[Y3MUR]

Hi guys hope all is well i got a message on dash regarding engine oil needs topping up ive only done 4700 miles is this normal ? And also which oil do i use for top up 0-20??
Im in UK

[DimM3]

It doesnt sound normal!
Have you actually measured the oil level yourself?

[Y3MUR]

Originally Posted by DimM40d

It doesnt sound normal!
Have you actually measured the oil level yourself?

There isn't any dipstick to check manually ive checked it through i drive and says the same thing oil level low

[Wgosma]

Owners manual will give you recommended oil info, viscosity. Etc.

Oil consumption varies- it's a litre low now....was the reading indicating FULL 4700 miles ago? If that is case consumption seems abnormally high.

[MattXYZ]

Does seem a bit low mileage to have consumed that much oil. Is that the measurement after a drive to warm up? I believe there is actually a way to measure manually - it was mentioned on a post recently.

I've done about 12k miles now - mixed motorways, A roads and stop start in city. Oil hasn't needed topping up - in fact zero maintenance so far. I tried booking in for first service at about 1 yr old and bmw said no need for service yet - said I should follow my service indicator which indicates oil service due in about 2k miles.

[Y3MUR]

Originally Posted by MattXYZ

Does seem a bit low mileage to have consumed that much oil. Is that the measurement after a drive to warm up? I believe there is actually a way to measure manually - it was mentioned on a post recently.

I've done about 12k miles now - mixed motorways, A roads and stop start in city. Oil hasn't needed topping up - in fact zero maintenance so far. I tried booking in for first service at about 1 yr old and bmw said no need for service yet - said I should follow my service indicator which indicates oil service due in about 2k miles.

Never checked thinking i have plenty of miles to cover mind you I've owned it since NOV 2018 and service is scheduled for oct 2020

[TheusBimmer]

Oil should be changed every year or as indicated in your car service maintenance schedule.

If you only covered 4,700 miles but had never changed your oil since Nov 2018, yea your oil change is overdue supposedly. If you bought the car new, you should have had the first oil change on Nov 2019. I'm not too surprised if the oil is low.

I think it is a good habit to change the oil every year, to keep engine tip-top shape. It also depends whether you are keeping your car for the long-term etc. These days there are plenty of videos on Youtubes of how to change oil and there are plenty of threads in this forum referring to which oils are good for the engine. Look up for key words "oil change" "LL-17" "0w-20"

I will be nice and share the link for this time . Threadt title is "Which oil do you use if not the BMW brand?"

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...1698520&page=3

[Y3MUR]

Originally Posted by TheusBimmer

Oil should be changed every year or as indicated in your car service maintenance schedule.

If you only covered 4,700 miles but had never changed your oil since Nov 2018, yea your oil change is overdue supposedly. If you bought the car new, you should have had the first oil change on Nov 2019. I'm not too surprised if the oil is low.

I think it is a good habit to change the oil every year, to keep engine tip-top shape. It also depends whether you are keeping your car for the long-term etc. These days there are plenty of videos on Youtubes of how to change oil and there are plenty of threads in this forum referring to which oils are good for the engine. Look up for key words "oil change" "LL-17" "0w-20"

I will be nice and share the link for this time . Threadt title is "Which oil do you use if not the BMW brand?"

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...520&page=3

Thanks for the reply im really baffled as you can see in pic the service is not due until October

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by TheusBimmer

Oil should be changed every year or as indicated in your car service maintenance schedule.

If you only covered 4,700 miles but had never changed your oil since Nov 2018, yea your oil change is overdue supposedly. If you bought the car new, you should have had the first oil change on Nov 2019. I'm not too surprised if the oil is low.

I think it is a good habit to change the oil every year, to keep engine tip-top shape. It also depends whether you are keeping your car for the long-term etc. These days there are plenty of videos on Youtubes of how to change oil and there are plenty of threads in this forum referring to which oils are good for the engine. Look up for key words "oil change" "LL-17" "0w-20"

I will be nice and share the link for this time . Threadt title is "Which oil do you use if not the BMW brand?"

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...1698520&page=3

Oil changes are after 2 years in the UK.. I'm not saying that's a good thing, it's the BMW advice/requirement.

[Speedbird1]

Originally Posted by MattXYZ

Does seem a bit low mileage to have consumed that much oil. Is that the measurement after a drive to warm up? I believe there is actually a way to measure manually - it was mentioned on a post recently.

I've done about 12k miles now - mixed motorways, A roads and stop start in city. Oil hasn't needed topping up - in fact zero maintenance so far. I tried booking in for first service at about 1 yr old and bmw said no need for service yet - said I should follow my service indicator which indicates oil service due in about 2k miles.

I have had my car a similar length of time to OP, (since Dec 2018) and my service schedule on the service indicator shows my 1st oil change is also due Oct 2020. I've covered about 5500 miles so far, all mainly long distance, with almost no town driving. I've not needed to top up at all.

