Best preventative maintenance practices/upgrades?

[cozmicf]

Hi all,
I bought a 2011 135i DCT a few months ago and want to make it as reliable as possible. I therefore created this thread to ask you guys what you think the most important things to do are to keep the car as reliable as possible.

The things I know about so far from reading through this forum are:
1. Oil changes at least every 10,000km. Some say 5,000km but is this overkill?
2. Upgrade the chargepipe, even for stock cars. Mine has the MHD stage 1 tune(I don't plan to really go any further in terms of performance).
3. Walnut blast since I'm nearing 100,000km

What else is on everyone's must do list to keep the car running well?

[champignon]

Bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye!

[cozmicf]

Originally Posted by champignon

Bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye!

[Gangplank]

Regular maint., keep a schedule.

[champignon]

It is comforting to think that if only you changed certain fluids or filters or whatever more often than recommended by the MFR, that all will be well and the car will go on to perform without issues, virtually forever. This is like thinking that having mammograms and colonoscopies will allow you to live forever, when in reality this just makes it more likely that you will die from something else.

Treat your car with respect; garage it if possible and in any event keep it protected from the elements and away from extreme temperatures when not being driven. Don't abuse the car when you are actually driving it. Don't continue to drive the car when it starts to act up, get it checked out as soon as possible. Follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance and servicing intervals.

If you do these things, odds are that your car will give you good service and will have only occasional issues requiring attention.

[desertman123]

Have you done trans fluid?

[cozmicf]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Have you done trans fluid?

Ah that's a good one I forgot. What's the recommended interval for that?

[zx10guy]

Extended warranty.....

[sixburgh]

Cooling system renew every 2 years! Oil change every 3,000-4,000 miles! Brake fluid change every two years!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by cozmicf

1. Oil changes at least every 10,000km. Some say 5,000km but is this overkill?

Nope. Especially since you are in a very warm climate. The Germans think that "normal" climate is what we have here in Germany winters from -8'C to summers of 27'C. SOmetimes we get a week or two at 34'C but that's not so normal. So yeah... change those fluids; transmission, diff, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid even power steering fluid.

I try to change my engine oil every 6K kms but sometimes I end up going 10K. But the old oil is so black(and watery with gas) that I prefer to only go 6K kms OCI.

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

... But the old oil is so black(and watery with gas) that I prefer to only go 6K kms OCI.

Really, Dack? Gas in your oil? Yikes! That can't be good for the bearings, or rings or anything.

Peace... Mack

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mackeroni

Really, Dack? Gas in your oil? Yikes! That can't be good for the bearings, or rings or anything.

Peace... Mack

Its just I have noticed when I go longer on my oil change intervals(OCI)... when I look at the oil coming out of the sump and into my catch pan... the oil is quite fluid/watery-like. This is why I tend to go with a short OCI. Just think of the expensive vanos, timing chain, and other internal parts that can wear out. I would rather err on a short OCI than to have to pay big bucks for a new timing chain and guides or vanos.

When I first bought my car... by the time I reached 15K miles... I had changed the oil FIVE times. Some say that's silly... I say I am just school'd in the old way of engine breakin & maintenance!

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Its just I have noticed when I go longer on my oil change intervals(OCI)... when I look at the oil coming out of the sump and into my catch pan... the oil is quite fluid/watery-like. This is why I tend to go with a short OCI. Just think of the expensive vanos, timing chain, and other internal parts that can wear out. I would rather err on a short OCI than to have to pay big bucks for a new timing chain and guides or vanos.

When I first bought my car... by the time I reached 15K miles... I had changed the oil FIVE times. Some say that's silly... I say I am just school'd in the old way of engine breakin & maintenance!

I understand the extra protection afforded by more frequent oil changes, not to mention the peace of mind. But if I thought I had a discernible amount of gasoline leaching into my oil I would be very interested to find the cause and repair it.

Peace... Mack

[cozmicf]

Ok so I will be getting the following things done soon:

1. Oil + oil filter change (does the filter need to be changed every time?)
2. Spark plugs
3. Chargepipe upgrade
4. Walnut blast
5. Wheel alignment
6. Other fluids: transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, differential fluid

1-5 will be done within the next month. 6 I still have to nut out the costs and relative priorities of.

This is in order of priority, so let me know if anything is out of place.

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by cozmicf

Ok so I will be getting the following things done soon:

1. Oil + oil filter change (does the filter need to be changed every time?)
2. Spark plugs
3. Chargepipe upgrade
4. Walnut blast
5. Wheel alignment
6. Other fluids: transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, differential fluid

1-5 will be done within the next month. 6 I still have to nut out the costs and relative priorities of.

This is in order of priority, so let me know if anything is out of place.

Just my opinions:
1. Yes... change the filter every time.
2. Consider installing new coils at the same time
3. Ok, not sure why.
4. Not sure the walnut blast is needed on the N55. Check first.
5. Yes, by all means, align the wheels!
6. Keep all fluids fresh and full. Your car will love you.

Enjoy the ride!

Peace... Mack

[cozmicf]

Originally Posted by mackeroni

Just my opinions:
1. Yes... change the filter every time.
2. Consider installing new coils at the same time
3. Ok, not sure why.
4. Not sure the walnut blast is needed on the N55. Check first.
5. Yes, by all means, align the wheels!
6. Keep all fluids fresh and full. Your car will love you.

Enjoy the ride!

Peace... Mack

Thanks. For number 3, I'm upgrading the chargepipe since I've read that's a common point of failure, especially when you have any kind of tune (I have MHD Stage 1).

People seem to be pretty split on the walnut blast requirement, still tossing that up since it costs around $550+.

As for all the other fluids, I don't really know yet which ones to prioritise, and I've even heard changing the transmission fluid can sometimes stuff up the transmission since it lets through a lot of dirt and other stuff through that's been clogged up for while. Will have to do more research on these fluids.

[desertman123]

For the trans yeah flushes and shit can upset normal torque converter autos but you have a dual clutch so it's still recommend.

I'd do brake fluid and trans first, the others you can do later. New brake fluid feels amazing if it hasn't been done in a while.

If you really wanna see the condition of everything you can send an engine oil sample (or any other fluid) to Blackstone labs