Guys, I wonder that how many miles that I can change my oil? And what type of oil?

'06 Z4M

In the owner's manual... it will explain the concept of the service indicator which counts down to when the car needs service (you'll see the number everytime you turn on the ignition). When that number counts down to 0 ... you need service.

Only one kind of oil is recommended for your car and only BMW makes it... Castrol 10W-60. It's a special blend made for BMW. Recently I have heard there are other 10W-60 variants popping up, but I haven't done any research on them yet.

BMW recommends 15,000 mile intervals, but I change mine every 7,500. I know their engineers are smarter than me, but I'm an old codger who was trained on 3,000 mile intervals.

Cheers!

Recommended for my Z4 is "BMW High Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil SAE 5W-30" and I change it every 7500 miles and/or at least once a year.

Recommended for my Z4 is "BMW High Performance Full Synthetic Motor Oil SAE 5W-30" and I change it every 7500 miles and/or at least once a year.
Z4 and Z4M use different oil grades.

Z4 and Z4M use different oil grades.


Hmm wondering why that would be so looked up Z4M and noticed 343BHP and red line of 8000RPM... well THAT would certainly make a difference!!

Its a high compression 3.2 liter...The MZ uses heavier based engine, tranny, and diff fluids

There are plenty of other high performance cars with far bigger numbers than the M and they get by just fine using non "bmw" badged oil :rolleyes.

There are plenty of other high performance cars with far bigger numbers than the M and they get by just fine using non "bmw" badged oil :rolleyes.
It's not about bigger numbers ... it's how those bigger numbers are made that is the key.

Ahhh...

OK, So simply keeping it German... all porsche and AMG (and SLR) Mercedes can run on simple Mobile 1 because they're lesser vehicles?

I'm not saying synthetic isn't useful, but there's buying into exclusivity and then there's getting sold on it... The M is a great car, but it's no Bugatti Veyron, Enzo or Koenigseg CCR that creat stresses in line with needing their spec of a 10/60 syn.

Without doing any in depth research, I think out of all the cars you listed, only a Porsche 911 GT3 turns the 8000rpm that the MZ does.

The 10/60 blend used by the MZ is used to ward away foaming as well as heat generated. With my limited experience with those cars on the dyno, I have found that the motor foundin the M3/MZ cars generates a huge amount of heat at those RPMs.

If 10/60 wasn't required, I don't see why they would make it a requirement. If you don't want to use the 10/60, that's fine by me... but I'm of the mindset that until somebody goes to the trouble of proving those engineers wrong, I'll stick to it.

As far as the redline, an s2000 makes 9krpm and doesn't need 70.00 a quart "Honda Only" And the friction and lube stress in a GT3 and SLR at full song are at the very least equal (unless you'll concede that BMW make an inferior car with poorer tollerance, creating higher stress)... Lots of cars not requiring house branded Oils have stress similar or greater than the ZM...


I'm not saying that any of us rethink the engineers. I'm simply saying that the bean counters and marketers also have a say in what's what.

Thinking that a certain oil is all you can run just because it's been rebadged to say "BMW" doesn't sound like following the advice of engineers... Im pretty sure that there wasn't an engineer who said "having BMW on the bottle will reduce friction".

First... I'll clarify my statement by saying that the 10W-60 oil still resides in a Castrol bottle. The oil sells for $9/liter. It's easier to get through BMW because they are the only ones that stock it. Most auto retails do not stock it because it is only used for the three engines that BMW produces. The E39 M5, the E60/E63 M5/M6 and the E46 M3/MCoupe/MRoadster. I'd imagine they could order it for you thought. Other oil companies also do not plan on making the 10W-60 blend due to it's limited applications. Mobil, Redline and Amsoil were questioned and they said they are not going to make one. Royal Purple is supposed to have one available now, but I don't see it on their website.

I don't think it is a marketing issues as to why they are using 10W-60 versus 5W-30... if it was marketing, why not make all the cars use it? Surely they could adjust their engine line to require all engines to...

I would imagine the 10W-60 oil is used to prevent foaming, prevent shearing and maintain a level of thickness between parts that those pesky engineers deem is necessary. I'm sure there are probably many more reasons that are over my pay grade and I am unable to explain them. I guess I'm blindly following what those engineers require, but their pay grade is higher than mine...

As for cost... costs is a non-issue, the oil changes are free. Out of warranty, the price difference on a fully synthetic blend of 0W-40, 5W-40 or 10W-60 isn't that much different... few dollars maybe?

I'm not going to say that the BMW is made to poorer tolerances... I'm just going to say that the engine is made "differently". I remember Ferrari also was made differently and they used to recommend Shell Helix 10W-60. I think now they are back to 5W-30 though, but it's been a while since I've looked under a hood of one of those.

Just my $0.02... take them for what they are worth.

