Service intervals

[NDL]

It's all very well pushing the inspections out on these low mileage cars, but the diff and gearbox oil isn't getting changed very regularly. Cars that haven't had an inspection 2 yet might be on original oils. Not really great is it!

I would like to see the 15k or two year oil, insp1, oil, insp 2, but everyone is different I guess.

Spot on in my book. But it is amazing how many 9 year old cars that are for sale with FSH, that haven't yet had the inspection 2 service completed.
So, the search goes on.

 

[DPG]

Ah yes, does look like a generic list. That's pretty poor of them.

Found this on another thread.

 

[no fit state]

It's all very well pushing the inspections out on these low mileage cars, but the diff and gearbox oil isn't getting changed very regularly. Cars that haven't had an inspection 2 yet might be on original oils. Not really great is it!

I would like to see the 15k or two year oil, insp1, oil, insp 2, but everyone is different I guess.

Spot on in my book. But it is amazing how many 9 year old cars that are for sale with FSH, that haven't yet had the inspection 2 service completed.
So, the search goes on.

That's because they do have FSH in accordance to the BMW schedule. Some people service over and above that, but that's really up to the owner to make that choice.

 

[Mangozac]

I too am in the market for an M and feel I have a good understanding of the service history requirements. The Ms here in Australia are almost all low kms (<50k) and will not have had an inspection II done because, as mentioned earlier in the thread it is done purely on distance, not time.

Furthermore, it's rare for any to stick strictly to the 2 year interval for oil changes too, and 3 years between oil services (but covering only maybe 5,000km) is pretty common. I spoke to the service manager at my local BMW dealer about it (who worked his way up from being a mechanic and whose advice regarding BMWs I do trust). He himself has worked on plenty of S54 engines and he says that so long as the service was done at a dealer (who will have used the high spec oil specified), the kms are low and no track use then he wouldn't be concerned about 3 or even 4 years between oil changes. Take that for what it's worth but the selection of cars available here in Oz is extremely limited and if you were to discount any that didn't adhere strictly to the official servicing requirements I guarantee you would never find one.

 

[Beedub]

I too am in the market for an M and feel I have a good understanding of the service history requirements. The Ms here in Australia are almost all low kms (<50k) and will not have had an inspection II done because, as mentioned earlier in the thread it is done purely on distance, not time.

Furthermore, it's rare for any to stick strictly to the 2 year interval for oil changes too, and 3 years between oil services (but covering only maybe 5,000km) is pretty common. I spoke to the service manager at my local BMW dealer about it (who worked his way up from being a mechanic and whose advice regarding BMWs I do trust). He himself has worked on plenty of S54 engines and he says that so long as the service was done at a dealer (who will have used the high spec oil specified), the kms are low and no track use then he wouldn't be concerned about 3 or even 4 years between oil changes. Take that for what it's worth but the selection of cars available here in Oz is extremely limited and if you were to discount any that didn't adhere strictly to the official servicing requirements I guarantee you would never find one.

don't agree with this.... at all.

 

[mr wilks]

I too am in the market for an M and feel I have a good understanding of the service history requirements. The Ms here in Australia are almost all low kms (<50k) and will not have had an inspection II done because, as mentioned earlier in the thread it is done purely on distance, not time.

Furthermore, it's rare for any to stick strictly to the 2 year interval for oil changes too, and 3 years between oil services (but covering only maybe 5,000km) is pretty common. I spoke to the service manager at my local BMW dealer about it (who worked his way up from being a mechanic and whose advice regarding BMWs I do trust). He himself has worked on plenty of S54 engines and he says that so long as the service was done at a dealer (who will have used the high spec oil specified), the kms are low and no track use then he wouldn't be concerned about 3 or even 4 years between oil changes. Take that for what it's worth but the selection of cars available here in Oz is extremely limited and if you were to discount any that didn't adhere strictly to the official servicing requirements I guarantee you would never find one.

don't agree with this.... at all.

Me neither a high temp atmosphere running a high performance engine on oil in for 3/4 years Ooooo no not for me thanks , rather have double the miles on the clock with regular fluid changes

 

[Mangozac]

don't agree with this.... at all.

Me neither a high temp atmosphere running a high performance engine on oil in for 3/4 years Ooooo no not for me thanks , rather have double the miles on the clock with regular fluid changes

Fair enough, but like I said, you really have no other option over here. Service history of every car I've looked at has had at least one three year gap between services.

 

[no fit state]

Me neither a high temp atmosphere running a high performance engine on oil in for 3/4 years Ooooo no not for me thanks , rather have double the miles on the clock with regular fluid changes

I wonder what the test results would be if you took the oil from one car that had done say 5k miles in 3 years to say one that had done 15k in one year?

 

[mr wilks]

Me neither a high temp atmosphere running a high performance engine on oil in for 3/4 years Ooooo no not for me thanks , rather have double the miles on the clock with regular fluid changes

I wonder what the test results would be if you took the oil from one car that had done say 5k miles in 3 years to say one that had done 15k in one year?

Guess that would depend a lot on how the miles had been covered ? Primarily mway at 70mph probably no issue :? half track half road

 

[CornishRob]

I too am in the market for an M and feel I have a good understanding of the service history requirements. The Ms here in Australia are almost all low kms (<50k) and will not have had an inspection II done because, as mentioned earlier in the thread it is done purely on distance, not time.

Furthermore, it's rare for any to stick strictly to the 2 year interval for oil changes too, and 3 years between oil services (but covering only maybe 5,000km) is pretty common. I spoke to the service manager at my local BMW dealer about it (who worked his way up from being a mechanic and whose advice regarding BMWs I do trust). He himself has worked on plenty of S54 engines and he says that so long as the service was done at a dealer (who will have used the high spec oil specified), the kms are low and no track use then he wouldn't be concerned about 3 or even 4 years between oil changes. Take that for what it's worth but the selection of cars available here in Oz is extremely limited and if you were to discount any that didn't adhere strictly to the official servicing requirements I guarantee you would never find one.

That's very lazy by owners to not service correctly and very bad for dealers telling buyers what they want to hear to get a sale.

It's well known in the UK that the S54 extended services are too far apart and should be closer.

It's a high revving performance engine, why treat it like a fleet 116d!

Look after them, these engines will never be seen in road cars again.

 

[Mangozac]

That's very lazy by owners to not service correctly and very bad for dealers telling buyers what they want to hear to get a sale.

To be fair, I was told that in conversation, not while trying to sell me a car (they're only a small dealership so don't ever even have one to sell). He knows me and knows that I'm particular about my car maintenance so had no reason to lie.

 

[no fit state]

That's very lazy by owners to not service correctly and very bad for dealers telling buyers what they want to hear to get a sale.

It's well known in the UK that the S54 extended services are too far apart and should be closer.

It's a high revving performance engine, why treat it like a fleet 116d!

Look after them, these engines will never be seen in road cars again.

Really? I don't agree with this. There are plenty of OCD owners who feel that the BMW service schedule is inadequate, but I don't recall on here or M3cutters ever seeing a list of engine failures due the BMW service schedule being followed. In fact my last S54 engined car was tipping over 90k miles with nothing more than the schedule being followed (coupled with a three gap on an oil change at one point) and with a engine that pulled like a train.

Now if you are tracking it, I'd say service it more often but as general, sticking with the BMW schedule is OK