola Ed,
How can you end your lease without a penalty? Last I checked there was AT LEAST a $350 disposition fee. But do enlighten me, it may be a path I look into.

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I don't really know. I just called them up, and said how much to end my lease. They said it wouldn't cost anything. I would just call and ask. I did put down more than normal when I got it though, so that might be part of why...

I had the oil changed at 1200 miles on my M3 but really didn't notice much difference in performance. I am slowly increasing the rpms (past 5500) for the first time in 1200 miles. Compared to my 2000 328i the power level is certainly greater but it really doesn't feel like it's accelerating that fast since the torque curve is flat and the acceleration is so linear. I had really expected the car to flatten me into the seat above 5000 rpm, but instead I find the car just accelerating as fast from 60 to 100 as it does from 20 to 60. Of course, I still haven't taken it much above 6000 rpm.

Jim in Oregon said:

I had the oil changed at 1200 miles on my M3 but really didn't notice much difference in performance. I am slowly increasing the rpms (past 5500) for the first time in 1200 miles. Compared to my 2000 328i the power level is certainly greater but it really doesn't feel like it's accelerating that fast since the torque curve is flat and the acceleration is so linear. I had really expected the car to flatten me into the seat above 5000 rpm, but instead I find the car just accelerating as fast from 60 to 100 as it does from 20 to 60. Of course, I still haven't taken it much above 6000 rpm.

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Gorgeous car. :drool:

You know, I've been thinking about this thread all bloody night. I can't actually believe that an oil change would ever make your car faster, measurably or not. If anything oil loses viscosity over time, and wouldn't really have a gunky slow-everything-down effect. For it to do that would indicate something was really really wrong. I just got my car back later tonight and it feels no different than it went in. Well, the carpets are cleaner from the dealer vacuuming them, but that's it!

Imola Ed said:

You know, I've been thinking about this thread all bloody night. I can't actually believe that an oil change would ever make your car faster, measurably or not. If anything oil loses viscosity over time, and wouldn't really have a gunky slow-everything-down effect. For it to do that would indicate something was really really wrong. I just got my car back later tonight and it feels no different than it went in. Well, the carpets are cleaner from the dealer vacuuming them, but that's it!

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I think you're right.

However, I have also had that feeling that things just seem to be running more powerfully and smoothly after an oil change, on all my cars.

I've come to the conclusion that it's all in my head, and that if someone had just stolen my car overnight, given it an oil change, and put it back in the morning, I'd never notice a difference. Nonetheless, it still feels real to me every time.

Go figure.:dunno:

I agree that after an oil change the car does seem more powerful. It goes against just about everything that I know, but someone on org suggested that it has much to do with the fact that the oil pump is working less hard pumping oil through a gunky filter.

On the other hand, after driving a rental car for the past couple of days, and getting my BMW back from some minor body work, it seems to go faster.

Which leads me to believe -- it's probably all in our heads.

Imola Ed said:

You know, I've been thinking about this thread all bloody night. I can't actually believe that an oil change would ever make your car faster, measurably or not. If anything oil loses viscosity over time, and wouldn't really have a gunky slow-everything-down effect. For it to do that would indicate something was really really wrong. I just got my car back later tonight and it feels no different than it went in. Well, the carpets are cleaner from the dealer vacuuming them, but that's it!

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I would think (and have been told in the past by several accredited mechanics) that as oil is used in your engine, it gets metalic particles, carbon and dirt in it (or, if you will, "dirty"). It also degrades over time, reducing its ability to collect these "dirty" particles and what-not as well as its ability to decrease friction between engine parts and it's ability to reduce heat build-up in the engine. The friction protection is key; it's why they call it a lube. When the oil begins to break down (which it does very slowly over time) it will start to allow an increase in friction of engine parts which are rubbing on each other (which translates into lost power, although it's generally not much).

Obviously the oil filter is supposed to take care of the dirty oil, but after 15k miles I cannot imagine that a simple paper filter would be able to cut it. I also think that if you drive the car easily for these first 15k, you will not notice any bit of difference in the car's performance. I know the difference in my car's performance from a hot, humid day and a cold, dry day and it is substantial (to me anyhow) and that's because I've baselined the performance in both conditions many many times. The same goes for the car's performance when it had 200 miles, 2000 miles, 10000 miles, and 14000 miles. After 10k the car felt sluggish and slower than normal, especially when doing any low-rpm WOT driving. That's since changed.

One last thing... why would they increase your engine's power output in GT3 after an oil change if it didn't really matter?

webguy330i said:

One last thing... why would they increase your engine's power output in GT3 after an oil change if it didn't really matter?

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That's actually true. Hmmm. Yes, the points about the filter are definitely valid. I guess I could see that holding you back.

I'll pay extra close attention today when I go to work

Imola Ed said:

That's actually true. Hmmm. Yes, the points about the filter are definitely valid. I guess I could see that holding you back.

I'll pay extra close attention today when I go to work

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Well it _is_ a video game. =) I'm not sure how valid it really is, but I know my friend's 1051hp Skyline gained 18hp when we changed the oil after running 5 270-mph laps on the test course.

And damn you, I've been at work for 3 hours!

JT - '02 330i said:

My car seems MUCH faster after I wash it.

Could it be reduced aerodynamic drag? Or is it just me feeling better about my car and thinking it's faster.

;-)

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Instead of just washing, try Zaino. It's chemically proven to get you high enough to think you're going much faster than you are. Much more realistic than sniffing that Armor All shite you got there.