I just leased a new awsome 2006 Z4 3.0i last December. I know there are tons of threads on the oil change intervals. I have some minor warranty work to do on it tomorrow. I have only 1009 miles on it and a couple friends told me to get a break in oil change before 1500 miles, "If you think you might keep the car". I am not sure if I will keep it or not. I want an "M" of some type and can get one when this lease is up but you never know what the future holds. (Jobs, babies, houses etc). Is it important to pay for this service at my own expense and will the BMW dealer Care? As an aside I am an aircraft mechanic and have no problems doing my own oil changes but I can't find anything on a new Z4 N52 engine on how to do it. I always work with a manual and never guess =:}....

...will the BMW dealer Care?

No. They'll be happy to take your money to do the service but they won't care if you have it done or not.

Drain plug is underneath the engine block. Fill from oil cap. Filter requires a special removal tool that can be bought at most autopart stores. Torque to 25 Nm. That's it. Takes about 7 1-liter bottles of 5w-30 full synthetic that meets BMW's LL-01 standards.

For the record, I know where the "oil goes" and how to drain it, "Drain plug on the bottom of the engine"..Thanks.... However the whole underside of the front of the car is covered with an aerodyanmic fitting. Let me be specific, are there any special tools to remove this fitting and would a break in oil change benfit the car or not? BMW does not recommend it in the manual.

For the record, I know where the "oil goes" and how to drain it, "Drain plug on the bottom of the engine"..Thanks.... However the whole underside of the front of the car is covered with an aerodyanmic fitting. Let me be specific, are there any special tools to remove this fitting and would a break in oil change benfit the car or not? BMW does not recommend it in the manual.


There are LONG DEBATES on whether or not this engine requires a break-in flush. At the end of the day, whatever you choose to do is up to you, there are no conclusive evidence one way or another. If it makes you feel better, do it. At the end of the day, proper maintenance throughout the life of the engine is probably more important than swapping out the oil after break-in.

Drain plug is at the bottom of the engine block and clearly visible from underneath. There's an opening in the cross-brace to allow access to the drain plug. If you get the car up in the air it'll be obvious.