Oiln change

[andyrich1512]

Evening All
My z4 e86 is due for an oil / filter change in the next couple of months but was wondering - I have put just over a 1000 miles on the car since purchase last April and my question is do I still need to change oil and filter as obviously not done that much mileage. I do tend to take the car out for drives and warm it up properly before any spirited driving may take place - I also do not take it on really short journeys - down the shops so to speak without the engine ever getting upto temp.

Also, if I were to undertake the job myself what do you lot use in the way of a decent but affordable oil and filter?

Thanks!

[davidmudley12]

Assuming it was serviced when you bought the car I wouldn’t change the oil and filter, with that said I would probably have a garage (or yourself if competent) give the car an inspection.

The self-service of the E85 is so easy it is almost criminal to pay a garage to do it.

Enjoy the car.

[Zedebee]

The self-service of the E85 is so easy it is almost criminal to pay a garage to do it.

Self-service of the E86 is no different. Get a decent oil (I use Millers) and recommended filter from Opie Oils. An hour’s work to do the oil service if you have some basic equipment (jack, sockets).

[skelters]

Mine get serviced every year regardless of the mileage.

Brake Fluid every two years.

It's not a hatchback though.

[andyrich1512]

The last owner - Clarkie off here of whom I bought the car off had it serviced by an indie in Bury St Edmunds - Warnes. He had it done every year religously as well as lots of other work.

I used to work on my VW Bug - the last toy I had a few years back so I might give it a go but not sre yet.

Thanks for the advice as usual!

[Thrustyjust]

Just serviced mine on Saturday. Was 2 years since the last service but only 2k miles. Oil came out only slightly tinted and maximum I would leave it is 2 years. I bought the oil and filter in August but had only done 1200 miles due to lockdown the previous year, so put it away until yesterday as made a few miles up before it was Sorn for end of October. Changed and put back to bed for another month.....

[Rucky]

Annually regardless of mileage.
Castrol Edge fully synthetic 5/30 M ( Note BMW is now M)
Mann filter
Go Here :
https://catalog.mann-filter.com/EU/eng/ ... 0(E85~E86)
and here:
https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-ki ... ype=retail

[JamesClements]

Annually regardless of mileage.
Castrol Edge fully synthetic 5/30 M ( Note BMW is now M)
Mann filter
Go Here :
https://catalog.mann-filter.com/EU/eng/ ... 0(E85~E86)
and here:
https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-ki ... ype=retail

Same for me - every year Castrol Edge and a Mann filter - £60.00 for the oil and £8.00 for the filter, basic tools and a jack only needed although I would recommend getting one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1 to get the filter out

[andyrich1512]

I reckpn I will have a go myself after doing a bit of research on it - looks OK to be honest! Think the harage that used to service it used mobil 1 and last time it was shell helox maybe? All fully synthetic 5-30 - does that sound about right?

Will I need one of those special rubber jacking blocks for BMW's to get it jacked up properly and also do I need a really low entry jack?

Thanks in advance!

[Mr Tidy]

BMW use Shell Helix Ultra nowadays (used to be Castrol) but any decent brand that meets BMW LL04 spec should be fine.

You don't need to use the shaped jacking pads if the jack had a rubber cover on the lifting pad, but they are so cheap you might as well get one or two!

https://www.bing.com/search?q=bmw+jacki ... A1&PC=DCTS

I think you will need a low-profile jack for an E86.

If you aren't going to use it that often you can get them cheap enough like this one:- https://www.sgs-engineering.com/tjl2-2- ... s%20SS&utm

Mine is still working fine after 4 years!

Just make sure you don't overfill it because with no dip-stick it's not so easy to check. The N52 engine takes 6.5 litres.

[PDJ]

I change my oil in my Z4M after only a say 5 or 6 thousand miles, I also change the oil filter in between as it is a 10 min job and cost less than £10

For me this is cheap insurance for the engine, just cost up the parts for a rebuild it would be cheaper to buy another M and swop all the good bit into one car and sell all the bits left over.

[Zedebee]

Definitely worth investing in the shaped jacking pads to save the rubber ones on your car. If you get a nice deep one you can also use the front centre jacking point without deforming the aluminium plate. You won’t be able to get to that jacking point though, unless you jack the front of the car up a bit from the sides or drive the front wheels up onto some planks.

[andyrich1512]

Ok that gives me something to work with then. I'll order one of those jacking points as I also need to remove my abs pump to get it sent away to ecu testing for repair. MOT at the end of February and I dont want it offd the road - bloody love driving that car!

Thanks everyone for your advice as usual!

[andyrich1512]

If i have any oil left over from this time can I put it towards an oil change of the same type oil next time around or will it go bad?

Thanks again.

[Thrustyjust]

If i have any oil left over from this time can I put it towards an oil change of the same type oil next time around or will it go bad?

Thanks again.

Its what I do and the reason for changing at 2 years is Mr Opie Oilman says use it before 2 years old shelf life. Not sure why but I trust his guideline.