1200 mile service - how much over or under can you be?

[B-1Pilot]

Are there any problems having the service done at 1100 miles? at 1300? what is an acceptable deviation?

[URBAN LEGEND]

Nope. I've had it done before.

[stealth.pilot]

1200 is too early. 2k is better.

[Stash21]

1200 miles is as per manual. 2000 km.

[alexey21]

100 more or less is no problem. When I did ED, our delivery specialist said, even 200 miles over is no problem. But NO MORE. He said we had to change it before end of our trip, which was 1787 miles. He said that the engine has to be taken care of.

[Rob///M5]

Had mine done at 200, so apparently a very wide margin based upon driving habits.

[ThisFlyGuy]

had mine at 1300.....was no problem

[simba88]

I did mine at 1050 and it was fine according to my dealership. They did tell me not to go over the recommended 1200 too much.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

1200 is too early. 2k is better.

stealth, can you elaborate. You are the only one saying go past 1200 miles for the service... Did you mean 2000 kilometers?

It looks like I'm going to have 1700km/1050 miles on the car when I get to my break in location.... It's not too hard to put 50 more miles, but 150 will be challenging.

I've got a copy of the maintenance book, but it doesn't say much more than do a 1200 mile break in for the race engine...

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

stealth, can you elaborate. You are the only one saying go past 1200 miles for the service... Did you mean 2000 kilometers?

It looks like I'm going to have 1700km/1050 miles on the car when I get to my break in location.... It's not too hard to put 50 more miles, but 150 will be challenging.

I've got a copy of the maintenance book, but it doesn't say much more than do a 1200 mile break in for the race engine...

My break in was done at 1900 miles and my car is running great, not burning any oil, differential is mint.

My oil analysis suggests that the break in is not complete at 1200 miles. You should definitely do another oil change around 4000 miles if you do the service at 1200 miles. I did a second at 5000 miles.

[tico12]

When you say do another oil change at 4-5,000miles...Is this not the recommendation of BMW?

Do you pay for these additional oil changes as I assume only scheduled maintenance is covered by free service warranty?

[Rob///M5]

A good dealer will do it for $150 out of pocket.

I had mine done again at 2k miles (free because of my complaints about the dealer doing my first at 200).

[B-1Pilot]

Yeah, think I will just pay out of pocket for a second change at 3-4K once the car gets back stateside and I have put a few more miles on it. Good opportunity to switch to 0W-30 as well.

[tico12]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

Yeah, think I will just pay out of pocket for a second change at 3-4K once the car gets back stateside and I have put a few more miles on it. Good opportunity to switch to 0W-30 as well.

I recommended oil 5W-30?

Why go to 0w-30? Does your climate affect this choice?

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by tico12

I recommended oil 5W-30?

Why go to 0w-30? Does your climate affect this choice?

Yeah, I'm in Texas where it is really dang hot in the summer and below freezing in the winter.... I dont want to have this thread devolve into the usual what oil is best argument that inevitably pops up on this board about once a month, but its the preferred oil of many on here. In my own experience with my other BMWs (bikes and cars), broad range, German full synthetics are what BMWs are meant to use, once the engine is broken in and the rings fully seated (ok thats mainly for bikes, but the concept's the same).

The Castrol european version 0W-30 is a BMW Longlife-01 grade oil, and is approved for use in the M5 (from the owners manual: When selecting an engine oil, ensure that the engine oil belongs to the viscosity grade SAE 0W-30 or SAE 0W-40 or malfunctions or engine damage may occur. Alternatively, also engine oils with viscosity grades SAE 5W-30 or SAE 5W-40 may be used.)

Additionally, I can use it in my wife's 3 series as well so I dont have to keep multiple types in stock in my garage.

[AlphaAlpineM6]

did mine at 800 miles..