The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 756 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: BMW Synthetic Oil Re: Alternative coolant? Re: oil change interval Re: oil change interval Re: oil change interval Re: oil change interval Re: oil change interval San Jose Grand Prix - Live web action Re: BMW Synthetic Oil Re: oil change interval
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 21:22:14 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]> Subject: Re: BMW Synthetic Oil Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> There is "list" price and matrix price. Matrix price is 5% to 30% higher. Some dealers offer discounts off of matrix price, which isn't much of a discount at all. Gary Derian > > I've noticed, and have also heard that BMWNA is now "cracking down" on > parts discounting in > much the same way that they have on Free Maintenance and warranty work the > past couple of > years. I'm still not paying list from Crevier (local to me) but the > discount has been cut > nearly in half as of late. But even prior to this, I've noticed that > "list" prices > can vary wildly from dealer to dealer, making arbitrary "20% off list" > statements nearly useless. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 00:55:06 -0400 From: "KMS- Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Alternative coolant? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Time to move to the US. Things are cheaper there. Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > > All, > I have a 90 E34 535i, 5 spd, 101K miles. I always use BMW > coolant. However, > at least around here in the SF bay area, BMW coolant has gotten very > expensive, ranging from $22-30 per gallon. > > Since BMW coolant in the US is Vavoline Zerex G-48, could another > manufacturer who uses G-48 be substituted? > > I ask because Saab coolant is supposedly Zerex G-48, and one > dealer around > here sells the Saab "blue" stuff for a little over $12 per gallon. Is it > compatible? What do you think? > > For info on Valvoline G-48 coolant, see here: > > https://www.valvoline-technology.com/data/valv/prodinfo.nsf/0/8525 6AE300727D2BC1256BBF006E46AD/$file/Zerex+G+48.pdf?OpenElement > > Thanks, Brewster ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:13:40 -0400 From: "KMS- Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > -----Original Message----- > Nick Brearley > 600k behind M20 and M50 engines, semi-synthetic always changed by > the lights. No oil based problems. OK, so you're telling us that you changed your oil at, or about, 5-7.5K miles, but are harassing people who don't want to run 15K+ miles on their engine oil, something you've NEVER done, by your own words. ????? When you buy a car that's newer than 11 years old, and spend more than the $3000 your current cars are worth, let us know how you feel about what engine protection is worth. A $50,000 automobile generally has a $10,000 engine. I don't care what Gary Derian says. I don't care what an oil analysis company says. I've said it 50 times before but there's always some ijit that thinks he knows better. Oil analysis shows you what wear you are currently experiencing. When the SLUDGE build up gets to the point that it blocks vital oil galleys, or even disables the oil level sensor, you're f*cked. Get your oil tested, it's fine. 15K miles later, get your oil tested, it's fine. Repeat 7 times. The oil analysis company CAN'T see the crap that's building up in your engine. OK, there's only so much bearing and ring material in your oil. Big deal. Change your oil that 7th time. 500 miles later, your oil level sensor sticks in the full position due to the sludge. 10,000 miles later, your engine runs low on oil but you don't know about it because you haven't pulled your dipstick since the last oil change. 500 miles later, your oil pressure light comes on. 5 or 10 minutes later, you notice said light, you are in heavy traffic and fight your way to the shoulder. Just as you get there, your engine seizes. Yup, you feel really good. Why wouldn't you. You saved $120 last year on oil changes that you didn't do. Oh, by the way, that'll be $10K plus for that engine, installed, plus tax, thank you for putting my kids through college sir, I'll always remember you (in my "idiot" stories that I tell other shop owners). Oil is a liquid. Liquid can only support so much solid. A very important function of engine oil is to transport contaminants to the oil fitter. The oil filter only captures partials above a certain size. The smaller size particles stay in the oil. Eventually, there's so many of them, that the oil can't pick up the larger parts, so the inside of the engine gets more and more crud build up. You get the picture.... well, apparently most of the "experts" out there, that have never seen the inside of any engine, don't..... I have a book on my service counter. It has photos of sludged up engines that followed BMW's "free" maintenance programs. Stupid owners. Dead cars. More money for me. Stupid is as Stupid does. - Forrest Gump Brett Anderson KMS ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 09:31:35 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "KMS- Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "UUC Digest" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> OMG, I am shocked and highly offended <grin>. BTW, my $10,000 car has a $15,000 engine. You once told me that fuel pumps go out slowly and make noises and stuff for a while. Well the wifemobile 525i puked its fuel pump 50 miles from home, yesterday. Spent the whole day driving around going nowhere. Gary Derian Brett Anderson wrote: > A $50,000 automobile generally has a $10,000 engine. I don't care what > Gary > Derian says. I don't care what an oil analysis company says. