So I'm confused about the maintenance/oil change interval

[Ajumepke]

Manual says that the car's computer will tell you when to do the next oil change/maintenance.

I did a post break-in self-paid oil change for the 135 at around 5 thousand miles.

My car just rolled across 13000 miles. I am wondering when the signal will come on to tell me to do the planned maintenance? (Had the car about about 8 months now).

Does anyone know the pre-set schedule that the car's computer use to notify driver or does it differ for everyone pending driving style/condition? I'm pretty sure I will hit the mileage limit before I hit the 1 yr limit.

I'm trying to decide whether to wait for the free one before doing another interim self-paid oil change.

I didn't lease the car so I plan to keep it for a while - I'd like to have a maintenance schedule that's not crazy expensive but still gives me enhanced longevity for the car.

[Dackelone]

Go to the OBC menu and see what it says!! It will tell you the miles and date at which your next (oil or what ever) service is due!

[kalvar]

I had similar concerns when I reached the 15k mark on my '09 135i; and felt like an idiot when I showed up at the dealership and they told me there's no such thing as a scheduled 15k mile service or anything like that; it's all condition based servicing on these cars, i.e., service schedules are based entirely on individual driving habits and history; The on-board info under the Service menu is confusing to say the least (mileage is actually counted down on the computer, to determine the next service point).
So the best way to determine ideal Service times for your car would be to routinely (every three months or so ) drop by the dealership and ask your Service Mgr to plug in your remote and determine what's due (if anything); also ask for a printout for your records. That way, you'll never miss anything; Cheers!

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by kalvar

I had similar concerns when I reached the 15k mark on my '09 135i; and felt like an idiot when I showed up at the dealership and they told me there's no such thing as a scheduled 15k mile service or anything like that; it's all condition based servicing on these cars, i.e., service schedules are based entirely on individual driving habits and history; The on-board info under the Service menu is confusing to say the least (mileage is actually counted down on the computer, to determine the next service point).
So the best way to determine ideal Service times for your car would be to routinely (every three months or so ) drop by the dealership and ask your Service Mgr to plug in your remote and determine what's due (if anything); also ask for a printout for your records. That way, you'll never miss anything; Cheers!

Not necessary to go to the dealer as the car's computer has this info. To access it:

1. Turn on ignition
2. Push the button (small lever) on top of the turn signal stalk repeatedly until "Service Info" comes up on the dash.
3. Press the button on the end of the stalk.
4. Use the first button to scroll through the service items - the miles until service and or date for each item will be shown.

All of this is detailed in the manual under "Service Requirements"

For the OP, the readout on your dash when you start the car will also tell you how many more miles are left until your scheduled oil change. If you do a lot of easy, highway driving, that could be as much as 8,000 miles, since you have 13k on the car now. However, that countdown will accelerate as you put on miles, so your car will probably be eligible for a fere service in about 5,000 miles or so, less if you drive it harder. Also, if you haven't accumulated the mileage for an oil change, you can get one for free after you've owned the car for one year.

Tom

[Ajumepke]

On my way home yesterday - I went through (my Nav Sys) - basically says next oil change in 4500miles. (which means 17000 for first oil change?) and first vehicle maintenance in 16000 (so first checkup @ 30000mile?)

That seems weird.

[ZIPNBYE]

The basic oil change interval is 24,000km / 15,000 miles...but that can change based on the car's analysis of the oil as you drive. Drive the car hard, it'll indicate an oil change earlier, drive it easy, and it'll stretch it out a little. Other factor is time...which is 12 months.

This is of course BMW's oil change interval now that they're paying the bill while under warranty. Prior to this, the typical oil change interval was 12,000km / 7,500 miles, which is what I'm doing...ie: one by me, one by the dealer, one by me, one by the dealer.

[spud]

i change mine every 5K miles. You get an oil change on BMW's dime annually regardless of when your "service" says is due. If its gone 5k miles and neither option is avail, i foot the bill and change it on my own..

15k between oil changes is ridiculous.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE

The basic oil change interval is 24,000km / 15,000 miles...but that can change based on the car's analysis of the oil as you drive. Drive the car hard, it'll indicate an oil change earlier, drive it easy, and it'll stretch it out a little. Other factor is time...which is 12 months.

This is of course BMW's oil change interval now that they're paying the bill while under warranty. Prior to this, the typical oil change interval was 12,000km / 7,500 miles, which is what I'm doing...ie: one by me, one by the dealer, one by me, one by the dealer.

On the 1er, the change interval may read as long as 24,000 miles with easy highway cruising. But as one puts mileage on, the countdown accelerates in a non linear fashion so the maximum is acually about 19,000 miles.

My '97 came with OEM dino oil and the dash countdown averaged 7,500 miles between changes. It also featured 3 years/36,000 miles free maintenance.

So the longer change intervals had nothing to do with free maintenance. It was due to the introduction of OEM synthetic oil around 1999.

Tom

[Ajumepke]

I'd like some consults on whether I should do another oil change when I hit 15k? (and then another free oil change @ 17k miles. Should I just wait til it gets to 17k?

Or do it now @ 13k - and then wait for the free @ 17k.

[dragon1761]

when you turn on your car. It should display when to service the car on your dashboard. It should display both date and mile it should be serviced.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Ajumepke

I'd like some consults on whether I should do another oil change when I hit 15k? (and then another free oil change @ 17k miles. Should I just wait til it gets to 17k?

Or do it now @ 13k - and then wait for the free @ 17k.

