Dealer Servicing - Oil Warning

[sproggy]

Yes, another oil thread

I was talking oil with a member of staff at a main dealer this morning. I learned that if you take your oilhead (1100, 1150 or 1200) in to a main dealer now for a service they will fill it with 3.75 litres of 10W50 fully synthetic oil (Castrol Power 1) because that's what B*W tell them to use. This will cost you.....wait for it.....£60 for the oil alone.

However, you can request that they use 20W50 mineral in which case they'll use 'B*W Power' 20W50 which is in fact Castrol Actevo. Bizarrely, it's cheaper to buy this BMW-branded than it is Castrol-branded, although my dealer keeps both For your 3.75 litres at service time you'll be charged £20. I paid £18 for 4 litres as I needed oil today and couldn't get it elsewhere locally.

So for those who go to a dealer for servicing it's worth asking about oil and saving yourself £40 in the process.

The guy reeled off the list of oils that B*W have recommended over the years since the oilheads were introduced - apparently Castrol GTX was in there as well as GP, GPS, then Actevo and now Power 1, but I've missed out a few I didn't remember. £60 worth of oil for a clunky old oilhead? No thanks - a 12k mile service costs me less than that all in.

Why does an engine that needed a normal mineral oil when it was new now need fully synthetic? Discuss.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

My dealer uses Putoline 20/50 now and before that 10/40 and have done for years

 

[Steptoe]

Why does an engine that needed a normal mineral oil when it was new now need fully synthetic? Discuss.....

Simples - Because BMW and castrol have a business arrangment. All out in the open and above board.

 

[sproggy]

Simples - Because BMW and castrol have a business arrangment. All out in the open and above board.

I get that, but the mineral oil they keep as an alternative for people who know to ask is also made by Castrol. I understand it from a business sense (if the profit margin is higher on the synthetic) but I don't know how they justify it from an engineering point of view.

Maybe they just assume that anyone who takes a bike to them for a service can afford the extra £40 without noticing.....

 

[Littledumptruck]

Maybe they just assume that anyone who takes a bike to them for a service can afford the extra £40 without noticing.....

Doesn't this actually start with the act of buying the bike in the first place. 20% premium just because bmw owners can afford to pay it, servicing, accessories just follow along the same path.

As long as the residuals stay firm, they'll get away with it.

 

[wreck diver]

As the 1150,s were happy to run on 10/40 for years with out a problem,is the fully synthetic worth changing to?
After all its changed every 6k.

 

[Corporal Punishment]

When I bought my 1100, I was told to use 50W without fail, as 40W will cause the big ends to start knocking within 30,000 miles. I'm not saying it's right but I now always stick in 50W. Safe than sorry. I do my own servicing so I have full control over what gets put in and onto the bike.

The person who advised me is a long term beemer head and has an encyclopoedic knowledge of all things BMW and is quite a sensible fella.

 

[sproggy]

When I bought my 1100, I was told to use 50W without fail, as 40W will cause the big ends to start knocking within 30,000 miles.

(that was a joke, right?)

The person who advised me is a long term beemer head and has an encyclopoedic knowledge of all things BMW and is quite a sensible fella.

I'd ask for a second opinion if I were you. And be careful who you believe.

 

[Mzokk]

BMW Quote SF spec for the 1150 Oilhead.

I'd say for ultimate protection a synthetic 5w,10W,15W-50w oil will always be better than mineral cos it won't loose viscosity over its service life so much, particularly in an air cooled engine which will operate over a wider temperature range than an engine cooled by a water jacket.

Don't think that using a mineral oil will make your bike blow up though as long as the required amount of the right spec is in the sump and changed at the required intervals. I suppose it may wear out marginally more quickly. might require a 100-200K experiment though

Interestingly (or not!) My 2006 R1 can make do with an SE spec oil according to the Manual. Maybe because it is water cooled?? Revs to 14K mind

At 5C (40F) or higher
Yamalube 4 (20W40) or SAE 20W40
type SE motor oil
At 15C (60F) or lower
Yamalube 4 (10W30) or SAE 10W30
type SE motor oil

 

[Steptoe]

Interestingly (or not!) My 2006 R1 can make do with an SE spec oil according to the Manual. Maybe because it is water cooled??