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:13:34 +0100 From: nick brearley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 01:13 31/07/05 -0400, KMS- Brett Anderson wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > Nick Brearley > > 600k behind M20 and M50 engines, semi-synthetic always changed by > > the lights. No oil based problems. > >OK, so you're telling us that you changed your oil at, or about, 5-7.5K >miles, No, I was telling you that the oil was changed by the lights, no more and no less. With the E30 that was 10-11k intervals, the E36 8-9k. >but are harassing people who don't want to run 15K+ miles on their >engine oil, something you've NEVER done, by your own words. > >????? Harassing??? I had to go back to my original post to check: >It would be very useful if the advocates of 3 or 6k oil changes could offer some verifiable evidence for the benefits of the >practice. Beyond a set of photographs posted on the net on the basis of "the customer said". Please note I am not >questionning the honesty and good intent of the person who posted the initial photographs. Diesel engines yes, >because they are inherently dirtier, but not spark ignition. One would have to be pretty thin skinned to take that as harassment, unless one is very sensitive to a redundant n. >When you buy a car that's newer than 11 years old, and spend more than the >$3000 your current cars are worth, let us know how you feel about what >engine protection is worth. Now if I were thin skinned I could take that as being gratuitously offensive but I'll accept it as being said in the heat of the moment. Both the BMWs I bought cost a little more than $3000, must be something to do with being in a small rhd market. One was new the other CPO. The fact that both engines run well after a cumulative total of 600k miles should tell you that I feel engine protection has some value. The next BMW will quite possibly cost me more than $3000, I'll be sure to let you know if my views on engine protection change. >I don't care what Gary Derian says. I don't care what an oil analysis >company says. Nick Brearley Tools worth much more than any car I own, except the wife's. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:43:42 -0400 From: "Rich Dorffer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "nick brearley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]> Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> No worries mate, Brett gets a bit worked up when it comes to BMW recommended oil change intervals, extended drains, etc., it isn't personal. :-) My personal opinion, I believe there is something up with the Castrol oil BMW sells (the 5W30) and it isn't up to snuff to the extended oil changes BMW recommends and it "congeals" and thickens up considerably during usage. I have seen various pics of motors that were effected, it isn't pretty. I personally believe it is largely a Group III (hydrocracked dino oil) with a BMW specified additive package. I believe synthetic oil can last for extended oil change intervals, are the up to a 15,000 OCI? Some might, some might not, how are you going to find out? Synthetic oils definitely vary from Group III to Group V and every combination in between with different additive packages. As they say...YMMV. Later, Rich - can say the same about Nick's tools comment, and amazingly, they are an investment and hold their value much more than any of my cars. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:02:47 +0100 From: nick brearley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 12:43 31/07/05 -0400, Rich wrote: >No worries mate, Brett gets a bit worked up when it comes to BMW recommended >oil change intervals, extended drains, etc., it isn't personal. No problem Rich. All of us, me included, owe Brett a huge amount for the generous advice freely given over the years. >My personal opinion, I believe there is something up with the Castrol oil >BMW sells (the 5W30) and it isn't up to snuff to the extended oil changes Could be a point there. The UK BMW dealer who used to service my cars always used 10W/40 Duckhams semi-synthetic for the oil changes. He always reckoned it was as good as anything on the retail market. Since then I've used Motaquip 10W/40 semi-synthetic ( I have a few Peugeots and the dealer is more realistic on the parts sales side) without problems. Looks for largest available piece of wood to touch... Just off to watch Top Gear and to see what buttons JC presses tonight... Nick ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:27:07 -0700 From: Brad Houser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: San Jose Grand Prix - Live web action Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For those of you still here on