128i routine maintenance?

[texasmojo]

I bought my 128i used and it did not come with owners manual. I downloaded the online one from here but it does not tell you anything about routine maintenance. It just says to contact nearest bmw for service. I would like to know more stuff like how long does bmw recomend oil change intervals, do our cars have/need feul filter replacements, how long do our timing belts last, air filter replacement intervals, or other important stuff i need to know.
Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thanks

Oh yeah i have a read light with the image of two ss and a car on my info cluster? I read on the manual its the road worthiness test. What is this?

[jbenington86]

Here is a link to the thread with the owners manual.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207437

[texasmojo]

Thanks for the quick response. I check that out right now.

[JimD]

You may also want to send an email to "techtalk@roundel.org" and ask for the old school maintenance recommendations. They are what BMW recommended when we paid for the early maintenance. Now that they pay, they have greatly lengthened the intervals. I want my bimmer to last, so I use the old school recommendations.

Jim

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by JimD

Now that they pay, they have greatly lengthened the intervals.
Jim

Not completely true as they paid for the E36 with dino oil and average 7,500 mile changes. The recommended oil change intervals doubled in 1999, with the introduction of the E46 and OEM synthetic oil.

Tom

[JimD]

The old school recommendations are for 7,500 mile intervals with synthetic oil. In my SUV, I use an admittedly cheaper and presumably worse synthetic and change at 5,000 miles. I agree there was another reason, other than just the cost, to say the oil change interval could be extended but I submit that 15,000 mile intervals are not reasonable regardless of the quality of the oil.

Jim

[zkeeper]

To maybe address your request a bit further...I concur, get the OLD school maintenance program. IF you intend to keep the car, service it more often. You did not mention the mileage, but my recco'd [and will be shot for this probably] but change the fluids...if Manual then get it changed, if 30K on Automatic, get it changed. Have the diff oil changed out at 30 as well. Most guys are getting oil changed at 5-7K...its up to you. I have it done at 6...love the middle ground there.

This is our third Bimmer and I am doing with it on regular basis with all of them, but check the rad fluid on regular basis...BMW's like the stuff, and I keep the BMW fluid in the garage, with some distilled water, mix up a couple of inches or so, and top it up when needed. The float post diagram will show you the proper height of float post. Check when cold BTW.

I check my own air filter every 4-6..or when on a trip thru country this fall we picked up a lot of hay and harvest dust...it always depends on the conditions one drives in and it makes me feel good to pop that lid off, pull it out and tap lightly against a clean floor or blow it out. Sometimes it seems to yield nothing, other times quite a bit--makes me feel good if for no other reason. I wash, clay every 6 months and detail the outside and motor is kept clean once a month--why? because it "makes it run faster"....LOL...and the Bim is worth it.

I check oil on dash regularly, just because...and I check air, because I like balance and road-ability. Just me. I remove wheels each fall, to REALLY clean wheels and seal them for any winter driving with the ones who get winter in our garage. While off, I really clean the underside, and wheel wells which makes life easier when nice weather comes. I also clean & anti-seize the wheel centers, where wheel meets brake hub...it always rusts there due to poor alloy/steel marriage-- and I do not wish to fight a wheel IF it requires removing.

Odd silly stuff...but I sleep easier and it keeps the old school stuff going. Not much I can do to "fix" the darn thing, but I can sure make it stay in shape with the small stuff....excuse the longer post. And greetings from Beijing. Good luck on getting at it on yours....

[texasmojo]

Wow you really take care of your car. Thanks for the info.