What is the oil change frequency

A friend of mine did 300K despatch miles on his 1150GS using mineral oil.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I get that, but the mineral oil they keep as an alternative for people who know to ask is also made by Castrol. I understand it from a business sense (if the profit margin is higher on the synthetic) but I don't know how they justify it from an engineering point of view.

Maybe they just assume that anyone who takes a bike to them for a service can afford the extra £40 without noticing.....

Are you understanding the BMW dealer business model ?

rip everyone off as much as possible, until they complain.
When they do, give them a discount.


bit like the govt

 

[Wrigsby1]

I worked for a dealer for 18 months in the 1150 era and I have never heard so much shite talked about oil than during that time. I had a full justification given me by the parts guy about why Castrol GPS cost nearly twice as much from them in a service as for 5 ltrs from halfords across the road. If they ran out of 10-40 they used 20-50. There was also the oil from the factory that seemed to be some mystery agent but was mixable with normal stuff. Remember dealer guys are salesmen 1st!

BM changed their mind during this time about oil and non of it ever made any real sense. I now do my own servicing!

 

[sproggy]

I'd say for ultimate protection a synthetic 5w,10W,15W-50w oil will always be better than mineral cos it won't loose viscosity over its service life so much, particularly in an air cooled engine which will operate over a wider temperature range than an engine cooled by a water jacket.

With 6k mile service intervals it's highly unlikely that a mineral oil will degrade significantly before you change it. And the oilhead motors are not air-cooled - they're oil-cooled (that's why they have an oil cooler with a thermostat) and this keeps the operating temperature far more even than in an air-cooled motor. OK, so they're a bit air-cooled but the oil cooling does a lot of the work in terms of keeping the temperature stable and taking excess heat away from the heads.

 

[trebor]

Having read a few threads now regarding BMW switching to fully synthetic oil at service time, whilst I was in Southport Superbikes this morning for the fuel pump enhancement on my 1200 I thought I'd ask them what their policy was. On GSs they still use Castrol ActEvo 20W-50 mineral oil.

 

[pomm001]

Doesn't this actually start with the act of buying the bike in the first place. 20% premium just because bmw owners can afford to pay it, servicing, accessories just follow along the same path.

As long as the residuals stay firm, they'll get away with it.

Dont think this is just BMW
Dealers charge telephone number prices for oil, they alway have done,its because we want the dealer stamp in the book. captive market.
Although for that money i would want more than a 6000 change interval.

Here's a question
what would happen if you took your bike into the dealers with your own oil could they refuse to use it ?

anyone !

 

[FatAl]

Dont think this is just BMW
Dealers charge telephone number prices for oil, they alway have done,its because we want the dealer stamp in the book. captive market.
Although for that money i would want more than a 6000 change interval.

Here's a question
what would happen if you took your bike into the dealers with your own oil could they refuse to use it ?

anyone !

When both my Aprilia Tuono and Triumph 1050 Tiger were under warranty I had them dealer serviced, on all occassions I took in my own engine oil (Rock Oil Guardian semi synthetic) as it was a lot cheaper, they did not object to this.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Dont think this is just BMW
Dealers charge telephone number prices for oil, they alway have done,its because we want the dealer stamp in the book. captive market.
Although for that money i would want more than a 6000 change interval.

Here's a question
what would happen if you took your bike into the dealers with your own oil could they refuse to use it ?

anyone !

To 2nd this, ahem

This is exactly what some guys did at the dealer i was at. Why don't you all do it and get an instant 15-20 quid discount on your dealer stamp.....sorry, service. Watch the "sundries" though

 

[mac163]

GS Oil info

Hi,
Here is another interesting link for GS oils from castrol.
OK, it is 1200gs based - but highlights some valid general points,
Cheers,
Mac


http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...a&pageId=99039

 

[sproggy]

Hi,
Here is another interesting link for GS oils from castrol.
OK, it is 1200gs based - but highlights some valid general points,
Cheers,
Mac


http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...a&pageId=99039

Link doesn't work

 

[Sgt Bilco]

From my dealers mouth this morning:

If the bike is under warranty, they have to use the Castrol synthetic, if it's not under warranty, you can have what the feck you like.

I wouldn't have though this affcets any 1150's so just ask them to put whatever slippery stuff you would like into the old girl