This Broken BMW Engine Is Proof You Should Ignore Factory Oil Change Intervals

[Only118d 14]

This popped up on the WWW.  I assume this has come up many times on the forum.  

My 118d (B47) was on a 15,000km factory oil change interval (on the onboard system) which I always thought was too long....

Interesting to see the related engine tear down on youtube.  

This Broken BMW Engine Is Proof You Should Ignore Factory Oil Change Intervals (motor1.com)

BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder engines of the mid-2010s have developed a reputation for unreliability. That reputation comes from a number of different problems, the biggest of which—brittle plastic timing chain guides—caused a failure on this particular engine.

The I Do Cars YouTube channel managed to get its hands on a failed N26 four-cylinder for its latest teardown video, giving us an inside look at why so many of these engines fail. The leading theory is BMW's 15,000-mile oil change interval suggestion, allowing varnish and sludge to build up inside the engine while ruining the plastics and rubber.

This engine certainly supports this theory, going by the dark brown-stained metal in the head. Eric, the video's host, begins to find chunks of timing chain guide—which were plastic from the factory—as he digs deeper. His discoveries culminate at the oil pickup tube, which has been fully blocked by pieces of timing chain guide. 

The chunks were plentiful enough to clog the oil's path to the pump, starving the engine of vital oil and eventually causing lots of wear and damage. Surprisingly many of the internals were salvageable, so at least it's not all bad news.

These days, BMW recommends changing the oil on its cars every 10,000 miles—far fewer than before, but still not the 5,000 to 7,000-mile interval that you probably should follow. If this teardown is any proof, oil changes should always be a priority. Otherwise, you'll be paying the price down the line.

 

 

[Neal 544]

Used mainly factory oil change intervals for the last 38 years of BMW ownership.When sold the engines had done anything from 180,000 , couple in the 220,000 and one was still going strong at 330,000 kms. 

Must be other things going on with that article. Just saying.

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2009/oct/25/bmw-325-million-mile-motor

 

 

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

@Neal you won’t get clicks and likes and subscribers for your YouTube channel with that kind of positivity. Got to sensationalise things to get the attention.

Not sure what age the engine in question was but for ages the servicing and oil changing has been “condition based” and there’s a time factor as well.

And that’s all before you get into what oil to use.