Earlier this month I took delivery of a car I dreamed about having since it came out, an e46 M3 convertible in Laguna Seca Blue with 95,000 miles on it. Dealer said that an oil change had been performed prior to listing the vehicle and there's a recent oil change sticker in the top left corner of the windshield, but the oil is overfilled and little darker than I would expect it to be based on my experiences with other oil changes.
I want to send off an oil sample to Blackstone to have them check for rod bearing wear, but how many miles should I wait before I send off a sample? Also, I know overfilling is bad, but should I just go ahead and change the oil and fill to the proper level and eat the $90 cost for parts and oil, or just run it for a couple thousand, or how ever many, miles or so until I can get a good sample to send off?
I would do both, drain off the current oil plus a sample, then wait the 3k for a second sample. If you are not sure that the oil was changed, better just to do it.
I only drive about 5k a year on my M3, as it get's stored in a garage for the winter, so every year it get's the oil sent to Blackstone.
So as a side story, I purchased a BMW this summer, a 2015 114i with 27k km, which they do not import to the U.S. The service book said it had 2 oil changes in it's life, not at a dealership, and the last one was done 6 months/4k km ago. The oil on the dipstick was dark as a moon-less night. So I decided on my own to change the oil, it had the original BMW oil filter in there. That told me it was the original oil, so it had never been changed, just because there is a sticker there doesn't mean it was actually done.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Thanks for the input! I figured a change and waiting was the way to go but wanted to get opinions from those more knowledgeable than me. I'm planning on only putting about 5k miles a year on my m3 as well as it'll be a weekend/nice weather car, so a yearly test cycle like your's seems like it might be ideal.
I always change the oil right before storage, so that is what I send in to be sampled. Also during the winter time, it gives me a chance to do any maintenance or repairs before next summer.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
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