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Oil change advice 320i3

Discussion in 'DIY (Do-It-Yourself)' started by rockyrider, Feb 3, 2016.

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    rockyrider 2015 BMW 320ix

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    Dear fellow members I would like to change my own oil on a 2015 320i I noticed that walmart sells the castor oil European brand 0w40 any other useful information like oil filter location amount needed would be helpful thank you
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    MGarrison

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    You should use oil that meets BMW's recommended specs - see your owner's manual.

    Any oil you use needs to be BMW LL-01 (BMW Longlife 01) or BMW LL-01 FE spec. Somewhere on the front or back label of the oil bottle will be the specs, if it doesn't specifically list BMW LL-01 or BMW LL-01FE, keep looking. Relatively speaking, there are few synthetics with the BMW LL01 spec. Only use a full synthetic oil. Can't speak for Walmart, but at one of my local O'Reilly's, the only LL01 spec oil they have is Castrol Edge. From the Castrol website, that's the only Castrol recommended for a 2015 320i, in either 0w-30, 0w-40, 5w-30, or 5w-40.

    This clarifies the BMW specs a bit: http://www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

    The Mobil website only lists one, Mobil-1 0w-40 European Car Formula; Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w-30 & 5w-40 also lists BMW LL-01. Have no idea where to find it, but apparently there's a LL-01 Shell Helix Ultra 5w-30: http://www.shell.com/motorist/oils-...-fully-synthetic/shell-helix-ultra-5w-30.html

    There are probably others, I didn't do a comprehensive search. You can always buy oil from the dealer. There are also - Redline oils, Amsoil, &, Bavauto.com has Liqui-Moly (& Redline).

    http://applications.castrol.com/oil...es-f30-f31-f80-(2012-)&modelType=320i-(2012-)
    http://www.shell.com/motorist/oils-...-fully-synthetic/shell-helix-ultra-5w-30.html
    http://www.redlineoil.com/products.aspx
    http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...-5w-40-synthetic-motor-oil-efm/?code=EFMQT-EA
    http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...synthetic-0w-40-c-esp-euro-oil/?code=EFOQT-EA

    On Bavauto.com, I put in a 2015 320i sedan as the model - it said that takes 5.3qts or 5 liters. Confirm that for yourself to be sure, since all I'm doing is relaying what that said.

    A drain plug with a magnetic insert isn't a bad idea. Bavauto & others have them. Always use a torque-wrench to tighten your oil-pan drain plug to spec so you don't risk stripping the aluminum pan's threads. Use a new crush washer on the drain plug each time, and make sure you got the old one off.

    Many (if not most) owners I think remain skeptical of BMW's condition-based-service extended 15k oil-change intervals. If conventional oils for old-school engines were generally alright to 3k, it stands to reason that quality full-synthetics should easily be good to 3k. Suit yourself, my take would be 15k, no friggin way, and shoot for something between 3k & 7.5k - halfway twixt that would be 4250k. You can get oil analysis sample kits and send them to places for oil analysis if you want specifics on how your oil has held up between changes.
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    MGarrison

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    If you have no other reference material, explore Bavauto.com's "Tech Info" section, lots of info there. Google or search on youtube "BMW N20 oil change" and see what you can find. Not sure if there's a Bentley Manual for your car, but if you're prone to d.i.y. maintenance, the purchase price is justified.
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    charlson89

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    Any reason in particular you wanna do a oil change when your under warranty?
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    MGarrison

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    Charlson's question reminds me... since you are under warranty, if you do opt to tackle an oil change, don't reset your oil change in the car's diagnostics/computer so that you'll still be on the factory service schedule you get under warranty.
    ramitchell likes this.
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    rockyrider 2015 BMW 320ix

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    I just wanted to cut the 10k maintenance schedule in half.
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    charlson89

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    I recommend using only BMW oil filter and oil that way if anything happens they can't pin anything on aftermarket filters and oil.
    MGarrison likes this.
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    MGarrison

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    Good point!
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    rockyrider 2015 BMW 320ix

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    Thanks MG, your info has been most helpful.

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