I'm sure this will bore everybody to death,but I for one have enjoyed going into the archives looking at other oil-related articles-so here's mine!
I purchased my 1982 240d on Feb.8,2004.I did my first oil change on Feb. 11 at 237,251 miles.I used a filter purchased at the dealer along with Mobil 10-30 5000 Extended Life oil(it was the only "C" rated dino-oil I could find in 10-30 weight).According to the maintenance records that came with the car(I appear to be the 4th owner)the oil was last changed Mar.1,2001 at 228,100 miles.I'm not sure if this is correct because this entry was in the last available spot in the Maintenance Booklet,but it is a possibility.The owner before me owned the car 2 years and drove it less than 4k miles.When I did this first change,it was before I found this site,so as hard as it is to believe that a guy can't do an oil change right-well,that was me.The weather was very cold,and the old oil dripped forever-so,being used to Chevys and Buicks,I put the drain plug back in and filled it up.It took only 5 quarts which I thought was strange as capacity is 7-but like I said this was a whole new experience to me.The thing that really got me was that when I checked the level before even starting the car-it was PITCH BLACK!It was as if I never even changed it!I then found this site,and read about the 2 small oil rings on the cap stem.I drove it 1100 miles and changed the oil and filter again on 3-11-05.I found that the o-rings needed replaced-I originally thought the bottom one was a steel ring!I couldn't get the new o-rings in time,so I went ahead without replacing them-but this time I let it drain all day and it took 5.5 quarts to fill.Again-oil was very black before even starting the car.I then drove it 1200 miles and changed oil/filter again yesterday.Came out pitch black-let it drain all day-replaced the o-rings-filled it to check the level-and it was CLEAN!!!!I was very happy!It took a full 6 quarts to fill.Checked the level after I got to work this morning-and it was still relatively clean!So now I will be on a regular 3k change schedule.