What sort of maintenance on 135i looming at 50k Mi?

[bung206]

As in thread title.

Is there a recommended service schedule for this car somewhere that someone can link to? I love my car and want to invest in keeping it healthy. I bought it after it turned 5 with 30,000 miles on it so it'd have just been coming off the factory warranty/service schedule.

It's currently at 38k miles but I'll be touching on 50k miles by the end of the year. So assuming everything that needs to be done has been done already and recommended service schedules adhered to, what sort of stuff (other than routine maintenance like oil changes) should I be doing?

[Gangplank]

N54 orn55?

People tend to come up with their own maintenance now since BMW went to extended intervals w/ free maint. The car tracks the maint. and you can see what's coming up in the menus on the idrive or using the turn signal BC menu.

Here is the schedule I use, but you may not want to be as, shall we say, vigilant as I am with your own. I prefer maint. to repair bills.

BMW Maint. Sched.
Oil: 0w-40 or 5w-40 (LL-01)
Oil change: 5-7,500 mi.
Cabin air filter: 1 yr / 15k mi
Air filter: 2 yrs / 30k mi.
Brake fluid: 2 yrs / 30k mi.
Power steering fluid: 2 yrs / 30k mi
Coolant flush: 3 yrs / 36k mi.
Spark plugs: n54/n55 w/ PPK = 45k mi. or n55 = 60k
Differential & DCT trans: 60k mi.
Water pump, tstat, rad. cap: 6 yrs / 60k
Belts/hoses: as needed or 100k mi.
Fuel filter: 100k (in fuel tank)?
02 Sensors: 120k?

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

N54 orn55?

People tend to come up with their own maintenance now since BMW went to extended intervals w/ free maint. The car tracks the maint. and you can see what's coming up in the menus on the idrive or using the turn signal BC menu.

Here is the schedule I use, but you may not want to be as, shall we say, vigilant as I am with your own. I prefer maint. to repair bills.

BMW Maint. Sched.
Oil: 0w-40 or 5w-40 (LL-01)
Oil change: 5-7,500 mi.
Air Filter + Cabin air filter: 1 yr / 15k mi
Air filter: 2 yrs / 24k mi.
Brake fluid: 2 yrs / 30k mi.
Power steering fluid: 2 yrs / 30k mi
Coolant flush: 3 yrs / 36k mi.
Spark plugs: n54/n55 w/ PPK = 45k mi. or n55 = 60k
Differential & DCT trans: 60k mi.
Water pump, tstat, rad. cap: 6 yrs / 60k
Belts/hoses: as needed or 100k mi.
Fuel filter: 100k (in fuel tank)?
02 Sensors: 120k?

Unless you are driving in a very dirty/dusty environment I would not change your air filter before 30,000 miles. I would also make sure to use a BMW air filter.

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Unless you are driving in a very dirty/dusty environment I would not change your air filter before 30,000 miles. I would also make sure to use a BMW air filter.

Agree. That's the shorthand schedule I keep on my phone. Double checked it and made it 30k. I only drive 8-10k mi. yr. so I change it by time. I do Live in the desert southwest.

"Air Filter: Stock paper element, check every 15,000 miles, tap out dirt, replace if necessary, standard interval 30,000 miles, use Original BMW filters or aftermarket filters such as Knecht, MANN, Mahle, or Bosch."

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Unless you are driving in a very dirty/dusty environment I would not change your air filter before 30,000 miles. I would also make sure to use a BMW air filter.

No reason to pay extra for nothing. A Mann filter is fine. Air filters are also not some complex thing that no other company but Mann can make. Really not a big deal to get a big brand name at the auto parts store.

[Ric in RVA]

With as much damage a belt can do if you lose one I'd not wait to 100k.

Remember the design of these things encourages the belt to get sucked into the front seal and on to the timing chain and oil sump.

Belt is only a few minutes to change is pulleys are all good.

Pull the fan (two screws and unlatch from bottom.) lots of room to R&R belt.

