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.
Thanks guys.
@texases will look at the manual.
@Mustangman I drive ~1500 miles a year; I assume for service you are talking about things other than the oil right? I am not wondering how often to get the oil changed just how often to get all the other things checked out. These guys currently do my oil and I do it once a year. The last time the shop did my oil they overfilled by a half quart and needless to say I was not happy. Not sure who I can trust the most.
@VOLVO-V70 See above reply. I will check the manual thanks.
@bing Way out of my league doing these things myself. I wouldn’t trust myself not to break the car lol. M6 sample? What does that mean?
I will endorse all the mentions in here about the service interval grid/chart in the owners manual.
Photograph that and e-mail it to yourself.
Everything from air filters to engine oil to flushes and major pan-drops(if required) should be in there.
The owner’s manual will instruct you to use the maintenance computer (oil life monitor).
Rewards program? Rebates?
Perhaps he believes your 25 year old car will last twice as long if you follow his advice. You seem to be doing alright without him.
Rookie mistake. Quick lube places, like your Nine Minute Lube, are often new mechanics. If these mechanics learn their job well enough they will move to a shop that does more complex work and pays better.
My not m6. I only do my own oil changes, not transmission, transfer case, and differential. Not that it matters as long as it is done.
I have seen many 40 year veterans fill 1/2 quart extra for “good measure”. After all, no one will check the oil level during the next 10,000 miles. Don’t you want the extra reserve?
Why not? You need a twin turbo V8 BMW M6 with 567 horsepower.
You assume incorrectly.
Let me repeat… I would not trust quickie oil change places to wash my windows… So I sure as heck would not let them change my oil. Do NOT use places like this. There is too great a chance of error on their part and a lot of pain on your part convincing them to pay for your new oil pan or engine.
As for you regular shop adding an extra 1/2 quart… It won’t hurt the engine and it anticipates some oil usage by the engine (all engines use some oil, a little or a lot) and it anticipates the owner won’t check the dipstick. It is not an uncommon practice. If you don’t like it, tell your mechanic not to do it.
And a once a year change with only 1500 miles is perfect.
+1
One of our now-departed members–Joseph Meehan–used to say that he wouldn’t even trust a quicky oil change place for proper directions to a destination.
They’re liable to cross-thread the female oil pan drain threads, leave off your splash pan . . . or use a sawzall to butcher it
Overfilling(fluids) and over-inflating(tires) comes naturally, to mechanics, technicians, and do-it-yourselfers when performing such maintenance items.
You keep making posts that have no relation to actual facts.
I cited two examples in my comment.