Hi I’m just wondering how often I should get my car serviced at the mechanic. I have a 2002 BMW 330Ci with ~146k miles. I take care of my oil changes once a year at a local oil change shop. I don’t let my mechanic get anywhere near my oil 
and use Mobil 1 European Car Formula Advanced Full Synthetic 5w-40 LL01 spec. My mechanic said to get a service every 5k miles and that it would pay for itself over time. What’s the deal? What is the ideal interval? I don’t mind investing small money for preventative maintenance if it’s warranted, especially if I’m only paying for the service twice as often but with the same repairs being made over those two services as opposed to getting tested once and paying for the same repairs at that one service. Hope this makes sense. Thanks!
What does your owners service manual specify? In addition to oil changes, I’d replace all other fluids every 50,000 miles or so. I’d also keep an eye on the water pump and radiator, BMWs of that era are known for cooling system problems.
You posted this…
Then you posted this…
You do not mention how many miles you drive in a year’s time. 2000 miles? or 7500 miles? or what?
My suggestion - Under 5000 miles a year… once a year. Over 5000 miles a year? Change every 5000 miles.
This concerns me far, far more than the interval…
I would not let any quickie oil change place wash my windows, let alone change my oil. The shops don’t train their people well, they rush, and they make mistakes that damage the oil pan and destroy engines.
+1–on all points–to Mustangman’s comments.
I would trust the mechanic more than a quick oil change place that might not even train the employees about what Eropean vehicles need. Doesn’t your owners manual have a service chart ?
If there is oil UNDER bmw, then there is oil inside bmw.
Generally speaking
Of m6 sample of about two million miles, i change oil every 5000 miles, 3000 on the gone pontiac. Transmission, transfer case, and differential every 30,000 miles except after the first 10,000 miles. On a new car, i will follow the oil geeks recommendation of
500, 1300, and 3,000, then 5000.