Extended services

[BM AUTOWERKS]

Hi there group,

As some of you may know most BMW models these days have extended service intervals of upwards of 25,000km between oil changes. This is obviously achieved by running Castrol’s BMW specific engine oil LL01.

My theory behind this was to reduce the cost of owning a BMW within the first few years of the car. Now this is fine with the new cars, but what happens as they get older and start approaching the 100,000km mark, or when your technician isn’t using the correct oil or even worse when you end up a little late for your scheduled service…

Well you will start to develop engine oil sludge and your engines with today’s VANOS systems and Valvtronic systems will and do start to fail.

This leads me to In-between services, a basic vehicle check on the hoist and changing the engine oil and filter is all you need. Of course any of your service departments should be able to do this for you and inturn stamp your service books. Our customer get them done while they wait it’s that easy, appointments are necessary though.

At the end you have a vehicle that is less incline to have problems and your vehicle will have a better resale value then the next.

Next topic lifetime & long life oils in your gearbox and differentials…

[Marc]

Hi there group,

As some of you may know most BMW models these days have extended service intervals of upwards of 25,000km between oil changes. This is obviously achieved by running Castrol’s BMW specific engine oil LL01.

My theory behind this was to reduce the cost of owning a BMW within the first few years of the car. Now this is fine with the new cars, but what happens as they get older and start approaching the 100,000km mark, or when your technician isn’t using the correct oil or even worse when you end up a little late for your scheduled service…

Well you will start to develop engine oil sludge and your engines with today’s VANOS systems and Valvtronic systems will and do start to fail.

This leads me to In-between services, a basic vehicle check on the hoist and changing the engine oil and filter is all you need. Of course any of your service departments should be able to do this for you and inturn stamp your service books. Our customer get them done while they wait it’s that easy, appointments are necessary though.

At the end you have a vehicle that is less incline to have problems and your vehicle will have a better resale value then the next.

Next topic lifetime & long life oils in your gearbox and differentials…

Thanks John, that's great advice! I've always wondered about BMW's huge service intervals, friends who work for other car companies think its ridiculous and a marketing gimmick.
I'm wondering how much one of these interval services should set someone back in general? Services on my car are included for 3 years, so I can imagine BMW telling me its not necessary and therefore costs extra.
Although we generally don't keep our cars after 3 years I definitely beleive in leaving the car in the best possible service condition for the next owner. Never know if I'll end up with my car again in the future!

Congratulations on the new bub as well!

[BM AUTOWERKS]

This is another reason why I think they have the extended service's ;)

[Rated M]

thanks for the info John, aka Dad.
What year did BMW start this longer service interval?
Or lets say when did they decide to increase it noticably?:(
I only have older pre '96 vehicles.

[BM AUTOWERKS]

I would say that the E46 was the first, and then followed the series 2 E39 and so on...

Interesting is that some of the current models now with I completely different systems called CBS, condition based service have even longer intervals. Some may even be 40,000 km for a vehicle check that is just a joke…

Marc should know about this.

First they make you go in for a micro filter change, then 2 months later your brakes a due, then a month after that your brake fluid is due……before you know it your in there every second week, how stupid, we as service centres are supposed to provide a service, meaning we make owning the car pleasurable and give the correct advice, not replace the oil and filter and not check your brakes.

“So the good old in for a service sir, yes no problem we will take care your car for you, oh just so you know Mr X your car is due for micro filter in a month would you like them done now to save you coming back again….”

I know what most people choose.

Unfortunately most 1st owners aren’t explained CBS, but the second owners want to know why, how, when and how much.

Sorry I always get annoyed talking about this kind of thing…. LOL

[Marc]

I would say that the E46 was the first, and then followed the series 2 E39 and so on...

Interesting is that some of the current models now with I completely different systems called CBS, condition based service have even longer intervals. Some may even be 40,000 km for a vehicle check that is just a joke…

Marc should know about this.

First they make you go in for a micro filter change, then 2 months later your brakes a due, then a month after that your brake fluid is due……before you know it your in there every second week, how stupid, we as service centres are supposed to provide a service, meaning we make owning the car pleasurable and give the correct advice, not replace the oil and filter and not check your brakes.

“So the good old in for a service sir, yes no problem we will take care your car for you, oh just so you know Mr X your car is due for micro filter in a month would you like them done now to save you coming back again….”

I know what most people choose.

Unfortunately most 1st owners aren’t explained CBS, but the second owners want to know why, how, when and how much.

Sorry I always get annoyed talking about this kind of thing…. LOL

John, you are completly spot on!
July 08- first oil change (31,000km!!!!) but it had been topped up several times as M5's eat oil like its going out of fashion, also included in service plan.
September 08- Microfilter replace 33,000km
September 08- They didn't top up my oil, so 4 days later, low oil warning, had to go in again

Brakes are due in 15,000km but in this instance I prefer to use up everything I have anyway as its a consumable, will chat to you about this when they're due, I haven't forgetten about you. Good old BMW Melbourne charged me $170 (1 hr time) to check the thickness of my pads and discs so I had exact measurements. All I asked for was what I used to always get with my E46 which is a report with measurements. When I asked why I got charged now and not before... 'well we use CBS now and we rely on what that says so we don't need to physically check anything'... hmmm righty o!

Would be nice if I could use my included service plans at an outlet such as yours :). I have already heard about your fantastic attention to detail.

As for E46, this had the extended service intervals as well but at least as you said, things were done all at one. First oil change 17,000km, bigger service at 33,000km which set me back 2.5k as they had to do some engine realigning which apparently all M3's need regularly.

Keep up the great advice.

Marc

[whiteknight]

thanks for the info John, aka Dad.
What year did BMW start this longer service interval?
Or lets say when did they decide to increase it noticably?:(
I only have older pre '96 vehicles.

BMW introduced the long service intervals in the US market when they included free servicing for 3 years (including oils) with every new US bmw. When bmw pays for oil it is 25000km or more between changes, in the past when customers used to pay for oil it was changed every 5000 or so km. I change mine every 10000km as the car does not do short trips, I do not believe a car can last that long between changes without some long term effect.
ken

[ANILE8]

Yep; the long service intervals specified by BMW today are a real joke. :rolleyes:

O.M.G. on my performance road cars I've always done my oil & filter changes every 5,000 km even when using fully synthetic engine oils.

Oil is cheap, change it sooner rather then later.