2003 BMW 330Ci 11,000 miles on BMW HP Synthetic 5W-30

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by joatmon:
I have another thought or two on this subject.

We've got dozens of UOA with 3 or 4k and they look good, and the praise flows. Even Patman's 6k test on GC that looked good is referenced as proving that, "GC sure can go the distance." (No disrespect Patman, just using your UOA as an example.)

We've got some with poor numbers on a UOA and we hear, "it's just cleaning stuff from the previous junk SL oil. You've got to run it 3 or 4 times to really see.

Here's an UOA that goes a fair interval, puts up great numbers, and we hear, "can't be, oil must have been changed without anyone's knowledge. Let's see the receipts to see if one was slipped in, etc, etc."

I don't get it.

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It's not an insult to the oil here though, but it's merely being pointed out that new BMWs tend to show much higher wear numbers on it's first interval.

 

[P84]

Hi all, first post!

This UOA is from my 330Ci, and F1Crazy was kind enough to post, since I didn't have an ID at the time.

Wow, I didn't realize the amount of discussion this site generates!

To answer your questions- (1) this is the first time the car has been at any dealer since I drove it off about a year ago. (2) I don't think the Tech swapped oils, since I was the first appt of the morning, and he actually wrote my VIN on the sample bottle.

Someone mentioned that they wouldn't leave oil in this long, but when I was overseas, everyone seemed to "go the distance." It seems we change our oil in the US more?

While I'm typing, maybe you all can answer some of my n00b questions...

1. On the Blackstone report, they thought I left the oil in a tad too long, as evidence by the high viscosity, and copper, but your comments seem to indicate the results are too good to be true. I thought I could use the UOA to empirically validate the oil change interval, but the same numbers arrive at two different conclusions?

2. What is GC?

3. Why is everyone focused on iron? Aren't most modern engines alu alloy, so wouldn't that be a more significant wear indicator?

4. I added make-up oil about 1K miles before the oil change... would this cause results to come out better?

Thanks for all your input!

 

[crossbow]

2. What is GC?

German Castrol. Its a synthetic oil thats extremely popular around here.

3. Why is everyone focused on iron?

The block's may be alumnium, but the cylinder sleeves are cast iron.

The fact that the dealer took your sample, instead of yourself, could explain the low wear.

Your wear more then half as much as the other 330's with LESS interval on their first oil change. Just doesn't fit at all. Either you drove 99.9% on the highway, or the oil got swapped, or its just some fluke.

 

[Dr. T]

Why was the oil changed with 4k left on the indicator?

Maybe the 1/2qt. 1k before the UOA had something to do with things?

Maybe this car has the updated BMW oil filter that the others didn't have???

 

[mdv]

quote:

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Originally posted by P84:

4. I added make-up oil about 1K miles before the oil change... would this cause results to come out better?

Thanks for all your input!

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I think that would have a lot do with it. How much did you add??

 

[joatmon]

quote:

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Originally posted by crossbow:
joatman,

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000696#000000

Thats why. Same engine, same basic car, half the drain interval on the same oil, yet the 11,000 mile oil has less wear metals? On an original factory break-in oil?

Here's another one. Once again, about half the interval, and more wear.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000884#000000

I just don't believe that this is the original factory fill. Guess I'm as stubborn as the thicker is better crowd.

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Crossbow,

Thanks for the reply. As I reread my post, I'm embarressed. Sorry for the rough edge to my posts.

I did notice that the 2 UOAs are different oils. I wondered if 1) the different assembly plants might have different factory fills, or 2) that BMW is changing their factory fills to better meet the needs of a 15 or 16k interval?

I'm just trying to learn what's going on. Also worried that my huge oil shrine of GC and doing my own changes may be a waste. I could just let the dealer do it for free with what looks to be a great oil?

Jack

 

[quadrun1]

No, in my experience, GC is better than BMW's oil. It seems to keep the engine cleaner and helps it run more smoothly.

 

[F1Crazy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. T:
Why was the oil changed with 4k left on the indicator?

Maybe the 1/2qt. 1k before the UOA had something to do with things?

Maybe this car has the updated BMW oil filter that the others didn't have???

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My guess is that the oil was changed because it's been in the car for a year, it's either once a year or as indicated by the OBC.

The filters have been updated shortly after E46 was released, soemtime in 1999-00.

 

[fast4d]

BMW issued SI 00 04 01 on October 25, 2001 to clarify the oil change situation for low annual mileage owners.

oil is to be changed once a year if the vehicle does not accumulate enough miles to set the service indicator off.

so the car in question might have had the oil changed at the dealer.

 

[quadrun1]

Here's what the underside of the BMW oil cap looks like after a few 15,000 mile intervals on the BMW oil: