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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
You can believe that if you want to, but I don't think it is true. The car goes 15k miles between oil changes because bmw uses synthetic oil and because the engines are made to certain standards that will permit it to go that distance. Seems to easy these days to believe everything is a conspiracy theory.
VW now covers all maintenance for 3 years or 36000 miles but nothing extraordinary. They just feel their cars will sell better if people believe they don't have to worry about any maintenance issues for 3 years.
Funny, because bmw builds a superior engine that can go 15k miles between oil changes, it is a plot so your car will fall apart when it is out of warranty.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Conspiracy or not, if I'm dropping 50K+ on a car I am in NO WAY going 15K or even 10K between oil changes.
What does a synthetic oil change cost? $75? So in an average year of driving I would spend an extra $150? Cheap insurance for a $7500 engine IMHO.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
You'll probably void the warranty by changing the oil too often.
These days people change the oil way to often, which just leads to unnecesary strain on the environment.
The engineers have made the engine more fuel and oil efficient...if it was done to save money every automotive magazine and website would tell you to change your oil before 15k miles.
In the olden days you would be correct to change your oil before the specified times. Today, the cars are engineered to go longer without fear of breaking down. The oil is analyzed and tested by the car, I think it can do this better than my eyeball.
$150 a year is not a big deal, but why spend it if you really don't have to.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am not so sure, I think they offered the plan when oil changes were more frequent.
I don't think bmw would jeopardize their reputation by having people abuse their cars by driving too far between oil changes. It would lead to unhappy current owners, who are their best bet for buying another BMW.
It would also ruin their reputation for certified used cars. And would be a huge risk for people who bought extended warranties. In my opinion, it would be a huge risk to the reputation and buying cycle of bmw owners to have cars go further than they should without a change of oil.
On a related topic, we have signed up to go for a one hour test drive in a 2013 3 Series next week.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It is but just don't get caught.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Been busy.
Business leasing can offer a lot of tax benefits, but only to the extent that it is a business expense. I would be weary of using the car for anything but business and especially if it is a family owned business.
Unless you are driving a high end vehicle you might be better off owning your own vehicle and getting the business to reimburse you for business miles or writing them off your taxes.
That being said a lot of family owned businesses do lease cars as a business expense for their families use. But I officially do not advise doing that.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Hey, I have a great Lutefisk recipe:
1.) Take a Lutefisk.
2.) Throw it away.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
A guy at work bought a new Honda and a couple of days after he got it a State Trooper backing out of a parking space hit him.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There is a Mitsu dealer a block away from where I work, I actually walk past it during my lunch time walk. They had the i-mev at the corner that I walk by, so I took a look at it. Not a bad little car but pricy. But I figured its about 25 miles round trip for me and they have chargers at work so the electrical cost for me would be very minimal (if at all).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Another day or two of feeling miserable and the recovery should be underway!
My Fiance watches a show called "Bizarre Foods" the host of that show (Andrew Zimmerman) is a braver man than I.
Fezo, many wishes that the recovery starts ASAP!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
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Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
There is one difference, though - mineral oil was abandoned twenty years ago as a lubricant for engine and they have there much more leverage over the owners when it comes to required maintenance to honor warranty claims. So, nobody would dare to put anything other than specified oil (even brand matters), they would also use authorized service stations to do it. In exchange, they don't have to go as often to be skinned by the service.
I think most manufacturers stick here to old-style recommendations to protect themselves from owners and off-brand garages using substandard or simply inappropriate oil types and grades. This country has a long history of owners and some garages not grasping concept of modern engine requiring specific oil grade and type. Bunch of blown Chrysler or Benz engines in 80s and 90s come to mind.
There could also be a "scratch my back" aspect of this, too. The dealers, who also own garages, may not like to hear that those new car owners don't have to come every three months. Those so-called dealer (and Jiffy Lube types) recommendations are already way too frequent, but they would trully look stupid if a new run-the-mills Civic or Chevy had an interval of 12K-15K miles, rather than its current 6K-8K, granted on special oil, which means more per service, but much less overall.
