Hi. First BWM, first post, yada yada.

I've searched the owners manual and this sites archives and can find no reference to the amount of oil required during a change on a 3.0L X3si.

Any tips from anyone who has done it yet?
Can the electronic 'dipstick' be trusted?

-R

8 quarts.

Thanks nathan.

Perhaps that large oil quantity helps BMW justify the apparently long change interval.

Thats a big part of it. The larger quantity allows the oil to cool longer while in the pan preventing higher temps that cause the break down of oils in the first place.

I can't vouch for that. I have no idea why they go so long between oil changes. I do have theory though. I think it has to do with BMW covering maintenance, if they go longer on teh oil changes they only have to cover the frist three services. (oil change @ 15000, inspection 1 @ 30000, and another oil change @ 45000. Then after maintenance is expired guess what service is up. INSPECTION 2 @ 60000 it will cost you out the ass. I could be completely wrong, but thats my theory. Reguarless of what anyone says there is no way that oil can protect up to 15000 miles. There may be some out there but I don't know what they are. (anyone can say their oil will last.)

the europeans have had 15k oil changes for years... any SM rated syn will hold up. 3k mile oil changes are a waste of cash.

Hell, Amsoil has had 25k oil for god knows how long.. and they invented syn.

You are probably right baout that. I'm not gonna waste my time researching it but I'm not gonna argue with you either. I'm just staying I'm gonna change my oil every 5000 miles. Everyone has different opinions.

You are probably right baout that. I'm not gonna waste my time researching it but I'm not gonna argue with you either. I'm just staying I'm gonna change my oil every 5000 miles. Everyone has different opinions.

5k is a good start..... I would probably push it to 7500 and get an Oil Analysis done to see what the oil is doing in there.

8 quarts.

don't most BMW's hold 6.6 gts?

Mercedes ML's also go 1 year/15K miles. Funny, I have a Jeep SRT and they run Mobil-1 0-40, and call for every 3 mo, 3000 miles.

I've moved my oil changes from 4K to 5K since I've had a five 175K-200K mile cars with no oil related problems. The rest of the car was falling apart, but the engine was fine. (Vette, Jeeps, 300ZX, RX7)

7.5K would be cool for the X3, since it would be about half way to the dealer 'included' change.

Mercedes ML's also go 1 year/15K miles. Funny, I have a Jeep SRT and they run Mobil-1 0-40, and call for every 3 mo, 3000 miles.

And they expect YOU to pay THEM for the oil changes.:alright