[zx10guy]

I would compare an aftermarket one with an OE one. In general, for cars, I haven't noticed any differences per say in fitment/seal when going to a brand name at an auto parts store.

But with my Ducati, the OE air filter actually fit worse than an aftermarket. I swapped out the OE filter with an aftermarket one which had a way better seal around the air box.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by WDE82

No reason to pay extra for nothing. A Mann filter is fine. Air filters are also not some complex thing that no other company but Mann can make. Really not a big deal to get a big brand name at the auto parts store.

I don't think I am paying extra for nothing. Buying a BMW filter should guarantee that I get the same quality as the air filter that came from the factory. I don't have to worry that the filter company cheapened out on the filter media quality.

I mean keeping a filter for 30,000-40,000 miles, it better meet OE specs. And for a few dollars more, the cost per mile for buying OE is minuscule compared to buying aftermarket.

[WDE82]

But you are literally paying extra for nothing. Mann is just selling their filter to BMW who marks it up. Even without the Mann brand (say Napa or something), as I said, there is nothing special about a BMW filter.

The Mann filter is on Amazon Prime as well, so even better.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by WDE82

But you are literally paying extra for nothing. Mann is just selling their filter to BMW who marks it up. Even without the Mann brand (say Napa or something), as I said, there is nothing special about a BMW filter.

The Mann filter is on Amazon Prime as well, so even better.

I've bought Mann oil filters, which I thought were the exact same as the OE BMW factory oil filter at one time (and they were). However, the Mann oil filter does not fit as well as the BMW filter does, it is made in Mexico now as well and the filter media does not look exactly the same anymore either. If I buy the BMW air filter, I don't have to worry about these things and $3 is not a problem to me.

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

If you look through the packet of info that came with the vehicle, you'll find Service & Warranty Info.

It gives all the info to take care of the vehicle. The stuff is scattered through the paragraphs in the book. You can ignore the CBS nonsense and follow the simple guidelines.

The mistake most people make is doing too much service. For example, it recommends changing the plugs at 60K miles. Most want to do it way to early. What they don't realize is the modern plugs for turbo engines have no resemblance to those of yore.

Oil changes a 10K or yearly whatever come first. Again synthetic oils + 7 qts in the crankcase don't require more stringent service.

Other stuff you can eyeball for wear like the brake pads. It does say to change out the brake fluid every 2 years, but I consider that way too soon. I use test strips on it, since I have too may cars to do it that often.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

I've bought Mann oil filters, which I thought were the exact same as the OE BMW factory oil filter at one time (and they were). However, the Mann oil filter does not fit as well as the BMW filter does, it is made in Mexico now as well and the filter media does not look exactly the same anymore either. If I buy the BMW air filter, I don't have to worry about these things and $3 is not a problem to me.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, but there's no appreciable difference. Used these products for a long time on my E46 and there's no reason to go back now.

Being made in Mexico is also not a knock on the Mann filters. They are a very respected Tier 1 supplier of automotive parts. I can say with confidence that their facility in Mexico is likely top notch.

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

For all German cars, buy only brands of oil filters that these manufacturers recommend. The problem with some filters is the media used, the inside stuff.

Older filters used a cellulose material which doesn't stand up to synthetic oils. Modern filters use a material called polyester fleece. The older filters will break down and clog up the engine's oil delivery system.

Why bother with learning the distinctions of filter medias? It is better to stick to a brand like Mann or OEM that are specifically recommended for your engine. I would extend this advice to all items involved in servicing the vehicle.

Sometimes there are products that are interchangeable with the OEM, but you had better be familiar with the history of the off brand.

BTW, if that Mann filter doesn't fit perfectly, it is the wrong filter for the engine.

[WDE82]

I put in a Mann HU 816 X filter today with Castrol 0W40.

http://a.co/7PY590m

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

For parts, tools, and some useful information:

https://www.bavauto.com/

If in doubt, you can always call them. I always use them to check prices. Sometimes they have the best prices.

They also carry those specialized tools that make certain tasks simpler.