I only wait what will happen when the new crop of those turbocharged engines, so common now, receives those 20 dollar oil changes. Frequent changes may help a litlle, but I bet there will be assertions that those new engines only last 60K miles and drop the turbos. Never mind, viscosity really matters, when you spin at 5-10 times engine speed. "I always put same oil at 3 thousand miles and it was fine".
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I agree with that but back in ’05 when I got the XG350 it was replacing a ’97 Monte Carlo that had a bad head gasket due to it drinking water (water in the oil) at 67K miles. Since it was a 6 and you should never replace just one, the repair cost just wasn’t worth it especially since the AC went out in ’04. I wasn’t in dire need to replace it but it was a mild inconvenience not having a second car. I looked at that purchase as a pure A to B grocery getter and it was good for that until the engine blew up last November.
It rode a lot better than it looked and better than the ’06 Sonata LX we had at the same time. That’s why I kept it and traded the Sonata for the Genny in ’09. Even Mrs. j agreed with that decision except for the lack of bun warmers. And speaking of bun warmers, her ’12 Legacy has them and this was the mildest winter that I can ever remember. I only heard her comment once that she used them. Someday I might get my return on that investment. :confuse:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The Buick has a heated steering wheel. I can't think of a more useless option ever installed in a car.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Funny thing about heated seats & steering wheel. While the winter we had would definitely be classified as mild, this Spring has been erratic to say the least. Low - mid 30's some mornings. High 60's - low 70's some afternoons. My BMW is the odd man out. We've got a 2 car garage. My beloved Prelude occupies one side and her Pilot is on the other side. Since the BMW is leased, it stays outside. Some of these chilly (low-mid 30's) mornings I've had to use the heated seats and even the heated steering wheel twice.
Now I also have a slight dilemma. A friend of mine bought me a birthday/new car present. A car cover custom fitted for my 2001 Prelude. So now, do I keep the Prelude covered, inside and keep the BMW outside? Or do I keep the BMW inside (it's a rental) and keep the Prelude covered outside?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
These days people change the oil way to often, which just leads to unnecesary strain on the environment.
You might have something there and maybe my worthless Hyundai dealer didn’t know how to go about telling me that. So they picked on a mileage discrepancy with my oil log sheet. My ‘05 XG350 with around 43K miles in November of 2011 (bought at the end of April ’05) had no less than 15 oil changes. The last one done by the dealer in October 2011 and the first one done by me at 958 miles or there abouts. I know for sure that it was less than 1K miles.
With what you are saying, maybe I should hold off doing an oil change on the Genny this weekend. If nothing else I’m going to have someone verify my mileage entry into my oil log sheet. :surprise:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
As the owner of a turbo 4-cylinder engine (Mazda CX-7), this topic is of particular interest to me. I've already gotten a letter from Mazda indicating that the warranty has been extended on the engine, and there is an entire forum here at Edmunds where CX-7 owners can gripe about how Mazda screwed them (you'd like 'em, jmonroe - their stories are an awful lot like yours).
To ensure I don't have any issues down the road, I'm only taking my car to a Mazda dealer and use synthetic oil. My OCI is 5K, and the added expense is worth the piece of mind should the indescribable awful take place at 60-70K.
If you are looking to preserve the Prelude, keep it in the garage and use the cover. It will help keep the dust off and perhaps even prevent a scratch or two from someone carrying something past it.
I'm no car cover expert, but I know I've heard that using one outdoors can sometimes do more harm than good.
If you are for sure turning in the BMW at lease end, leave it outside. In three years even with moderate care, it will be fine. My leased vehicles after 3 years (ungaraged) look brand new.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I think you got some bad advice from your BIL. I would be SHOCKED if the Court was not sympathetic to your case. If you haven't signed a waiver or anything, your damages are still there. I would name the company and the dealer. You are in the right on this and you should not let them get away with it. Sue for the difference in value, etc.
It would be such a nice surprise for them at this point.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I probably won't see any signs of things getting better until into next week. At least I'm more comfortable these days. Turns out of you complain about the right stuff you get morphine. Another one will get you opium! I'm already on a push button as needed for the morphine which does let me sleep better. The opium starts later.
Hang in there and you never know, if you ask maybe the nurses will dress up like "Bunnies" for Easter.
I sold the car to the dealer with the blown engine in December 2011 for $2800 so it is too late.