Again I agree that the oil could have merrit (I also think it's probably not neccesary)

My point is that requiring it to be in a bottle that says BMW lacks merrit.

Personally I'm wondering why they haven't gone to more popular zero weights being made for similar reasons and performing very well... Even the Nipon guys are making Zero's now (not that BMW would EVER allow the word Nipon near their product).

My point is that requiring it to be in a bottle that says BMW lacks merrit.

I don't think it is in a BMW bottle... I think it still resides in a Castrol bottle. It's just sold behind the BMW parts counter because regular auto retailers do not stock it because it only for a limited market.

Is it better I just bring my car to dealer to change the oil around 5000 miles? Have you guys bring it to the dealer before? How much it costs?

If you bring it in before the service indicator asks for it ... it'll cost you 6 quarts at $9/quart plus filter plus 30 minutes labor ... about $100-120.

I will buy some BMW stock if they are in the oil business now. No car manufacturer makes their own oil. You just need to find the right spec for the car and type of driving you do. Any one know who BMW sources their oil from ?

As far as the redline, an s2000 makes 9krpm and doesn't need 70.00 a quart "Honda Only" And the friction and lube stress in a GT3 and SLR at full song are at the very least equal (unless you'll concede that BMW make an inferior car with poorer tollerance, creating higher stress)... Lots of cars not requiring house branded Oils have stress similar or greater than the ZM...


I'm not saying that any of us rethink the engineers. I'm simply saying that the bean counters and marketers also have a say in what's what.

Thinking that a certain oil is all you can run just because it's been rebadged to say "BMW" doesn't sound like following the advice of engineers... Im pretty sure that there wasn't an engineer who said "having BMW on the bottle will reduce friction".

The S54 has the highest piston velocity of any production passenger car engine in the world ever built. The S2000 engine achieve 9,000 RPM with a very short stroke on a relatively small engine. The S54's strokes are nearly twice as long as the S2000's strokes but the top RPM is only 1,000 less.

The S54 and most of BMW's ///M engines require special 10W-60 Castro TWS motor oil because of the high oil weight at operating temperatures. At the speed these pistons and valves are moving, a thinner oil will simply evaporate. High RPM, high HP engines like what Ferrari and Porsche's real engines also require special, 10W-50 Mobil 1.

I don't think it is in a BMW bottle... I think it still resides in a Castrol bottle. It's just sold behind the BMW parts counter because regular auto retailers do not stock it because it only for a limited market.

It says Castrol TWS 10W-60. Even the box it came in says Castrol on it. The bottles say Castrol. It does have a BMW part number though, and the 10W-60 or equivalent weight oil are the only ones approved by BMW to be used in the S54.

If you don't want to use the "BMW" branded oil, feel free to use any 10W-60 weight oil that qualifies for BMW's long life, LL-01 standard. AFAIK there are only two other oil that qualify for that standard, and only one other one (Elf sells a 10W-60) sold here in the U.S.

I will buy some BMW stock if they are in the oil business now. No car manufacturer makes their own oil. You just need to find the right spec for the car and type of driving you do. Any one know who BMW sources their oil from ?

In the owner's manual... it will explain the concept of the service indicator which counts down to when the car needs service (you'll see the number everytime you turn on the ignition). When that number counts down to 0 ... you need service.

Only one kind of oil is recommended for your car and only BMW makes it... Castrol 10W-60. It's a special blend made for BMW. Recently I have heard there are other 10W-60 variants popping up, but I haven't done any research on them yet.

:D

The S54 has the highest piston velocity of any production passenger car engine in the world ever built. The S2000 engine achieve 9,000 RPM with a very short stroke on a relatively small engine. The S54's strokes are nearly twice as long as the S2000's strokes but the top RPM is only 1,000 less.

The S54 and most of BMW's ///M engines require special 10W-60 Castro TWS motor oil because of the high oil weight at operating temperatures. At the speed these pistons and valves are moving, a thinner oil will simply evaporate. High RPM, high HP engines like what Ferrari and Porsche's real engines also require special, 10W-50 Mobil 1.

That's for the clarification... I knew there was a reason, I just couldn't put two brain cells together to make me remember why.

Ferrari 599 has a plate under bonnet recommending 10W60 shell helix ultra

SLR uses Mobil 1 5W50 factory fill

S2000 oilcap says 10W30 unlike other hondas which use 5W20

If you do primarily stop and go city driving, 7500 miles may be too long.

I've tested the oil in my MZ3 S54 regularly -- and I know the TBN (Total Base Number) on the remaining oil neutralizers/ additives goes too low if I go over about 5,000 miles of city driving.

The tests and TBN results are over on bimmerfest.

I'd like to know how or where to get oil analyzed. Is it complicated?

www.blackstone-labs.com (http://www.blackstone-labs.com) is an oil analysis service.