Engine Oil
- Thread starter Jimmy Gee
- Start date
Thanks for the replies 
Is it castrol gtx that is recommended by bmw? Ive heard a few people mention castrol edge as well, is it worth the extra money? Ive seen gtx at £20 and edge at £35 for a 4ltr tub. I will have a look into Mobil 1 if thats cheaper. Also which grade did you go for?
Is it castrol gtx that is recommended by bmw? Ive heard a few people mention castrol edge as well, is it worth the extra money? Ive seen gtx at £20 and edge at £35 for a 4ltr tub. I will have a look into Mobil 1 if thats cheaper. Also which grade did you go for?
I use Mobil 1 5W30 or BMW 5W30 synthetic from the dealer (my service/warranty manual lists these two oils as approved by BMW so I figure I can't go wrong with that). Somewhat surprisingly, the BMW oil from the dealer (which is really Castrol I think) is about the same price as the Mobil 1.
koolchris99
Active member
its on google somewhere, i cant remember how i did it....
i think its on the thread here about DIY Oil service?
i think its on the thread here about DIY Oil service?
BMW Oil Service reset for 2001 ~ current
BMW insp. reset
- Iginition OFF (POS 0)
- Press and Hold the trip odometer button while turning key to position 1 (ACCESSORY)
- Keep the button depressed (about 5 secs.) until you see "Oil Service" or "Inspection" with "Reset" or "Re" in the display
- *Note: On vehicles with "High" cluster, you will also see the amount of fuel (in litres) remaining until next service
- Press the button again and hold for approx. 5 secs. until "Reset" or "Re" flashes
- While the display is flashing, briefly press the button again to reset the Service Interval. After the display has shown the new interval you should see "END SIA" for about 2 secs.
Note that if the "Reset" or "Re" does not flash, then you have not met the minimum consumption level and cannot reset.
BMW insp. reset
- Iginition OFF (POS 0)
- Press and Hold the trip odometer button while turning key to position 1 (ACCESSORY)
- Keep the button depressed (about 5 secs.) until you see "Oil Service" or "Inspection" with "Reset" or "Re" in the display
- *Note: On vehicles with "High" cluster, you will also see the amount of fuel (in litres) remaining until next service
- Press the button again and hold for approx. 5 secs. until "Reset" or "Re" flashes
- While the display is flashing, briefly press the button again to reset the Service Interval. After the display has shown the new interval you should see "END SIA" for about 2 secs.
Note that if the "Reset" or "Re" does not flash, then you have not met the minimum consumption level and cannot reset.
So I take my car in for an oil change today. This service station always does a fine job on my Toyota, so I ask if they can handle the Z4, due to the need for synthetic oil and a computer reset. He assures me that he can handle it. Though I'm the only car there, it takes over an hour. He finally comes into the office and asks if I know how to reset the oil service/inspection countdown, as he can't figure it out. He's quite pissed there was no dipstick, as he likes to doublecheck the level once the change is complete. Not good. He notes that the dash readout indicates "oil OK."
I call the stealership that I have taken my car to 3 times in the last year; they've made a good profit on me thus far. I'm always very polite when dropping off/picking up my car, as I see how other BMW owners getting service there treat them; they get some real pr1ck$ through there. I ask the service department if they can tell me how to reset the counter, as I'm getting my oil changed 70 miles away. When asked why I didn't bring it to them to change it, I reminded them of the 1.25 hour trip, each way, that would entail, just for an oil change. They put me on hold, and then say that they charge $65 to reset the oil service counter (oil change not included), so I can bring it to them for them to do this simple task for $65, plus the gas and hours of time it would require. They refused to tell me how to do it, or where to find out how to do it myself. It's not that they didn't know me, or weren't aware of the amount of money I've spent with them; it's that they just didn't care.
Typcical stealership bull*&^%. Argue with the customer who spends $$$$ over a $65, 30 second fix, no parts required. That's the proven formula for keeping my business, right? I think I'll drive a few more miles to go to a different dealership in the future.
End of story- I get home from the oil change, I login to Z4forum.com, and immediately find the solution, which works as advertised (see above post). It was SO easy to reset the counter to the Inspection II countdown. This website may not be a PART of my car, but it's one of the things I like most ABOUT my car. As always, thanks for the useful info folks!