Mrs. jmonroe called the law office that I was thinking of using, if I pursued this, after I sold the car and she asked if anything could be done now that we sold the car. The answer was no because it wasn’t ours any more. I told her that but she had to hear it for herself. They said again what I said in a previous post, namely, “it isn’t as cut and dried as it would first appear and it would take a while, probably months to settle”. On top of that, this was not going to be at no charge to me. So who knows how much that could have been?
This is probably the way the big guys usually win because they can wait us out. I had no place to store the car other than in my driveway and that would have been a real inconvenience since I have a front driveway.
FWIW, I think I have another fellow employee that is going to let the dealer know why they aren’t going to get a sale from him. If nothing else, I’m getting a little fun out of this. I’m just glad something like this didn’t happen when I was raising a family because the hit would have been harder to take. Now, other than my pride, it doesn’t amount to much.
Using the ‘driver method’ of rationalizing car expenses, I have saved my times the $3K additional I could have gotten for the car if it was sold with a good engine, by doing my own car maintenance over the years. Plus, if I want to make myself feel even better about this I still have that savings account where I deposit the costs of would be extended warranties that I have declined over the years for everything I bought. That account alone was way more than $3K, and I just made an $1100 deposit for a declined extended warranty when we bought the Subie. Pretty soon I’m going to buy a new TV so that account will grow even more.
Having said all of that, if it was legal, I’d still like to wring the service manages neck. :mad:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Each day is another day closer! Glad to note you've got your eye on the end of the tunnel. We're all here rooting for you Fezo.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Fentanyl lozenges (Actiq) are a solid formulation of fentanyl citrate on a stick in the form of a lollipop that dissolves slowly in the mouth for transmucosal absorption. These lozenges are intended for opioid-tolerant individuals and are effective in treating breakthrough cancer pain.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Your Hyundai story just won't go away and you finally broke me down.
A few weeks ago, a pedestrian was fatally hit by a car not far from where I live.
Some background:
I usually leave the house around 5:20 am or so, but that day I left about 5 minutes earlier. It's still dark.
Since I usually leave around the same time, I see some of the same cars either going in the same direction or opposite on a regular basis.
One car that always stood out driving west as I would drive east was, as it turns out, a 1989 Mustang hatchback. It always caught my eye because I have a 1991, which looks similar.
I didn't see the Mustang that day, but I did see a white sedan at the gas station I drive by. I always look in case someone is going to exit the station as I pass.
A few minutes later, the driver of the Mustang hit a person in the road, who unfortunately passed away.
There were some pictures of the scene on the local news station websites.
There was the Mustang with the windshield caved in (that's how I knew it was the same car I often saw).
The morbid part was another picture of 2 loafers in the road pointed in the direction of traffic and the white sedan.
The theory is that the person left the gas station, drove up the road a few hundred yards until there was a break down lane, pulled over, then waited and stepped out in front of the next vehicle to happen along.
Guess what the white sedan was? :sick:
To turn this back to a topic relevant to the thread, I planted a seed about replacing the '02 Explorer today.
It's spring, maybe it will germinate.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Your friend will be happy.
Even in a garage, the sun can take it's toll.
I keep my Mustang covered and it doesn't usually get any direct sun on the cover, but the outside is very faded compared to the inside.
Not only that, you now have a lot of extra storage space in the garage to put things on.
Currently, my covered car is 'storing' the empty packaging from the string for my trimmer, garage door opener manuals, the new Explorer cross bars, some extra Pergo flooring, and some empty cardboard boxes.
I really like having a heated steering wheel. First, it can get cold up here in the winter and a heated steering wheel can feel really good.
Even if my hands are sore from too much tennis a heated steering wheel can help aching muscles in the hands.
Heated seats are good in the cold, but also feels good if you have a sore back. I wouldn't mind a massage button for the back too.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's about an oil change every 3000 miles! If you didn't do them as often there is less chance you would have missed writing it down.
I would go the limit before you change oil in the Gennie, and let them do it. The savings from doing it less often and letting them do it will be well worth it. Changing oil more often than necessary is a carry over from the old days when it did make sense.
