Service cost & Intervals

[nickw6666]

Technically, the Inspection II is not time based but distance based. The service schedule according to SII runs Oil Service - Inspection 1 - Oil Service -Inspection 2. The intervals are measured by the SII but usually work out at 15K average between services.

I disagree with this, the service is not mileage based but purely on the amount of fuel consumed. If you drive the car the way it's intended the amount of miles between required services will drop drastically. I doubt any Z4M or E46 M3 has ever achieved anywhere near 15000 miles between services, you would need to drive it incredibly slowly and on constant long distances to even get remotely near it. The service indicator will show 15,500 miles after being reset, its purely notional.

I agree with you that it isn't mileage based. I just said that the average they quote for the car is 15,000, but they measure more than one attribute to determine actual service interval. So it's not just fuel used, it includes number of starts and other parameters such as lots of short or long journeys.

My previous daily driver was a 330Ci, which uses the same system of parameters on the SSI as the Z4M, and this used to deliver between 15-16k between services consistently. I don see the Z4M being different if driven in the same way. My journeys were a mix of long and short, BT my commute was 30 miles round trip.

I've not done enough miles between services to test the 15,000 miles average, but based on mileage in relation to the moles behave driven, I believe I would be getting around that figure between services if I drove enough miles.

 

[TomK]

I agree with you that it isn't mileage based. I just said that the average they quote for the car is 15,000, but they measure more than one attribute to determine actual service interval. So it's not just fuel used, it includes number of starts and other parameters such as lots of short or long journeys.

That's just not true. As has been said it is calculated on fuel used, just like it would have been on your e46. The mileage indicator is just an approximation of the what it thinks your fuel consumption will be over the period. It's quite easy to show this by doing a track day or high speed 'autobahn' run where you may be pulling single digit mpg for a while. Turn your engine off and on again and see that the mileage to the next service is considerably reduced compared to the amount of miles you've just completed.
Of course this system inherently takes into account if you did loads of stop start journeys or cold starts or long motorway journeys etc they all significantly affect mpg. What it most certainly doesn't do is log all of your journeys and work it out from that!

 

[dgm]

Technically, the Inspection II is not time based but distance based. The service schedule according to SII runs Oil Service - Inspection 1 - Oil Service -Inspection 2. The intervals are measured by the SII but usually work out at 15K average between services.

I disagree with this, the service is not mileage based but purely on the amount of fuel consumed. If you drive the car the way it's intended the amount of miles between required services will drop drastically. I doubt any Z4M or E46 M3 has ever achieved anywhere near 15000 miles between services, you would need to drive it incredibly slowly and on constant long distances to even get remotely near it. The service indicator will show 15,500 miles after being reset, its purely notional.

I agree with you that it isn't mileage based. I just said that the average they quote for the car is 15,000, but they measure more than one attribute to determine actual service interval. So it's not just fuel used, it includes number of starts and other parameters such as lots of short or long journeys.

My previous daily driver was a 330Ci, which uses the same system of parameters on the SSI as the Z4M, and this used to deliver between 15-16k between services consistently. I don see the Z4M being different if driven in the same way. My journeys were a mix of long and short, BT my commute was 30 miles round trip.

I've not done enough miles between services to test the 15,000 miles average, but based on mileage in relation to the moles behave driven, I believe I would be getting around that figure between services if I drove enough miles.

Nick, I don't know where you're information comes from but I'll say this. I've been driving S54 engined cars for the last 13 years and have spent far too much time for my own good reading about them. I have never seen any reference to other parameters being used to determine the service interval other than litres of fuel used or a two year time period. I also have never seen any literature that states that BMW expect a 15000 mile average between services. If you have evidence to the contrary then please post it up and I will have learned something entirely new about S54 ownership. My firm bet is that the only parameter used to determine service intervals outwith the two year maximum is litres of fuel used. Google it and you will find many references to it..