Since you have a freebie coming up in about 4,000 miles, I'd wait for it. With synthetic oil, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about so go blow the $100 on something else!

Tom

[ABQBMW]

Interesting. I bought my car on 3/17, 2 weeks ago, just over 10k on it. When I start it up, it says my oil change is due 03/2010 at 10,000 miles. Basically the dealer didn't perform the oil change while it sat on their lot, which was already due. I have another service due 04/2010, so I guess I'll bring it in for both in a week or two.

[jeremyc74]

My oil change interval has been almost exactly 18k miles on the last two.

This new service schedule is idiotic IMO.

First oil change at 18k miles, then a checkup at 30k, where they basically did nothing as far as I can tell, then an oil change at 36k miles, and now I'm at 42k and I've got an email telling me it's time for a brake fluid flush.

It would make a hell of a lot more sense for them to combine some of this stuff into the same trip, but they won't. If the car is going to have to be back in at 30k miles, why not just split the oil change intervals to 15k and do it then?

I just don't get it.

[Freakazoid]

all depends on the dealership....

I was a good 3k miles away from my next oil change and they did it, as well as cabin filter and brake fluid flush...

P&W is awesome!

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

There is a reason for everything... though it's not necessarily a good reason.

The brake fluid change is a time based requirement every two years.

I'll buy that it's time based, but could it really not wait until the next oil change is due? And if not, why couldn't it have been done on the previous one?

The intervals are just stupid. They should align these things.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

I'll buy that it's time based, but could it really not wait until the next oil change is due? And if not, why couldn't it have been done on the previous one?

The intervals are just stupid. They should align these things.

Regarding the Brake Fluid change, I happily brought mine in last week at 2 years because delaying it would mean that a second one would not be covered just before the warranty/maintenance period ends - $150 saved.

Tom

[cadeucsb]

I was in for the hpfp recall and they said i was due for service. Caught me off guard because I was in last spring and I put like 3k miles/yr on the 1er (was planning on 12month interval). So it got me thinking and I asked the SA how I can know when to bring it in and he said I just have to come by and they scan my key...like someone mentioned above.

That leads me to believe it is not just mileage based like others explained above and is in fact adapting to behavior, mileage and time since last maintenance.

My question is...is the info in the computer that you can check on the dash adapting and reflecting the actual current timing until next interval? If it is, either the SA either didnt want to explain that check or didn't know how it works...so thought I would ask

[bryce]

unless you're leasing, don't go by bmw's service recommendations. the differential oil, power steering fluid, etc are lifetime fills, which means bmw will not pay for those. my indy bmw shop was appalled at how filthy my power steering fluid was at 40k miles or so. change your trasmission fluid before 40k miles, as well. additonally, i do oil changes every 5-7k miles now, after they showed me the oil after 10k miles (less than 10 months old).

[cadeucsb]

As it is now, I am getting free service every 8 months or so and <3k miles in that time.

Just have no idea how that time frame is calculated...the first time I just brought it in expecting to pay (but was free) and the 2nd time was this recall and got free service.

[AW128i]

Follow BMW's recommended services, at least regarding the engine oil. European cars have been using extended service intervals for a long time now and their cars haven't shown to be any less reliable or less longevity. The conspiracy theories regarding the free maintenance and extended service intervals is BS. People spend so much time and money doing additional fluid changes, and no one spends the very nominal charge to get a used fluid analysis to determine what the actual condition of the fluids are. I know many people who regularly analyze the used fluids and have found that, in some cases with high quality fluids, even 15,000 miles (for engine oil, for example) is a bit conservative.

[JimD]

I have a oil sample kit sitting on the kitchen counter waiting for my next oil change in the bimmer. It is $25 to get a sample analysed if I remember right which seems worthwhile to me. I like to change oil more often than the car manufacturer says is necessary. I might be wasting money but it concerns me that the car manufacturer says to wait and experienced BMW technicians (like Mike Miller who writes for Roundel) say to change more frequently. If you need a new car more often, that is good for BMW. I guess if you pay for more oil changes that is good for Mr. Miller, however.

On my SUV, I change at 5,000 mile intervals with Quaker State full synthetic. I don't drive the bimmer more than about 7,000 miles a year so I am struggling with when to change it. 3500 miles seems too short and 7000 seems a bit long. I may wait for the annual, however. Even Mike Miller says 7500 is not too much for BMW's oil. An oil change kit from Tischer's was about $60 delivered last time I looked. I haven't done an easier car than my bimmer.

Jim

[benzw205]

Hello,

Is it true that now BMW just like Benz changes oil every 10000 km ?

Whatever people say 25000 km was too long between each oil change.

Confirmation:
https:// blog. m o d b a r g a i n s . com/15000-mile-oil-change-myth/

When I bought a new 2000 BMW 323ci the warranty did not cover service. I had to pay for oil changes. The M52 engine was required to have synthetic oil changes every 7500 miles. This is in the manual. In 2001 the same BMW (now called a BMW 325ci) with the exact same engine was to have oil changes every 15000 miles. This is the exact same M52 engine with same oil filter and oil. No change in engine. However the new warranty starting in 2001 covered oil changes. So the upshot is when BMW pays for the oil changes it is 15000 miles and when the customer pays it is 7500 miles. BMW was simply trying to save a buck and knew engine problems would arise far after the warranty was expired. 7500 is the correct number and I never heard of a BMW getting sludged up with 7500 mile oil changes on synthetic oil.

Thank you.