I too asked my local BMW service centre to change the oil at the 1 year mark, thinking that it would be A) good for the car and B) good business for them as they would effectively be selling me an additional oil change. However, they were adamant my car does not require an annual change and to follow the service schedule as per the on-board service indicator.

[383vett]

Originally Posted by clivem2

Oil changes are after 2 years in the UK.. I'm not saying that's a good thing, it's the BMW advice/requirement.

BMW wants the motors to last just through warranty with little as little expense spent for their 3 year free maintenance program as possible. If the motor fails after 4 years, the owner can buy a brand new vehicle. Allowing 12-15K miles on a new motor borders on negligence imo.

[Speedbird1]

Originally Posted by 383vett

BMW wants the motors to last just through warranty with little as little expense spent for their 3 year free maintenance program as possible. If the motor fails after 4 years, the owner can buy a brand new vehicle. Allowing 12-15K miles on a new motor borders on negligence imo.

No free maintenance prog in the UK. So they would have had my hard earned cash!

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by Speedbird1

No free maintenance prog in the UK. So they would have had my hard earned cash!

Option in UK is service plan for 3 years, for £399. I bought, but then cancelled when I realised I would only get one service in the 3 years given my mileage.

[Y3MUR]

Just a heads up guys topped up 1 ltr of oul and now its all fine

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by clivem2

Oil changes are after 2 years in the UK.. I'm not saying that's a good thing, it's the BMW advice/requirement.

Modern high spec oil? 2 years is very likely fine unless you're driving a ton of miles, if you were the maintenance light would tell you.

Other reports of burning a bit of oil on the B58, I'd keep an eye on it for sure but probably nothing to really worry about.

[youngdoc1]

Originally Posted by 383vett

BMW wants the motors to last just through warranty with little as little expense spent for their 3 year free maintenance program as possible. If the motor fails after 4 years, the owner can buy a brand new vehicle. Allowing 12-15K miles on a new motor borders on negligence imo.

This may potentially open a bigger can of worms, but I'm curious to hear what the current thinking is about this. There are a lot of forum posts about this, and many people refuting this as well. I could be wrong but I think most markets don't include free oil service, so they would make more money by increasing the oil change interval (plus, when customers bring cars in for routine maintenance, they can up-sell other services).

Also keep in mind that other brands (Audi, Porsche) have similar oil change intervals as well. Porsche is known for high reliability and long-term ownership. Would be interested to hear some thoughts around this.

[JDsX3]

The last BMW I owned prior to my current X3, was a 2002 Z3. Even back then, BMW would not do an oil change until the oil change needed indicator tripped. I think a the time it would trip around 12,000 miles.
I prefer to change the oil in my cars at least once a year. The X3 is my first in over 40 different cars that doesn't have a physical dip stick. A bit of a leap of faith.

[Wgosma]

My 1998 model year E39 5-Series car has rudimentary 'Conditioned Based Service' system....instrument cluster oil change 'counter' with yellow then red change indicator for motor oil/filter that is modulated based on how the car is driven.

CBS has been incorporated into Bimmers for quite a number of years.

[Lo2]

0W-30 is required since nobody has mentioned it yet.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by Lo2

0W-30 is required since nobody has mentioned it yet.

Either 0w-20 or 0w-30 required.

Also allowed is newest bmw oil is LL-17 FE+ for B58 engines. US region.

EU region can also use LL-04 as std gasoline has low-sulfur compared to higher sulfur content in US.

I'm surprised of different servicing schedule in UK/Europe. Not only are cars more expensive but also covers less service...

[Sorry About That]

Originally Posted by TheusBimmer

EU region can also use LL-04 as std gasoline has low-sulfur compared to higher sulfur content in US.

Pretty much all fuel in the USA is now tier 3 compliant with less than 10ppm sulphur, which is the same standard for EU countries. Just an fyi.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by Sorry About That

Pretty much all fuel in the USA is now tier 3 compliant with less than 10ppm sulphur, which is the same standard for EU countries. Just an fyi.

Do you have an official source from the big oil companies or govt? I wouldn't necessarily bet on it to be the case for all gas station through out US, as prices have been fairly stable throughout the past years (except for the extraordinary circumstances of these past couple of months). I would think the added refinement of the upstream gasoline process would increase its price. But hey hopefully you can prove me wrong.

Furthermore, BMW still doesn't seem fit to use LL-04 in US region based on latest Bmw car owners manual that a forum member posted (MY 2020 would be my guess). I'm inferring that the post was for a newer X3 model year as it had the LL-17 FE+ listed in car's manual, which mine doesn't have it listed (my x3 is MY2019).

In Europe the gasoline and emission standards are much tougher than the US, hence the required refinement of the gasoline or diesel. Also prices are much higher, although a big chunk is due to taxes. That would be my guess. Cheers.