The BMW UUC Digest 
Volume 2 : Issue 757 : "text" Format

Messages in this Issue:
  Re: oil change interval
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
  <eta> FS: New-in-box cold start injector
  Re: <eta> FS: New-in-box cold start injector -- SOLD
  <E36> behind-the-dash gurgle?
  Re: <E36> behind-the-dash gurgle?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:18:12 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Maverick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: oil change interval
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

If the Castrol BMW sells is basically the same as the off the shelf stuff, but 
with a better additive package, then it is hydrocracked, not true sysnthetic as 
we normally think of it.  I have used Castrol Syntec in the past in my Toyota 
truck and it did seem to varnish and sludge worse than the Mobil1 I went back 
to.

Remeber that BMW used to sell Vallvoline Synthetic as there 5w-30 oil, and it 
was pretty good...real synthetic base if I remember right.

I have been running Volsynthase from LubroMoly and been happy so far, I will 
probably give Amsoil a try after I use my last 5 litre jug of 0w-40 LubroMoly.

David in Richmond, VA

-----Original Message-----
From: nick brearley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Jul 31, 2005 3:02 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [UUC]  oil change interval

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

 

 

Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]


__________________________________________________________________________
In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA.

UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate
Short Shifter - accept no substitutes!
908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com


------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:59:55 -0700
From: "RussC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Well,
I found this curious, shouldn't the Inspection process I, II or whatever it
is now should catch these "dangerous" conditions?  While it's very easy to
look at stuff while it's on the rack, thats not whats it's there for.

I guess your suggesting the owner should do a more frequent inspection
process?  Although I would like to believe the oil changer would warn the
owner if they see a critical fault, if it was easy to see.

RussC

> > -----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


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 01 Aug 2005 08:41:11 -0700
From: Kazuto Okayasu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

At 11:59 PM 7/31/2005, RussC wrote:

An independent shop probably would.  Lately, dealers are in too much 
of a hurry to seem to care.  My (free) Inspection I seemed really 
half-assed.  I didn't even get a copy of the BMWNA checklist, and 
there were fasteners I know they would have needed to undo that they 
never touched.  Pissed me off so much that I never bothered getting 
the next free Oil Service.   I have my cars up on a lift often enough 
myself (like my E46 just 2 days ago)  that I have enough 
opportunities to check things myself instead of relying on some lazy, 
incompetent organization to do it for me.

>Well,
>I found this curious, shouldn't the Inspection process I, II or whatever it
>is now should catch these "dangerous" conditions?  While it's very easy to
>look at stuff while it's on the rack, thats not whats it's there for.
>
>I guess your suggesting the owner should do a more frequent inspection
>process?  Although I would like to believe the oil changer would warn the
>owner if they see a critical fault, if it was easy to see.
>
>RussC
>
> > > -----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
>
>Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
>
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
>In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA.
>
>UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate
>Short Shifter - accept no substitutes!
>908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com

Kazuto Okayasu  Manager, Desktop Support Services
Administrative Computing Services, University of California, Irvine
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 01 Aug 2005 10:22:07 -0700
From: JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Kazuto Okayasu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

     If one is not inclined to do it themself, then its worth paying an 
indy shop straight labor just to check the items for you, separate from 
paid labor to do any service or repairs.
     My short time as a dealer service advisor taught me that "Check" 
means make a check mark in the box next to where the item is listed.
I've also seen brake fluid flushes where the fluid bottle was removed, 
dumped, replaced and refilled.  Many dealers view service customers as 
an open wallet to try to take money out of.
     In the times of valve decarbonization, any rough running condition 
when an inspection I or II wasn't yet due was supposed to be sold the 
decarb job, needed or not.
     Not changing the trans and rear oil was another time saver.
     Most infamous was the one hour head gasket change on E30 325s where 
a floor jack was put under the exhaust downpipe, head unbolted, exhaust 
pipe jacked up on to raise head an inch or two, and the head gasket was 
r&r'ed bending it in that gap to get it out and in.  Then warranty was 
charged 3 hours, or customer pay 6.
     On 'Jack, after the first free oil service at Park Avenue BMW the 
engine felt and sounded 'wrong', definitely different.  Went back to the 
dealer and they admitted using  house brand Quaker State dino oil in 
their oil changes instead of the factory specified 5w30 synthetic for my 
model, and redid the oil change correctly.
      At another dealer, the 'free' inspection II left the gas mileage 
noticeably down by a few mpg.  I found two incorrect spark plugs 
installed, single electrode type, and both had been bent up to small 
gaps by piston contact.  They also didn't replace the air and micro 
filters, meaning that what was supposed to be my new filters went home 
with the tech.
     With all the time shaving, unnecessary service sold, and sold 
services not performed, is it any wonder some dealer techs get paid for 
over 80 book hours a week?
Barry



Kazuto Okayasu wrote:

> At 11:59 PM 7/31/2005, RussC wrote:
>
> An independent shop probably would.  Lately, dealers are in too much 
> of a hurry to seem to care.  My (free) Inspection I seemed really 
> half-assed.  I didn't even get a copy of the BMWNA checklist, and 
> there were fasteners I know they would have needed to undo that they 
> never touched.  Pissed me off so much that I never bothered getting 
> the next free Oil Service.   I have my cars up on a lift often enough 
> myself (like my E46 just 2 days ago)  that I have enough opportunities 
> to check things myself instead of relying on some lazy, incompetent 
> organization to do it for me.
>
>> Well,
>> I found this curious, shouldn't the Inspection process I, II or 
>> whatever it
>> is now should catch these "dangerous" conditions?  While it's very 
>> easy to
>> look at stuff while it's on the rack, thats not whats it's there for.
>>
>> I guess your suggesting the owner should do a more frequent inspection
>> process?  Although I would like to believe the oil changer would warn 
>> the
>> owner if they see a critical fault, if it was easy to see.
>>
>> RussC
>

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 15:43:54 -0400
From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Let's all sing!

