How many miles do you do...

[Secondtothird]

...per litre of oil?

2,300 on the last 1L top-up for me.

Owen

EDIT - recalculation, from five bars to light to five bars is actually 3,800 miles per litre used (the above figure was from a starting position of 3 bars on the gauge).

 

[DMike]

I’ve been blessed with negligible oil consumption and never needed to add any in 15 years of ownership. Changing the oils annually, however.

 

[Secondtothird]

Wow, great effort. I'm on course to be changing my oil 3 times a year with a 1L top-up mid change cycle (every couple of months).

Owen

EDIT - on recalculation, the 1L top-up is currently due just shy of 4,000 miles, so I may simply drop my change cycle from 5,000 down to 4,000, do away with the need to top up and just go full change and filter every 4,000 to keep the engine extra happy. It's tight as a drum with no leaks, and pulls extremely well, so want to keep it so!

 

[DMike]

Only do an average 3.5k miles per year so I guess annual oil changes is pampering.

 

[buzyg]

Not much idea. The oil in the ///MR get's changed annually regardless of mileage. Typical annual mileage, these days, is 3k. So around 500 miles a litre I guess.

Have twice needed a small top up between services, years back, when I used to do around 7k a year and followed the BMW service light/ bi annual service routine.

 

[Mr Tidy]

It's 5,000 miles since my MC had an oil change and it hasn't needed any yet.

My first 3.0Si did 8,000 miles without needing any, but my 2nd one used a litre every 3,000 miles or so - then again it had a higher mileage.

 

[skelters]

Since using Millers I've never had to add any oil.

 

[skelters]

Been using Millers since I got this car and I've never had to add any oil.

 

[BumpyZ4]

I've put 6K miles on mine since ownership and haven't had to add any oil.

 

[Secondtothird]

Very interesting, what are your mileages? I'm on 106k. When you consider BMW says you can expect as little as 1,000 miles per litre of oil burned, you're doing extraordinarily well if you've not needed a single top up between changes. Do your bars drop at all in that time?

Best
Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

I've just thought, when I collected the car from the specialist following the last oil change, it was showing 3/5 bars full, so really it's done 2,300 miles for the last 600ml, equating to 3,800 miles per 1 litre. Happy with that, almost four times more than BMW says can be normal for the N52.

I'm a bit nerdy about stuff like this so I'll compare this cycle to future ones for usage consistency.

Owen

 

[Mr Tidy]

I'm a bit nerdy about stuff like this so I'll compare this cycle to future ones for usage consistency.

In that case the nearest comparison I have is my E90 330i with the same N52 engine as your E86 that I bought in 2019 on 107K miles.

It had just had an oil change and a new cam-cover gasket, but was leaking from the oil filter housing. I figured it was cheaper to top it up until the next oil change then get that gasket replaced!

So in nearly 9,000 miles it used 2.5 litres which despite the small leak is similar to your experience.

But sadly it's still leaking as I got an advisory on the last MOT. Sump gasket is the current suspect but if it keeps passing MOTs with just an advisory I'll just bung some oil in when required - it must be cheaper than a new sump gasket!

 

[skelters]

Very interesting, what are your mileages? I'm on 106k. When you consider BMW says you can expect as little as 1,000 miles per litre of oil burned, you're doing extraordinarily well if you've not needed a single top up between changes. Do your bars drop at all in that time?

Best
Owen

It gets serviced every year.

Mileage varies especially during lockdown and now working from home most of the time.

Bars don't drop at all.

 

[Secondtothird]

That's fantastic, good for you. How many miles has it done if you don't mind me asking?

Owen

 

[skelters]

That's fantastic, good for you. How many miles has it done if you don't mind me asking?

Owen

I've had it since it was around 34k miles and it has about 68k miles on it now.

It did want 1 litre not long after I bought it. After changing to Millers that problem went away.

Millers Oils EE Performance C3 5w-30 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil from Opie Oils.

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/service-packs-for-your-vehicle.aspx

 

[brillomaster]

my E85 3.0i had done 155k, and never needed a top up between annual services. that was despite it being a 90% track car.

That said, the previous track car i had which had the same M54 engine, expired in 5.5 trackdays as it ran dry of oil. I believe there are various valve cover gaskets, DISA valves, VANOS valves etc that can cause small oil leaks.

 

[Secondtothird]

Wow great effort!

Owen

 

[Nick W]

At around 90k in my MR, oil changed every 6000 miles or track day. Never had to add any oil in between but I check weekly and before any long drive. This S54 engine is awesome with proper care.

 

[Secondtothird]

Be interesting to see how the S54 and M54s compare to the N52 for oil consumption in general. Mine is on 106k but has always been properly cared for and looked after, it's wanted for nothing with preventative maintenance and routine changes, all documented in its comprehensive full service history. All gaskets present and correct, no leaks, seeps or drips, no smoke, coolant temp always perfect, never down on power, in fact quite the opposite.

Most BMW sixes go through oil, indeed BMW itself says it's absolutely normal and to expect a burn rate, so you're doing well if you've found one that doesn't

Owen

 

[Barty]

My coupe currently sits at 101k miles and uses about 1 bar (so 200ml) between oil changes, every 3500 miles.

The only time I’ve had to top up was when I lost 600ml in 300 miles. This was on an autobahn run back from Germany, which included several stretches at 150mph, as well as a number of brake-and-accelerate moments from 70 to 150.

As a preventive measure I’ll be replacing the full PCV system soon, cam cover gasket is on the list for the autumn as it just developed the slightest of misting at the back recently.