Which Engine Oil

It's that time for me, some advice please guys.

Car is a 2003 BMW 330ci.

Since I have owned it, I have always been using Castrol Edge 0W30. The car now has ~110k miles on the clock, and it drinks oil at quite an alarming rate. It feels like I need to top it up with 1 litre every 3-4 months! Is it because it's fairly high mileage, and do I need to change the oil I use or is the 0W30 still ok?

Oh and best place to buy oil from would be good too, might save me some searching around. :)
 
Unfortunately the 330i does seem to enjoy drinking oil. A litre every 3-4months is very good going assuming you are doing 10-12k miles a year, so quit ya whining! :)

I tend to find that mine starts using more oil when i'm closer to service time. Once serviced, it consumes very little for a few thousand miles. Maybe worth booking it in to National to have a complete oil change for £40 ish.

Oh and recently i bought some Mobil1 New Life stuff for £35 (iirc):

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_241643_langId_-1_categoryId_165581
 
I do about 10k a year, and unfortunately most of it is rubbish city driving through traffic to work and back. I try give it the odd blast on the motorway once in awhile though. I think I have noticed it drinking more recently probably as you say Gaygle because it's been getting closer to service time.

Kwikfit charge £30-£40 for a complete oil and oil filter change, but they use oil that is 10W60 for this car. When I rang my local BMW Specialists he said they use 5W30 Valvoline. I've been using, as I said Castrol 0W30 which made me think, am I still using the best oil for the car. I'm no expert on engine oils...
 
A) It's likely that town driving will be putting more strain on your engine - making the fact that you do 4-5k miles before needing a top up even more impressive.

B) Don't go to KwikFit ever again if they are recommending 10w60 oil for your car - this oil is for M3's only! Like i said, National Tyres will use the proper approved oil - but not sure what filters they use. Might be worth buying an OEM or BMW branded filter.

C) 5w30 Valvoline is fine - it's one of the cheaper approved oils, but approved none-the-less. 0w30 Castrol is fine for your car, as is 5w30 Valvoline, as is 0w40 Mobil1 New Life.
 
I've just googled my local National and given them a quick call. Gave him my car details and he confirmed for my car they use 5W30 Castrol and he said the exact price will be £35.50 for the oil and filter change. THANKS! :)
 
I think oil alone would have cost me around £70-£80 since I'd have to buy 2x 4 litre bottles, with the car needing ~6 litres. £35 is a bargain!
 
e36Adz said:
I've just googled my local National and given them a quick call. Gave him my car details and he confirmed for my car they use 5W30 Castrol and he said the exact price will be £35.50 for the oil and filter change. THANKS! :)
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And now begins the hoop jumping to get them to actually do it.

Mine ended with a refund from head office after the manager of my local branch called me and told me not to bother to come down after he saw the car I had. Head office got him to agree to do it but then he made life difficult by insisting I leave the car with them - all day.

For a 15 minute oil change?

He won - I gave up.
 
always ignores me when im drunk that Fox how goes the new car :)
 
[TW]Fox;19549473 said:
And now begins the hoop jumping to get them to actually do it.

Mine ended with a refund from head office after the manager of my local branch called me and told me not to bother to come down after he saw the car I had. Head office got him to agree to do it but then he made life difficult by insisting I leave the car with them - all day.

For a 15 minute oil change?

He won - I gave up.
Click to expand...

I'm booked in for Monday 3:30pm and they close at 6:00pm. I intend to stay there and watch them do it, obviously confirm the price before they start. I'll see how it goes but I'm definitely not leaving it there.
 
Just got back from National Tyres thinking I may encounter some 'issues, but luckily I didn't.

I rang them this morning to confirm it's alright that I bring my own filter, they said no problem. So I picked up a Bosch oil filter which cost me £4.79. Got there for around 3:20pm and told him I'd be waiting, handed him the filter and after around 5 minutes he got started on it. I watched him do it, and double checked with him what oil he'd be using. He replied the same as he uses on his, 0W30 Castrol Edge, he told me he owns a 330 cab. It cost me £35.50 and if you include the filter I provided, £40.29. Call it £45 if you include the subway I ate while I was down there. :p All in all, good service from them. Oh and they did me a quote for budget tyres all round before I left, £420 lol.
 
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