"Blue skies smiling on me
Nothing but blue skies do I see
Blue birds singing a song
Nothing but blue skies from now on."


The day I start letting a dealership be solely responsible for diagnosing my
maintenance is the day I lease a Prius.

- Rob


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RussC" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [UUC] oil change interval, now inspecting also...


> Well,
> I found this curious, shouldn't the Inspection process I, II or whatever
it
> is now should catch these "dangerous" conditions?  While it's very easy to
> look at stuff while it's on the rack, thats not whats it's there for.
>
> I guess your suggesting the owner should do a more frequent inspection
> process?  Although I would like to believe the oil changer would warn the
> owner if they see a critical fault, if it was easy to see.
>
> RussC


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 14:51:37 -0500
From: Jamie Howton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

> The day I start letting a dealership be solely responsible for diagnosing my
> maintenance is the day I lease a Prius.

I second that, although I might go the Boxster route since you can't
get to the engines on those either ;-).

-- 
Jamie Howton
2000 M5
1995 M3
Hampshire, IL


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 17:04:16 -0400
From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: oil change interval, now inspecting also...
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Much better idea, should have thought of that.

I see a guy at the local WaWa every morning in a Prius.  He built a tray out
of cardboard that slots right into the dash so he can support his coffee and
bagel while he reads the newspaper... invariably in a front-row spot.

- Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jamie Howton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [UUC] oil change interval, now inspecting also...


> > The day I start letting a dealership be solely responsible for
diagnosing my
> > maintenance is the day I lease a Prius.
>
> I second that, although I might go the Boxster route since you can't
> get to the engines on those either ;-).
>
> -- 
> Jamie Howton


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 08:39:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Steve.Goldstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: <eta> FS: New-in-box cold start injector
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

I sold the beater 325e several years ago, but yesterday during
a garage excavation I found a shiny-new-in-the-box Bosch cold
start injector, part number 0 280 170 031.  This is for the eta
engine as in 325e and 528e.  Bavarian want $130 for this, and
the lowest price I noticed in a 5-minute web search was $111.
Yours for $65 delivered in the US.  First come, first served.
Please email to   [EMAIL PROTECTED]   if interested.

Thanks.

Steve

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 12:56:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Steve.Goldstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <eta> FS: New-in-box cold start injector -- SOLD
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Like the title says, it's been sold.

Thanks for the bandwidth.

steve

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 20:35:18 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: <E36> behind-the-dash gurgle?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


Got this bizzare noise coming from (what sounds like) behind my instrument
cluster.  Sort of a gurgle.  Not periodic, but always there.  Car running or
not.  Car having sat idle for days or not.  Hot or cold.  Independant of
climate control settings of any kind.  Not the little fan in the cabin
temperature control unit.  Really does sound like it's from behind the
instrument cluster.  If I had a mechanical clock in my instrument cluster, I'd
say that's what it was.  But there is nothing mechanical here... is there?

Anybody got any thoughts?  I'd like to have a better idea of what I'm looking
for before I start tearing my interior apart.

- Kevin Jay
  '96 328is, red/tan, 95K, usual H&R/Bilstein setup, a few M3 parts, gurgle
  '02 X5 3.0, white/tan, 35K, bone stock, no gurgle


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 19:40:26 -0700
From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: <E36> behind-the-dash gurgle?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

disconnect the battery and let us know if it's still gurgling.  If it is I'd
call an exterminator.  Or maybe a priest.

Marco

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Kevin Jay
(Mr.Fabulous)
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 6:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UUC] <E36> behind-the-dash gurgle?



Got this bizzare noise coming from (what sounds like) behind my instrument
cluster.  Sort of a gurgle.  Not periodic, but always there.  Car running or
not.  Car having sat idle for days or not.  Hot or cold.  Independant of
climate control settings of any kind.  Not the little fan in the cabin
temperature control unit.  Really does sound like it's from behind the
instrument cluster.  If I had a mechanical clock in my instrument cluster,
I'd
say that's what it was.  But there is nothing mechanical here... is there?

Anybody got any thoughts?  I'd like to have a better idea of what I'm
looking
for before I start tearing my interior apart.

- Kevin Jay
  '96 328is, red/tan, 95K, usual H&R/Bilstein setup, a few M3 parts, gurgle
  '02 X5 3.0, white/tan, 35K, bone stock, no gurgle

Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]


__________________________________________________________________________
In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA.

UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate
Short Shifter - accept no substitutes!
908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com


------------------------------

End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(11 messages)
**********

Reply via email to