How Often to Change Synthetic Oil

When you know how often to change synthetic oil, you can help your vehicle perform at its best for years to come. Most BMW vehicles require a synthetic oil change every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, but the manufacturer has gone above and beyond to ensure that you never miss a beat. Check your owner’s manual for a model-specific BMW oil change interval, and keep an eye on your dashboard warning lights! Your Condition Based Service monitor will tell you when to schedule service.

Why Choose Synthetic Oil?

The vast majority of BMW vehicles require BMW SAE 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, and you should never use a motor oil that hasn’t been recommended for your vehicle. However, you might still wonder why BMW requires this high-grade synthetic oil product for so many of their models! Here’s what you should know:

• Synthetic oil lasts longer than conventional oil. Although there’s nothing wrong with scheduling frequent oil changes, using synthetic oil ensures that your visits to our service center are fewer and farther between.
• Synthetic oil goes through an additional process of refinement. Since synthetic oil is composed on the molecular level, it lubricates your engine more effectively and performs better in extreme heat. These qualities make it ideal for the high-performance vehicles in the BMW lineup.
• Synthetic oil limits buildup in your engine. Under normal circumstances, your engine will accumulate grime and deposits as you drive around St Paul and Minneapolis. Synthetic oil limits this tendency, so your engine stays cleaner for longer.

Although it is possible to mix synthetic oil and conventional oil in some cases, this practice isn’t recommended for BMW vehicles. However, if you drive a model from another manufacturer, combining oil types could give you a performance advantage over the driver who uses conventional oil alone.

Condition Based Service: How Often Do You Change Synthetic Oil?

The days of the standard 3,000-mile oil change have come and gone–and not only because your synthetic oil will last much longer than 3,000 miles! Each new BMW vehicle comes complete with a Condition Based Service tracker, which automatically alerts you when your synthetic oil is due for replacement. Here’s a closer look at how it works:

• The CBS monitor constantly tracks your oil levels, and it also recognizes wear and tear on a wide range of components.
• The system also tracks time and mileage, and unless it notices an issue, it will tell you when to schedule service on this basis.
• You can view the current condition of many different components–including but not limited to your engine oil–through the iDrive® display.

So, how often do you change synthetic oil in a BMW? If you’re still not sure how to make use of your on-board service indicators, give us a call at (952) 213-5577 for more information. 

Schedule Service with Motorwerks BMW

Our Bloomington service center is easy to reach from anywhere near Richfield or St Paul, and we’d love to show you what sets our team apart! Start exploring our current BMW service specials and learn more about service pickup and delivery options today.