BMW N63 "Customer Care Package": A Recall That BMW Refuses To Call A Recall
#16
Lexus Champion
It just boggles me to see how anyone thought 15k mile for a turbo engine oil change was a good idea, synthetic doesnt matter. Simple $30 test at blackstone would tell you that it was a really bad idea, and BMW is paying for it. To make matters worse these cars dont have a dipstick right?
here we go...within the Subie thread....couple of members were all for those 18K oil chngs... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...odel-year.html
#18
Super Moderator
yep there was another thread about OCI...
here we go...within the Subie thread....couple of members were all for those 18K oil chngs... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...odel-year.html
here we go...within the Subie thread....couple of members were all for those 18K oil chngs... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...odel-year.html
Also, if you read the article, the reduced OCI for the N63 has nothing to do with wear:
BMW is also quietly dropping the V8's oil-service interval from 15,000 to 10,000 miles*. Not because of oil-life concerns, but to smokescreen the N63's appetite for motor oil. By shortening the time between oil changes (and sneaking an additional quart into the sump), there's less chance customers will get a low-oil-level warning. Insiders at BMW in Germany say the oil consumption happens to customers who don't ever flog their powerful, turbocharged V8s hard enough to fully break them in. Ironic.
#20
Pole Position
Insiders at BMW in Germany say the oil consumption happens to customers who don't ever flog their powerful, turbocharged V8s hard enough to fully break them in.
#21
Lexus Test Driver
Maybe this recall is why Toyota and Honda are taking their own sweet time introducing turbos into their lineup. A recall involving X5's and 550i's is one thing, a problem with all Civics and Corollas would be a major nightmare.
I'm surprised about the break-in requirements though. Why can't BMW do this at the factory? Makes me wonder about Toyota hybrid engines that never see much stress and are constantly being turned on and off, yet don't have oil consumption issues.
I'm surprised about the break-in requirements though. Why can't BMW do this at the factory? Makes me wonder about Toyota hybrid engines that never see much stress and are constantly being turned on and off, yet don't have oil consumption issues.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Not really a fair comment. Engineers test the breaking limits of things to create more robust designs. In this case, it's a lack of stress that's leading to the problems. We could track the problem to consumers who buy big engines and never use them, but of course BMW can't blame the customer. It's one of those things that slips by because, who would ever think to test what happens to an engine in extremely mild use, when it has already been tested under extremely hard use?
#23
As for the hybrids, I have the CT and IS 300 hybrid and I floor them more often than any car I had before. They are simply so slow that you need at least 80 % of its power in many situations. Prius is likely not much better.
#24
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Theres a reason why BMW and Mini started shortening oil change intervals on 2014+ to 10k when they used to be 15k. They started seeing the long term damage it was doing to the engine. E46 was 5k oil change interval. This was before BMWs paid for your oil changes under the "free" maintenance program. Funny how once BMW started paying for it, the oil change intervals tripled to 15k
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=486746
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-too-long.html
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...e-our-m5s.html
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=486746
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-too-long.html
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...e-our-m5s.html
#25
Lexus Fanatic
What brand of oil does BMW use at their shops? Mobile 1 European formula or something higher end oil, I think I read they used German Castrol full synthetic which is a group 4 or 5. That could make some difference but trying to stretch out oil changes to 15K is pushing it and reeks of irresponsible cost cutting. Even if the oil change are supposed to be covered I would have done one myself at 7.5K especially on a car I might decide to own.
#26
Super Moderator
Nope. My 2000 323i had a 15k OCI (more like 17-18k in my case since I wasn't terribly hard on the engine most of the time). First MY for the E46 was 1998, LCI was 2001, and last MY was 2005, so I had one of the early ones.
The BMW-branded oil is indeed German Castrol full synthetic, which is an excellent oil--I switched to Amsoil European Formula 5W40 due to personal preference and cost, but would have had no concerns about sticking with the factory fill. They also use a very large sump so the oil doesn't get "used" as much--my M52TU 2.5L I6 took 7 quarts, and the current M57 3.0L diesel takes 7.5. The N63 4.4L V8 referenced in the article takes 9-10 quarts. To put that in perspective, my old Dodge 5.2L V8 took just 5 quarts.
What brand of oil does BMW use at their shops? Mobile 1 European formula or something higher end oil, I think I read they used German Castrol full synthetic which is a group 4 or 5. That could make some difference but trying to stretch out oil changes to 15K is pushing it and reeks of irresponsible cost cutting. Even if the oil change are supposed to be covered I would have done one myself at 7.5K especially on a car I might decide to own.
Last edited by geko29; 05-12-15 at 06:59 PM.
#27
Lexus Fanatic
I was curious why batteries were being replaced in this fix when it has nothing to do with an oil change interval.
Enginerdy: Why BMW's N63 twin-turbo V8 eats batteries
Enginerdy: Why BMW's N63 twin-turbo V8 eats batteries
#28
Not really a fair comment. Engineers test the breaking limits of things to create more robust designs. In this case, it's a lack of stress that's leading to the problems. We could track the problem to consumers who buy big engines and never use them, but of course BMW can't blame the customer. It's one of those things that slips by because, who would ever think to test what happens to an engine in extremely mild use, when it has already been tested under extremely hard use?
As to who would test engines at lower speeds, proper engineers?
#29
Theres a reason why BMW and Mini started shortening oil change intervals on 2014+ to 10k when they used to be 15k. They started seeing the long term damage it was doing to the engine. E46 was 5k oil change interval. This was before BMWs paid for your oil changes under the "free" maintenance program. Funny how once BMW started paying for it, the oil change intervals tripled to 15k
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=486746
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-too-long.html
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...e-our-m5s.html
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=486746
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-too-long.html
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...e-our-m5s.html
Oh well. Live and learn.
#30
Instructor
well recall is for safety issues... so it is basically a mandatory TSB for us in Toyota world.
Two things to note - it seems that they are not going to address oil consumption issue but rather make sure oil light does not turn on during new shorter oil change interval.
Another thing is - didnt they do huge i6 recall recently as well? No engine is safe? Found it:
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/11/b...ars-worldwide/
Two things to note - it seems that they are not going to address oil consumption issue but rather make sure oil light does not turn on during new shorter oil change interval.
Another thing is - didnt they do huge i6 recall recently as well? No engine is safe? Found it:
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/11/b...ars-worldwide/
Or when your child has a fever of 106F and the only car you have is a BMW 550i and you push the engine start button and it fails to start.
I could go on and on all day.....but to me a reliable engine is very important and should be labeled a recall.