 

[mad4slalom]

Hi, the modern version of a service is an inspection, basically this means they look at it and say "it 's not broken yet !" It is very hard to find a garage that does a service that includes good old fashioned preventive maintenance. Just had a 25k first service on a 1 year old renault master van ,( I had already done an oil and filter change at 12k as i think 25 is way too long. ) i expected them to strip and clean the brakes, gease the caliper pins, check the wheel bearings, clean , adjust and grease the handbrake mechanism, change the gearbox oil and grease the steering and suspension . They didnt even take the rear wheels off. So now that van according to service schedhule will go another year and another 25k without any maintenance at all. Basically , i have paid the cost of the service for an oil change ! They didnt even change the air filter or fuel filter, so now i have to pay someone else to do all those things again for my own peace of mind as i go to london every three weeks. Bmw inspecs one and two are actually not very invasive, and we are paying mega money for very little, under the guise of it beibg an M car and needing specialist attention. Read the schedule and see how much of it is "checking " of items and not changing . I go to a good independent but specify what i want and expect done and also fettle things myself as no garage has the time or inclination to do the little things that we can do at home. I pity owners who are not mechanical or engine litterate who are totally in the hands of garages and dealers. :x

 

[carl]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? The last few (non-M) BMWs I've had don't have changing the gearbox oil on the schedule at all. Ever.

 

[nickw6666]

I disagree with this, the service is not mileage based but purely on the amount of fuel consumed. If you drive the car the way it's intended the amount of miles between required services will drop drastically. I doubt any Z4M or E46 M3 has ever achieved anywhere near 15000 miles between services, you would need to drive it incredibly slowly and on constant long distances to even get remotely near it. The service indicator will show 15,500 miles after being reset, its purely notional.

I agree with you that it isn't mileage based. I just said that the average they quote for the car is 15,000, but they measure more than one attribute to determine actual service interval. So it's not just fuel used, it includes number of starts and other parameters such as lots of short or long journeys.

My previous daily driver was a 330Ci, which uses the same system of parameters on the SSI as the Z4M, and this used to deliver between 15-16k between services consistently. I don see the Z4M being different if driven in the same way. My journeys were a mix of long and short, BT my commute was 30 miles round trip.

I've not done enough miles between services to test the 15,000 miles average, but based on mileage in relation to the moles behave driven, I believe I would be getting around that figure between services if I drove enough miles.

Nick, I don't know where you're information comes from but I'll say this. I've been driving S54 engined cars for the last 13 years and have spent far too much time for my own good reading about them. I have never seen any reference to other parameters being used to determine the service interval other than litres of fuel used or a two year time period. I also have never seen any literature that states that BMW expect a 15000 mile average between services. If you have evidence to the contrary then please post it up and I will have learned something entirely new about S54 ownership. My firm bet is that the only parameter used to determine service intervals outwith the two year maximum is litres of fuel used. Google it and you will find many references to it..

dgm, I got my information from BMW Main Dealer service Department x2. So they are giving me wrong information if it is just based on fuel consumed.

I've googled it and it seems that older BMW engines indeed looked at more parameters than purely fuel consumed, so maybe it was simplified for later cars as the fuel consumed took into account shorter and longer journeys by reflecting this in the fuel consumption.

I've had BMW cars with with S54 for 10 years, M54 for 7 years, N54 for 4 years, M52B20 for 2 years, M52B25 for 2 years, and M52B28 for 1 year covering roughly 400,000 miles in total. In my experience, the M54 and N54 engines ran to 15,000 miles between services, but then I did quite a lot of motorway miles, and with my N54, I now change the oil every 7500 or 1 year.

I didn't say 15,000 miles was stated by BMW, how could it be when it's a variable interval, but I have seen some of their service material stating that the variable service interval often works out to around 15,000 miles on average.

With S54 as I'm sure you know, the service interval defaults to 15,000 after an oil/inspection service and counts down from there. So BMW obviously has that figure in mind as an average otherwise they would not use that number. What I've noticed is that my mileage usage is remarkably close to the countdown of the service interval within the service period.

With my S54 though, I've not reached a 15,000 mile service interval though between oil changes and never will as I change at 7500 miles or 2 years etc.

