service interval question

[Zukunft]

my z4 was bought as a approved used BMW, today I have been looking through the service book and it appears the car is on the original oil at nearly 22000 miles
the only services it has had is pre delivery inspection when new on 18-12-06 and a inspection at 21054 miles on 25-8-09 where the only thing done was brake fluid as all other boxes have no ticked, I thought brake fluid was every 2 years so should that not have been done Dec 2008, the car now is showing 3800 miles to a inspection and 09/2011 for brake fluid

its running fine but 26000 on original oil seems a awful long time.

 

[Smokin]

Oil should be changed at 15K or so. If you do a lot of in-town driving, the computer will cycle faster. I usually hit the one year oil change interval before the computer says I need it.

 

[AlanJ]

Instead of arbitrarily changing oil at prescribed times or mileage (regardless of condition), the vehicle's onboard computer makes the decision—potentially saving a few million gallons of perfectly good lubricant. Through sensors and algorithms, the computer determines how many hours the oil has been in operation, the load and speed conditions the vehicle has been operated under, how often the oil has been brought up to full operating temperature, and sundry other parameters that affect engine oil life.

You can do one of two things:

1. Trust the computer to manage the oil changes for you
2. Change at pre determined time/distance indicators

However – computers can fail....

AND finally before you decide to buy a secondhand vehicle (sorry BMW, pre owned...)CHECK THE SERVICE BOOK BEFORE YOU HAND OVER YOUR HARD EARNED CASH!

 

[un1eash]

Oil should be changed at 15K or so. If you do a lot of in-town driving, the computer will cycle faster. I usually hit the one year oil change interval before the computer says I need it.

i'm not to sure about this as all i do is in-town driving and my computer doesnt seem to cycle any faster. I havent got the exact figures on me but i got the car just after its inspection 1 so it was reading 15,000 till next service. The car had 14,000 on the clock, now it has nearly 18k and my computer says next service in 11,050.

 

[Aebous]

Inspection 1 IIRC does have the oil change included. Shipkiller has some great info about oil myths and stuff, plus all over this forum there is a ton of questions/post/info about oil and inspections.

I'd at a minimum change it every year or 15k miles.

I don't know how they do brake fluid.

 

[Zukunft]

thanks for the replies, guess i will trust the computer then, any ideas what the inspection 1 cost, about £300 tops i was hoping as its the 2.0 engine

 

[no fit state]

thanks for the replies, guess i will trust the computer then, any ideas what the inspection 1 cost, about £300 tops i was hoping as its the 2.0 engine

My 3.0 inspection one done at an indy cost £200

 

[Smokin]

Oil should be changed at 15K or so. If you do a lot of in-town driving, the computer will cycle faster. I usually hit the one year oil change interval before the computer says I need it.

i'm not to sure about this as all i do is in-town driving and my computer doesnt seem to cycle any faster. I havent got the exact figures on me but i got the car just after its inspection 1 so it was reading 15,000 till next service. The car had 14,000 on the clock, now it has nearly 18k and my computer says next service in 11,050.

I do more on the highway or mixed and right now, I'm sitting at 30K with about 7K left to inspection 1! My service adviser told me if you don't do a lot of stop and go and you routinely get the engine up to proper operating temp, the computer will lengthen the interval as it's less stressful on the engine. He has me set up for yearly oil changes because of this.

 

[srhutch]

I can confirm brake fluid is every two years so this should have been done Dec08, and coolant every four years IIRC

 

[Disco Steve]

My old fellas 7 series got to 33k before the computer asked for an Oil change. After each service he always asked why it wasn't replaced the dealer stated it didn't need it! Old Fella being worried contacted BMW who told him there was nothing to worry about as 7's regularly went over 30k without oil?!?!?!

 

[Z4Z4]

I was just at BMW for something minor, I asked them about an oil change, I have an 05, 13,000 miles, they said they could do the oil change, but couldn't reset the computer because it would throw everything else off. Is this true or BS?

 

[3.0 Si Anderson]

I was just at BMW for something minor, I asked them about an oil change, I have an 05, 13,000 miles, they said they could do the oil change, but couldn't reset the computer because it would throw everything else off. Is this true or BS?

BS (what the hell will it throw off - they come out with some cobblers at times) and to be honest you should really get it done as oil degredation over time is as big an issue on it's performance than wear. I generally get my full inspections done by BMW (approx every 15) to keep the pedantic FBMWSH and change the oil in between (every 7.5k) at my local indy who also as it happens is my Dad. I do not change the computer in between the BMW inspections (although my Dad has the software to do it) but keep the receipts etc. to prove that it has been changed every 7.5 k miles just so I am clear when I have changed it etc.

My car is similar to yours in terms of low mileage in that it is an 06 3.0 Si coupe and only has 16.5k on the clock and although strictly is should only have had one oil change I have done 2 as I feel 3 years and one change is too long.

 

[Z4Z4]

I have had the oil changed twice, but the next oil change will be done out of warranty. I was trying to have everything looked at and/or fixed & changed before it runs out. I have never had my brake fluid or transmission fluid changed.
Should I have that done before warranty runs out? What else should be done? Need all the information I can get before all expenses are on me? Thanks

 

[Breaker]

Had insp 1 done last week by my dealer. Cars done 13,900 miles. Oil, brake fluid and pollen filter change. £275.

Don't know what they do, but the Z does feel a bit smoother/faster than before?

Maybe it's because I have been test driving other cars and it's vying for my attention!!

 

[sp3ctre]

I've had mine 3 years and I think it's had 1 oil change... I do lots of short journeys so I am tempted to change it anyway, even though it is not asking for it.

 

[Aebous]

BTW, since you mentioned brake fluid change.....
I know a few people that have complained/commented that instead of changing the brake fluid the dealer/mechanic/indy will instead sample a bit of brake fluid and test it in some machine and if that machine doesn't detect enough water in the fluid will call your brake fluid good and not replace it at that time.

As far as oil changes, there is a big conflict on that and supporting arguments for changing it less and more frequently. The only good consensus that I've noticed was that if you track or drive your car hard (spirited) then you need to change all fluids and wear and tear items more often.

 

[srhutch]

Had insp 1 done last week by my dealer. Cars done 13,900 miles. Oil, brake fluid and pollen filter change. £275.

Don't know what they do, but the Z does feel a bit smoother/faster than before?

Maybe it's because I have been test driving other cars and it's vying for my attention!!

Breaker Are you sure it was inspection 1, wasnt it just an oil service with brakes fluid? Thats what I had done @ 2 years and 18k

 

[3.0 Si Anderson]

Had insp 1 done last week by my dealer. Cars done 13,900 miles. Oil, brake fluid and pollen filter change. £275.

Don't know what they do, but the Z does feel a bit smoother/faster than before?

Maybe it's because I have been test driving other cars and it's vying for my attention!!

Breaker Are you sure it was inspection 1, wasnt it just an oil service with brakes fluid? Thats what I had done @ 2 years and 18k

Thats what they do on a service 1 as it ties in with the timings for the other items - break fluid and pollen filter all should be changed after 2 years (or approx 18k miles as you have put it). The pollen filter is about £35 from the stealer and takes 5 mins to fit with no computer reset to do. My inspection 1 cost me £180 inc. VAT as it was just oil and break fluid which I was happy at - if they are charging £95 for a filter and fitting then they really are stealers but thats why you do it yourself!!

 

[srhutch]

Services are:

oil
inspection 1
oil
inspection2
oil
etc

brake fluid every 2 years and coolant every 4, so at 18K I had my oil service which had to be done 1k early because 2 years were up, no pollen filter change though from memory.