Sunday.... Intel is paying for free use of the Race Director web site during the San Jose Grand Prix. LIVE SATURDAY PRACTICE, QUALIFYING AND RACEDAY COVERAGE FOR THE 2005 SEASON Switch between 6 live channels of streaming race video Choose any driver on track to listen to live car-to-pit radio Keep up on the action with live leaderboard timing and scoring Get the full story with lap-by-lap race commentary Relive your favorite moments with exclusive access to the multimedia archives from the 2001-2005 seasons Real Time Web Telemetry featuring, track map position, throttle, speed, gear, braking and RPM information! I watched the qualifying runs yesterday, and the video aint great, but it could be a good supplement during the Speed Channel coverage at 4PM Pacific time (the race is at 5). http://www.champcarworldseries.com Click on Race Director on the left and sign up for the free trial. Brad Houser ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 22:20:06 -0700 From: JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Harvey Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: Bimmerheads <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] Subject: Re: BMW Synthetic Oil Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Maybe the "dealer formerly known" as Allison BMW is adjusting their price based on what the Kragen next door is charging for //Mobil 1. Allison is now owned by a multi-dealership conglomerate that is pure greed in the auto business, though when talking about car dealers that's probably not saying much. Almost makes the real list prices that Dinan tried to charge worth paying. Even they though, wanted to charge $110. per tie rod a few years ago. I said no, had them dismount my car from the alignment rack and I left. The foreign parts place at Mary and El Camino got them for me that afternoon and charge about $60. each instead. There's also Danny at Wolfsburg on Moffat. Similar treatment with pricing competitive with what mail order + shipping would be. If //Mobil 1 is suitable for your E39, might be worth a try. Its been fine in the 5w30 grade for 115k miles in my E36 //M since it was new. Sadly, like your E39, 'Jack has mostly become a less driven grocery getter and bicycle transporter, another justification for 5k mile o&f changes. Not so sadly, that makes the 'forever' I intend to keep him be even longer. Barry Harvey Chao wrote: > OK - So I have been buying oil for my 2000, E39 from the dealer ((BMW > of Mtn View, CA, formerly Allison BMW) since the car's first oil > change, and I had been paying from a low of $2.88 to $3.43 a quart > via the discount I have. What is interesting is that the price has > varied over that range, and while the lowest price was the first > time, the last time's price was cheaper than the time before! But, > at that price range I have no quibble over a few cents either way. > Until today. > Today I plan to change my oil, and went to buy a case as usual. The > counter man informed me that they no longer discount oil, not BMW > CCA, nor the personal discount in their computer under my account/ > name. The counter man also indicated that their price of $4.95/qt > was lower than the other local dealer, Steven's Creek (although I > have not checked yet). > Oil is probably not worth buying by mail/internet due to it's weight > and shipping costs, and I guess I will probably check both local > dealers next time I need to buy some, but does any one have any > suggestions or alternatives? It isn't the raw cost that is gonna > "break the bank" but the % price increase is quite significant and I > do change oil and filter every six months due to the severe service > (mostly short trips without a through warming of the oil (temp gauge > just gets to "normal" but that's about it) and I figure the best way > to get the contaminants out is by changing the oil a bit more > conservatively than the "recommended" interval. I tend also to keep > and drive my cars "forever". > Thanks Harvey ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 01:46:02 -0400 From: "KMS- Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: oil change interval Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > -----Original Message----- > 2) This is the one I like better - it's a "forced convenience" to inspect > the undercarriage, look at all the parts that do not get inspected in a > cursory under-hood examination. It's an opportunity to see if other > maintenance is required, or just to monitor the state of other things. > > - Rob This one I like. We see so many cars come in at around 80-100K miles that are just dangerous to drive, and their owners have no clue, because when the did take their cars to the dealer for their "scheduled" oil change, the tech didn't even bother to look over the car. Not only are they only getting the car on a lift 50% of the time they should, but the dealer tech's have no interest in looking for issues, as they're only getting paid 3/10ths of an hour to find your car in the lot, bring it in, pick it up, change the oil, get it off the lift, out of the shop and parked. You've already read my take on oil, now you have another reason to maintain your vehicle. Brett Anderson KMS ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(10 messages) **********
