Re: synthetic oil change

[Phil Marx <bmw@xxxxxxx>]

Howard K Mitchell wrote:
>Quick question about synthetic oil in new cars: a friend has a new 2000
>323i wagon, with synthetic oil.  The dealer says not to change the oil
>for the first year.  She doesn't feel comfortable with the idea, and
>wants to change it now, at 3500 miles.
>
>What's the call?  Change it now and pay out of pocket, or wait a year
>and let the warranty cover it?


It's her car, let her do what she thinks is right. I can't imagine you
could ever harm a car by changing the oil too frequently. I would change it
if it were my new car. (New car? What's that?) The idea behind these
extended intervals is that with less customer contact there's a better
chance for a complaint to soil the Customer Satisfaction Index. The
warranty will still cover the free oil service at the specified interval. I
would bite the bullet and pay the dealer to do the interim oil changes on a
new car as these cars are using BMW specified oils and weights and I'd hate
to see her with an engine problme later that BMW or her dealer might try to
trace to a Jiffy Lube "technician's" fine craftsmanship or blame on non-BMW
oils or filters.  Of course if it's a 2-year lease, why bother, right?  :)

- -Phil Marx

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