Wiseguy
I call the stealership that I have taken my car to 3 times in the last year; they've made a good profit on me thus far. I'm always very polite when dropping off/picking up my car, as I see how other BMW owners getting service there treat them; they get some real pr1ck$ through there. I ask the service department if they can tell me how to reset the counter, as I'm getting my oil changed 70 miles away. When asked why I didn't bring it to them to change it, I reminded them of the 1.25 hour trip, each way, that would entail, just for an oil change. They put me on hold, and then say that they charge $65 to reset the oil service counter (oil change not included), so I can bring it to them for them to do this simple task for $65, plus the gas and hours of time it would require. They refused to tell me how to do it, or where to find out how to do it myself. It's not that they didn't know me, or weren't aware of the amount of money I've spent with them; it's that they just didn't care.
Typcical stealership bull*&^%. Argue with the customer who spends $$$$ over a $65, 30 second fix, no parts required. That's the proven formula for keeping my business, right? I think I'll drive a few more miles to go to a different dealership in the future.End of story- I get home from the oil change, I login to Z4forum.com, and immediately find the solution, which works as advertised (see above post). It was SO easy to reset the counter to the Inspection II countdown. This website may not be a PART of my car, but it's one of the things I like most ABOUT my car. As always, thanks for the useful info folks!
Wiseguy
Funny, I've been using the BMW OEM oil and it's the same price or cheaper than the others. Perhaps Canadian BMW dealers have more reasonable prices however...
wiseguy said:So I take my car in for an oil change today. This service station always does a fine job on my Toyota, so I ask if they can handle the Z4, due to the need for synthetic oil and a computer reset. He assures me that he can handle it. Though I'm the only car there, it takes over an hour. He finally comes into the office and asks if I know how to reset the oil service/inspection countdown, as he can't figure it out. He's quite pissed there was no dipstick, as he likes to doublecheck the level once the change is complete. Not good. He notes that the dash readout indicates "oil OK."
I call the stealership that I have taken my car to 3 times in the last year; they've made a good profit on me thus far. I'm always very polite when dropping off/picking up my car, as I see how other BMW owners getting service there treat them; they get some real pr1ck$ through there. I ask the service department if they can tell me how to reset the counter, as I'm getting my oil changed 70 miles away. When asked why I didn't bring it to them to change it, I reminded them of the 1.25 hour trip, each way, that would entail, just for an oil change. They put me on hold, and then say that they charge $65 to reset the oil service counter (oil change not included), so I can bring it to them for them to do this simple task for $65, plus the gas and hours of time it would require. They refused to tell me how to do it, or where to find out how to do it myself. It's not that they didn't know me, or weren't aware of the amount of money I've spent with them; it's that they just didn't care.
End of story- I get home from the oil change, I login to Z4forum.com, and immediately find the solution, which works as advertised (see above post). It was SO easy to reset the counter to the Inspection II countdown. This website may not be a PART of my car, but it's one of the things I like most ABOUT my car. As always, thanks for the useful info folks!
Wiseguy
Jesus, thats rediculous!! Why are some main dealers such massive bell ends? Its not like they see any of that money really!
1066 Country
U need either BMW's own plug in computer to reset the service / oil timers or if your local indy has the box of diagnostic tricks, they can do it. It's not like a VW where u turn the ignition on/off/on/off continuiously while pressing the reset button on the dials
Jembo said:
Jembo,
I followed the directions in zycho's post and it worked as described. Give it a try when your next inspection or oil change is done. Each time I start the car it now reads "15250 to Inspect" or some such wording. This same reset method is posted in the forum at least 5 times- I read each of those threads before attempting the reset yesterday. Everyone else that's done the reset this way and then reported back to the forum says it worked for them too. Seeing is believing. Mine is a 2007 model; I can't vouch for the reset method for other model years. But, Zycho notes that it should work for 2001 and newer models.
Wiseguy
Currently changing oil and filter. After checking the data sheets on line for various oil makers ....I have chosen the new product - Castrol EDGE 5w-40 SN Titanium which is also confirmed on the back of label ....approved for BMW Longlife-01 - It may cost $50 bucks more than Mobil 1 for ten liters - Total $150AUD but what price is a stuffed engine down the track by comparison to $50 bucks!
If there is anyone who can point me to info on the easy & quickest way to change the inside fan belt on Z4 E85 3.0i M54 engine, be much appreciated!!
Thanks
Greetings from...
Perth, West Australia
If there is anyone who can point me to info on the easy & quickest way to change the inside fan belt on Z4 E85 3.0i M54 engine, be much appreciated!!
Thanks
Greetings from...
Perth, West Australia
For those in the UK, have a look on the Opie Oils web site. You can select oil via vehicle model or specification (including latest BMW specs). Prices aren't bad and they'll deliver to your door for a fiver. In independent oil tests I've reviewed over the past years Amsoil has come out highly recommended.