Need a Recommendation for a 2010 BMW 535

[tm7554]

Hey guys i'm new to the forum and would like a recommendation if possible. I just acquired this vehicle from a BMW dealer certified CPO. Mileage is 35,185 and service records indicate it followed the 15k BMW intervals while under lease.

The first thing i did was change the oil when we got it home to M1 0w40. I found this forum (too cool) after changing the oil and have since read some scary stuff relating to the N54 and how it seems to abuse oil. Did I put an acceptable oil in for a short OCI? Any recommendations on the next step and oil? Maybe there is something that would remove and slugging that may have occurred on the extended OCI's? Thanks....

 

[Rand]

what does the owners manual suggest for oil and oci?

 

[HTSS_TR]

M1 0W40 is very good oil and is recommended for your BMW. 15k miles oil change is a tad too long, I would change this fill in 3-4k miles or less to clean the engine then increase OCI(Oil Change Interval) to 7-8k miles on next change. After that go to 10k miles.

 

[OVERKILL]

I'd use exactly what you are using

 

[tm7554]

Originally Posted By: Rand
what does the owners manual suggest for oil and oci?


BMW 5w30 every ~15,000 unless the system check tells you (idrive) to change it. I've always changed every 7,000 miles on my other vehicles. Certainly can't see letting a twin turbo DI motor go that long either. BMW covers service for the first 50,000 so maybe that is why they extend the service interval in the manual.

 

[Lead Shoes]

15k on a 5w30 in a TT DI engine seems a little excessive....

 

[aquariuscsm]

I would never ever do the 15k mile oci`s no way! Especially after seeing those sludged BMW pics.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I would never ever do the 15k mile oci`s no way! Especially after seeing those sludged BMW pics.

We have no idea what oil and for how long was used on those sludged up BMW pics that keep floating around the net. For all you know, the owner has never changed the oil.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
M1 0W40 is very good oil and is recommended for your BMW. 15k miles oil change is a tad too long, I would change this fill in 3-4k miles or less to clean the engine then increase OCI(Oil Change Interval) to 7-8k miles on next change. After that go to 10k miles.
+1. OP should see if he has the factory oil cooler. All sport pkg cars which had N54 has one but Im not sure if BMW put them in all N54 @ end of model life.

 

[tm7554]

Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
M1 0W40 is very good oil and is recommended for your BMW. 15k miles oil change is a tad too long, I would change this fill in 3-4k miles or less to clean the engine then increase OCI(Oil Change Interval) to 7-8k miles on next change. After that go to 10k miles.
+1. OP should see if he has the factory oil cooler. All sport pkg cars which had N54 has one but Im not sure if BMW put them in all N54 @ end of model life.


It does have the oil cooler.

 

[E36Alex]

You have a lot of options, all of which are very good. That particular BMW engine is known for being hard on oil (as are most twin turbo engines).

Mobil 1 0w-40 is a great BMW approved oil, as is German Castrol (0w-30).

The 15k oil change interval BMW recommends is about saving money, not about what the engines can handle. You may have a bit of gunk accumulated inside of the engine as a result of the previous owner following the 15k BMW advice.

Here's what I would do:

- Use Redline 5w-30 (per the recommendation of Mike Miller, senior tech editor for the BMW Car club). It's expensive, but it's great oil. Run it once or twice for 5K, then push it to 7-9K or so. Redline is an ester based oil and will do great things for the cleanliness of the inside of the engine. Redline makes oils in every conceivable grade, so use whatever the manual recommends. You could bump to 5-40 or 10-40 just depending on what you feel comfortable with.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I'd use exactly what you are using

 

[SteveSRT8]

You can sure tell the BMWs that have been serviced under warranty.

15k intervals were definitely more about money that anything else.

Run a couple of shortened OCI's as recommended above. The M1 0w-40 is one of the most certified oils on the planet so it's a great choice.

 

[CBR.worm]

Now that you have changed it, you can let BMW change it next under their plan (free), then you can take over or alternate. My thought is that if you have BMW change the oil every 15K and you change it in the middle, you will maintain the CPO warranty and also your peace of mind. If you drive the car very hard or short trips I would be inclined to change it more often. When we had the 335i, we did it about every 5K. on the 528 we do about every 7K - but the 528i engine is not hard on oil like the x35. The NA motor would probably last forever w/ 14K oil changes.

I would keep receipts in case there is ever any question of what you used.