 

[dgm]

Even when they were new I found that BMW main dealers weren't the most knowledgeable about these cars. Over a decade on and with their huge turnover in staff, I find it difficult to get anyone in the dealerships who understands the service requirements of the S54. The valve clearances are the most obvious example of that, just listen to the engine and if it sounds OK then just leave it alone seems to be the mantra.

It's been a while since I did enough miles in my Z4 to trigger a service prior to the two year maximum period but when I did I was a long way off from 15,000 miles. I don't have access to my service book presently to be precise about the distances. It could be the way I drive but that's my experience. As I say the service reset showing 15,500 miles until the next service is notional only.

 

[Fishy Dave]

Hi, the modern version of a service is an inspection, basically this means they look at it and say "it 's not broken yet !" It is very hard to find a garage that does a service that includes good old fashioned preventive maintenance. Just had a 25k first service on a 1 year old renault master van ,( I had already done an oil and filter change at 12k as i think 25 is way too long. ) i expected them to strip and clean the brakes, gease the caliper pins, check the wheel bearings, clean , adjust and grease the handbrake mechanism, change the gearbox oil and grease the steering and suspension . They didnt even take the rear wheels off. So now that van according to service schedhule will go another year and another 25k without any maintenance at all. Basically , i have paid the cost of the service for an oil change ! They didnt even change the air filter or fuel filter, so now i have to pay someone else to do all those things again for my own peace of mind as i go to london every three weeks. Bmw inspecs one and two are actually not very invasive, and we are paying mega money for very little, under the guise of it beibg an M car and needing specialist attention. Read the schedule and see how much of it is "checking " of items and not changing . I go to a good independent but specify what i want and expect done and also fettle things myself as no garage has the time or inclination to do the little things that we can do at home. I pity owners who are not mechanical or engine litterate who are totally in the hands of garages and dealers. :x

My view exactly

 

[srhutch]

I think we really are splitting hairs here. The time to service is reporting in miles on the odometer. Yes this might be directly linked to the amount of fuel used, but if you car said service required in 2,500 litres you'd be heading straight for your calculator to work out what it meant mileage wise.

I've always quoted around 13,000 miles between services and will continue to do so.

 

[dgm]

Your car has always been low mileage use though has it not? Have you ever come close to doing 13,000 miles before the two years has crept up on you? I don't think it's splitting hairs really, the service criteria is either definitively litres of fuel used or fuel used plus other parameters which the car measures. I think there are no other parameters other than fuel used and would genuinely like to clarify for myself and others if that's the case. That's why I enquired of Nick where he had obtained his information.

 

[flimper]

If we work it out on my average mileage of 27mpg, then 500 gallons (2275 litres) 13,500 miles.

My average MPG in the last 9 years is 21.4 - so my services should be every 10,700 miles.

In reality they have been:

7,064 - 26 months (4 months in my care)
10,930 - 15 months
10,673 - 22 months
7,484 - 24 months
10,662 - 17 months

 

[Sohailnisar]

Quick urgent question.

I'm purchasing a car and the service is as follows:

23/8/07 Oil service, Air Cleaner element and Micro-filter @ 12371 miles
?Date (can't read it on the picture of the book) Inspection I and Micro-filter @ 25977
11/5/09 Oil Service, Brake Fluid and Micro-Filter @ 40729
1/11/11 Inspection II, Micro-Filter, Air cleaner element @ 51940
15/11/11 Brake fluid @ 51955
31/10/13 Oil service @ 55374
12/11/15 Inspection I, Micro-Filter, Brake fluid @ 56660

It's booked in for an oil service now and BMW want to charge me something like £90 for brake fluid change and £50 for micro-filter.

2 questions:
- 1) Do both need doing?
- 2) Shall I just get the oil done for the stamp and get the brake fluid and micro filter done from a decent Indy?

 

[Wondermike]

If we work it out on my average mileage of 27mpg, then 500 gallons (2275 litres) 13,500 miles.

My average MPG in the last 9 years is 21.4 - so my services should be every 10,700 miles.

In reality they have been:

7,064 - 26 months (4 months in my care)
10,930 - 15 months
10,673 - 22 months
7,484 - 24 months
10,662 - 17 months

Is that non fairly conclusive proof that it's 500 gallons then - three services done within fractions of 10,700 miles plus one done on time rather than mileage?

 

[srhutch]

Your car has always been low mileage use though has it not? Have you ever come close to doing 13,000 miles before the two years has crept up on you? I don't think it's splitting hairs really, the service criteria is either definitively litres of fuel used or fuel used plus other parameters which the car measures. I think there are no other parameters other than fuel used and would genuinely like to clarify for myself and others if that's the case. That's why I enquired of Nick where he had obtained his information.

You are correct, but plenty on here get around 13k between services.

I agree the interval is calculated on fuel usage, but it's displayed on mileage remaining so no wonder folk quote miles, that all I'm saying.

 

[dgm]

I would guess that plenty also get quite a bit less mileage between services too and that was part of my original point.

 

[mmm-five]

If we work it out on my average mileage of 27mpg, then 500 gallons (2275 litres) 13,500 miles.

My average MPG in the last 9 years is 21.4 - so my services should be every 10,700 miles.

In reality they have been:

7,064 - 26 months (4 months in my care)
10,930 - 15 months
10,673 - 22 months
7,484 - 24 months
10,662 - 17 months

Is that US gallons (3.78 llitres) or imperial gallons (4.54 litres)? i.e. 21.4 US MPG = 26.4 imperial MPG

 

[Mangozac]

Quick urgent question.

I'm purchasing a car and the service is as follows:

23/8/07 Oil service, Air Cleaner element and Micro-filter @ 12371 miles
?Date (can't read it on the picture of the book) Inspection I and Micro-filter @ 25977
11/5/09 Oil Service, Brake Fluid and Micro-Filter @ 40729
1/11/11 Inspection II, Micro-Filter, Air cleaner element @ 51940
15/11/11 Brake fluid @ 51955
31/10/13 Oil service @ 55374
12/11/15 Inspection I, Micro-Filter, Brake fluid @ 56660

It's booked in for an oil service now and BMW want to charge me something like £90 for brake fluid change and £50 for micro-filter.

2 questions:
- 1) Do both need doing?
- 2) Shall I just get the oil done for the stamp and get the brake fluid and micro filter done from a decent Indy?

The micro-filter replacement is a part of a standard "oil service", so it is theoretically due. It's certainly not urgent or going to affect the operation of the car. This is just the cabin/aircon filter by the way, not the engine air filter (which is replaced at an inspection 2).

The car will tell you when brake fluid is due with a little clock symbol in the display when it is showing the service interval countdown. 2 years since the last brake fluid change isn't excessive, so again there's no rush.

 

[srhutch]

Get yourself a micro filter from Euro car parts or similar for around a tenner. 2 minute diy job located under the glovebox.

 

[Sohailnisar]

Great stuff. Thank you!

 

[earthdweller]

I think condition based servicing has caused all sorts of confusion

It's in the small print saying that cars should be serviced every two years if they haven't hit the mileage to trigger the next service

But even BMW dealers don't follow the "small print"

There was a coupe on sale here recently for top money, albeit it had only done 20k in 11 years .. but it had had two oil changes in that time and was being sold as full BMW service history

Following the "small print" it should have had at lest 5 services and an Insp 2 which should be done at 8 years regardless of miles ..

But conversely you can be too anal about it

Mine fior example has a full BMW service history but had serviced every 2 1/2 to 3 years so not quite to the small print ... but as it's got older and gone to enthusiast owners the services and maintenance has got much more frequent

I walked away from one advertised as full history .. and it did apart from the 5 years it was laid up .. then a guy bought it and just used it for a year without doing anything to it and couldn't see anything wrong with that !

My view is that as a car gets older it will fall into one of two catagories

1. Cheapskate owner

2. Enthusiasts owner .. and I'd expect it to move yo annual servicing at the least as it gets older

But that is just my view