Doesn't the Gennie have a service light that will come on when your oil needs changing. I'd let the dealer do it, it's like paying for insurance - it becomes their responsibility.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Cadillac had massaging seats in the DTS. Get one for your Florida car, you will fit right in.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
What a great idea! Does it come with a masseuse?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I do more. I keep a receipt of the oil and filter purchase. This shows I bought the correct oil. I write the milage and date of the oil change on this receipt. This is kept in my 'car file'.
He is buying a new house and selling the old. Probably just super busy!
Or... he is having his will changed to leaving everything to Fezo.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Expensive storage cabinets!
There must be a better way!
People use their garages for everything but putting their car into, safely, where it won't be vandalized or deteriorate from the climate.
Garage holds all the useless junk while the $30000 car sits in the driveway or road.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Very profound.
Note-after rereading: Oh I see....it is in the title. Yeh, come to think of it, where is he?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I know and I did it often to prevent what happened anyway. So much for what I know or is it? They know even less. See below.
I would go the limit before you change oil in the Gennie, and let them do it.
I think the limit is 7500 miles but I’ll have to check that to be sure although I won’t be taking it to the limit. I’m going to try not taking it to them for oil changes if I can help it. If you want to know why, go to a few posts for my reasons:
Got a Quick Question for a Car Dealer: posts 1191 and 1210
Stories from the Sales Frontlines: post 48743
After reading these I have to ask you how confident you’d be going to them? And let’s not forget that this same POS dealer did the last oil change on the XG350 in October 2011 before the engine blew up in November and according to the windshield sticker they put 5W20 oil in it but it calls for 10W30. I’m not saying that was the problem but it is saying they don’t know what they are doing.
Doesn't the Gennie have a service light that will come on when your oil needs changing. I'd let the dealer do it, it's like paying for insurance - it becomes their responsibility.
The Genny does not have an oil sensing system and neither does the ’12 Subie. I guess you can say I have low tech machines. Although this doesn’t bother me because I’m so used to doing it with a dip stick, any other way will confuse me. I’ve already commented about it being “their responsibility”. As it turns out they have none.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I remember your posts and your problems with them. I don't think you can let them handle the oil changes now because if something goes wrong they will blame it on you...or will get out of taking responsibility.
I agree, you don't need a service light to know when to do an oil change. I would do the same if oil changes are scheduled for 7500 miles I would do them at around 5000 - manufacturers want to make their cars seem to be be economical.
I just read 94% of Suburus are on the road after 10 years, so they will make a new maintenance schedule that will get you to 300k miles from the current 100k miles.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I am sure that is it!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Not mine, it holds both cars, three bikes (two hybrids and a road bike), a lawn mower, garden tools, two ladders, garbage can, recycling bins, my tool box, a few bins of stuff and a (hopefully) soon to be dead mouse.
But there was this house near where I used to live. Everytime we went by and they had the garage door open all you could see was floor to ceiling boxes. :surprise:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
To ensure I don't have any issues down the road, I'm only taking my car to a Mazda dealer and use synthetic oil. My OCI is 5K, and the added expense is worth the piece of mind should the indescribable awful take place at 60-70K.
Several thoughts:
As I understand it, the warranty is extended on the turbo and the variable valve timing actuator. Both items on my 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 failed within the original warranty period.
I use synthetic oil in all my vehicles and I have the used oil analyzed at varying intervals. The analysis of the Mobil 1 5W-30 indicates that a 7,500 oil change interval is perfectly safe.
In contrast, the normally aspirated six cylinder in my wife's X3 depletes the additive package in every synthetic oil I've used by 10,000 miles. No way will I go longer than 9,000 miles between changes on that truck.
And yet here is the lab's summary of the analysis of the oil in my Club Sport track toy after 8,250 miles:
Your BMW's engine appears to be doing quite well at 125,244 miles. Our universal averages show normal wear for the M42 4-cylinder after 3,800 miles of oil use. You ran this 0W/40 oil well past that mark, so it was nice to see all metals reading close to or below average. They were also in balance to one another and that shows normally wearing parts and no mechanical problems brewing. The oil's TBN was 5.7, meaning there was lots of active additive left. A reading of 1.0 means it is too low.
Go figure...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive