Outside of Scheduled Maintenance .....

[Z4//MMY]

So...

I'm sure there are many of you running very low miles in this car like me and as such can give me some advice on the maintenance schedule.

The first oil service was done back in April 2008.... Since then the car has covered 9000 miles only and doesn’t require inspection 1 for a further 2500miles.

At this rate that will take me 7 - 8 months....

So, I plan to get an oil change next month....

Question is, should it have an out of sync full oil service or just an oil change? Do I need to get the brake fluid and gearbox / diff oil change also??

If I just get an oil change done, would you say this has to be done at BMW (for any reason??) rather than doing it myself or paying an indi to do it?

Your words of experience are appreciated!

 

[AlanJ]

I lay my car up for several months of the year as I work abroad so the mileage for last year was minimal and certainly wouldn’t correspond to an age related oil change or service. Fully synthetic oils (which of course you use) are not prone to an age related degrade to the same extent as mineral oils so provided you keep the engine oil topped up with quality (and if possible identical) oil then I see no problem and would wait until the Insp 1.

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, in other words it absorbs moisture from the air which causes it to degrade – you brake, pad and disc temperature increases rapidly, temperature of the fluid increases, ‘small’ water component boils causing small ‘gas’ bubbles and potentially you get brake fade as the gas compresses in the fluid. So yes I would change the brake fluid every 2 years irrespective of use. As for the gearbox and diff these are supposedly ‘sealed for life’ but others have changed the oils as a precautionary and protective measure which I think is a good idea.

If you decide to go for just an oil change (and of course the filter) then any competent garage can do this but you might want to supply the oli to ensure you put the best in. Follow the link for Castrol oils.

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/iframe.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7044829

 

[Tweed]

Services are meant to be done every 2 years at least. So I would say go for a full service.
Brake fluid is also meant to be done every 2 years, so you may want to do that too... gearbox & diff oils are supposed to be for life. Many people on here have done them at 50/100k but on your low mileage it shouldn't need doing!

Only reason to go to a dealer is to keep the BMW service history in tact I believe. Again, on a low mileage like yours, I personally would be going the dealer route.

I see you're in Manchester too... steer clear of Williams on upper Brook street; they'll try and tell you you need all sorts doing!
The guys at Blue Bell in Wilmslow seem like decent sorts (never had any work done there, but get my parts there and they were nice enough to let me take a mechanic out to listen to a suspect noise, free of charge) and there have been positive whisperings here recently about David Holmes in Stockport too.

 

[Beedub]

my car never hits the mileage markers due to being a third car, but its gets every service, oil change, brake fluid change as per the service book, when i sell my car i want to be able to show a detailed history and show no expense spared really, and as its every 2 years/mileage marker- its no big deal imo. get it serviced as per the service book, it'll only be difficult to explain come resale time.
:driving:

 

[Z4//MMY]

So, I think reading the service book and the advice here....

I need the brake fluid change as this is coming up to the 2yr marker...

The oil (Although being fully synth and less prone to aging then semi or mineral oil) would benefit from being changed also....

I think, I dont need to rush my insepction 1 as again... I have 7-9months till I hit that mileage....

I have ordered the oil service kit from opie oils... so 6L of the Castrol Edge for //M and the oil filer.

If I was going to provide my own brake fluid also does anyone have any recommendations?? There seems to be some options.... (Also would BMW refuse to put non BMW supplied brake fluid or would they be OK with an alternative (or perhaps an upgraded brake fluid??) Anyone know the qty of brake fluid I need to buy... doesnt seem to say in the handbook!?

 

[sammyz]

My car is a similar age to yours and it will be two years in June since it's first full service & oil change. I've 2,000 miles to go to Inspection 1 and if I don't hit the marker by June will have the whole thing done anyway. I'd rather keep to the two year schedule as a maximum.

 

[mikedav]

I have ordered the oil service kit from opie oils... so 6L of the Castrol Edge for //M and the oil filer.

Note the filter is not OEM, though it is the same. I did the same, i.e. bought own oil and took it to BMW for the all important overpriced stamp...but I threw the filter away (it's still cheaper) just so nobody at BMW could argue. They sometimes write 'own oil supplied' in the service book (which is pathetic given that you are handing over the correct stuff) but otherwise simple enough, knocked about £40 off my bill last time once the oil cost is accounted for.

 

[Darren M]

How often is the coolant flush required in the M? THis is not normally covered by the service schedule and as it is an older engine design I assume it does require a coolant change periodically?
My rear suspension is making some funny noises (suspect broken spring) and I'm hearing a scraping sometimes when turning (sounds like something stuck in brakes) so I'm going to take it in for an Inspection 1 early (car states 2900 miles remaining). The car is over 3 years old and getting close to 19,000 miles so just wondering if anything else should be done such as the coolant. I don't have my service manual with me as I'm away from home. Brake fluid changed last year.

 

[sixspeed]

When I'm doing trackdays I'll do an intermediate oil change between inspections (so around 6,000 miles).

I'm also going to have a few extra items changed at my next inspection, which aren't standard service items. Vanos filter, diff and gearbox oil (BMW claim these are lifetime sealed units which don't need oil changes).

 

[duckson]

BMW sell the AUC cars with the latest service done if the car is showing 4000 miles or less until the next service so you dont have to wait until it gets to zero.....i'd get the Inspection 1 done in April to keep it 2yrs after the last oil service.

 

[Andy]

I tried to get mine to change the VANOS filter but they said it wasn't replaceable without replacing the entire VANOS system. :thumbsdown:

 

[sixspeed]

That's rubbish. It's practically a DIY! (and I'm sure our engines are no different in this respect to the E46 M3!)

How-To

 

[Andy]

I'll be emailing that link over to my dealer.. I'd already sent them the TIS page with the part numbers and diagrams. :thumbsdown:

 

[Siener2]

The service indicator starts off showing 24000km(?) to the next oil change, which I believe to be way too much. So I do an intermediate oil change (including filter) halfway between the official dealership services. I use a guy I trust and not the dealership and nothing is entered in the service booklet. He supplies the oil but I am present when the work is done. I do the same on my other two BMW's.

Other than that I pretty much concur with what AlanJ recommended above. Except for that word hydroscopic which should be hygroscopic, of course - but pay no attention to us *English as second language* speakers :wink: