BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change

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Wed 25 Sep 2019 23:53
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Redcar01

Hi All

In the USA on holiday I see shops that do drive in /out oil and filter change I wish we had them instead having to wait the manufacturer 18-20 k miles change

I want my MY18 BMW X1 doing in between services but I don't want to pay £100 for a small service

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 08:47
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - paul 1963

Your very wise to want a annual oil and filter change, a £100 sounds about right if your getting it done at a main dealer, the only way to do it cheaper is to diy, you could make a further saving by buying the oil in bulk, There's at least one member on here that does exactly that.

I know at one time one of the fast fit places offered oil and filter changes, not sure if they still do or whether I would trust them to use the right stuff, your call.......

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 08:50
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Ian D
Dependent upon your mechanical abilities maybe do it yourself? Ramps, couple of tools, genuine BMW oil filter, correct spec oil and half an hour of your time?
Plan B, buy the BMW filter and correct oil an give to local garage.
Obviously you won’t get an extra stamp in the book but your car will still be full BMWSH and BMW will be none the wiser to your sensible extra maintenance.
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Thu 26 Sep 2019 09:06
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - gordonbennet

Both those option have merits, and (depending where the oil filter is located on your model) and assuming a dipstick tube is available, no need even to jack it up if you invest in a Pela oil extractor which will pay for itself on the first oil change....note it can be difficult to get some modern cars onto standard ramps due to approach angles thanks to low front spoilers, hopefully this isn't an issue with the X1 but if you're going to invest in a set of ramps anyway it would be an idea to find a pair with a longer than normal lead up ramp so future proof for whatever form of car a St Greta led govt of the day allows us to own in a few years.

Might be worth looking on Youtube for some oil change videos for your particular car and engine option, you'll soon find out if the Pela route a viable proposition.

Indy option has the added merit of keeping receipts so you making your car more attractive to a future private buyer, as said dealer on a need to know basis.

Sensible action what you are doing, most here will heartily approve.

Edited by gordonbennet on 26/09/2019 at 09:08

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 10:26
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Andrew-T
Dependent upon your mechanical abilities maybe do it yourself? Ramps, couple of tools, genuine BMW oil filter, correct spec oil and half an hour of your time?

I recently set out to do just that, having done it many times before. Unfamiliar car - 25-y-o Pug 306 which had had several years layoff. Bought oil and filter, got car on ramps after long journey, couldn't shift drain plug. Doh!

Three daily applications of WD40, several sideways hits with blunt chisel, new sump-plug key. Up on ramps again, more torque with new key, plug released with a bit of a bang. Job done, but maybe not for the faint hearted ....

Today's problem may be getting access to do this operation. And makers have stopped putting any useful info in the car handbook, to keep the work at the dealer's.

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 15:30
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Cris_on_the_gas
Dependent upon your mechanical abilities maybe do it yourself? Ramps, couple of tools, genuine BMW oil filter, correct spec oil and half an hour of your time?

I recently set out to do just that, having done it many times before. Unfamiliar car - 25-y-o Pug 306 which had had several years layoff. Bought oil and filter, got car on ramps after long journey, couldn't shift drain plug. Doh!

Three daily applications of WD40, several sideways hits with blunt chisel, new sump-plug key. Up on ramps again, more torque with new key, plug released with a bit of a bang. Job done, but maybe not for the faint hearted ....

Today's problem may be getting access to do this operation. And makers have stopped putting any useful info in the car handbook, to keep the work at the dealer's.

Don't most places that just offer a oil change basically suck the oil out through the dip stick tube negating the need to remove the sump plug ? This results in gunk and swarf sticking to the sump plug and eventually causing engine damage

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 10:43
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - CHarkin

I have been doing my own intermediate oil changes for a good few years. Suck the oil out the dipstick and fill with fresh stuff, don't even change the filter. The filter is rated for 2 years or 20K miles and even after two years I will only have done 14K at most but the oil will have been changed 4 times, once by the dealer and three times by me. It takes 10 minutes and costs less than £20 and thats using the manufactures own fully synthetic oil. Over the top I know and any benefit will not be felt by me but by the next owner but thats fine by me.

The variable service interval used by many German cars is much maligned, but I think its a great thing. If the makers sensors and algorithms decide when you need an oil change then to me thats better than a completely arbitrary 1 year or 10K miles that fails to take anything like driving conditions or driving style into account. When I first told the dealer to put my car onto the variable service interval I was asked "are you sure you want to do that" you may be back sooner than you think. It seems many cars given a hard life start looking for an oil change after 7K miles. It is reasonable to say then that an annual oil change is inadequate for some but they are not aware of it.

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 14:08
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - FoxyJukebox

I'm pretty sure I've read before that just changing the oil and NOT the filter is not formally recommended?

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 14:58
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Miniman777

Depending on where you live, look for a BMW specialist who should use the genuine oil and filter.

Some say the BMW LL04 oil is sourced from Castrol and is their Edge product, others say it's Shell. Anyone know for sure?

As a guide on cost my 2017 X3 had its first change at the dealers a few weeks ago as the car is still under warranty, and it was an eye-watering £330 with VAT. It is a six pot and takes 6.5 litres of oil for which they charge £17.50 per litre (eBay about £75 for 6 litres). Just had to bite the bullet.... could be worse next year as the car will need new tyres at around £170 per corner and its first MoT - which the dealer is unlikely to be doing. Ah, the benefits of luxury motoring....

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 15:31
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Andrew-T

Just had to bite the bullet.... could be worse next year as the car will need new tyres at around £170 per corner and its first MoT - which the dealer is unlikely to be doing. Ah, the benefits of luxury motoring....

I suppose that is OK if you went into it with eyes open. Bit of a bummer if not :-(

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 23:15
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Miniman777

I knew it would be there or thereabouts, but I know how good a BMW warranty is, so go with it. If I wanted cheap motoring I'd have bought accordingly, but there comes a time in life to indulge a bit and enjoy driving while you still can.

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 15:36
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - CHarkin

Some say the BMW LL04 oil is sourced from Castrol and is their Edge product, others say it's Shell. Anyone know for sure?

As far as I know BMW are using Pennzoil and believe that is a Shell owned company. Shell do a very good range of oils and are one brand who's synthetic oil is 100% synthetic not just very refined mineral oil. I use Shell Advance ultra in my bikes, made from natural gas apparently. Castrol spend far too much advertising Edge oil for my liking, a marketing product I suspect.

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Thu 26 Sep 2019 15:29
BMW X1 - Oil and Filter change - Andrew-T

I'm pretty sure I've read before that just changing the oil and NOT the filter is not formally recommended?

Depends on the engine. I would always change filter and oil on a diesel engine, and rather more often than suggested. Petrols, which make much less solid effluent, I commonly change filter with every other oil change.

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