Time based servicing

M

mason storm

Active member
My Z is due an oil service in 4000 miles but as I now have a second car for travelling to work am i right that I should still get it serviced every 2 years even if the indicator says it doesn't need one yet? I am assuming that It may not need a service for another 6-8 months if i am keeping the mileage down, while based on a 2 year interval i need to get it serviced in February?
 
nice can of worms :D

I thought it was every 2 years regardless of mileage but others think just oil every two years and the inspections when the computer shouts...

even the dealers don't seem to know :roll:
 
well i gues as it's it's first service I should get it doen in feb when it's 2 years old. But intersting that BMW dealer's don't even know :roll:
 
gannet said:
I know, they've managed to balls up my service indicator anyways :|
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X2

2 Oil services followed by Insp 1, I think Insp 2 is next will have to check in 3 weeks :D

BMW's fantastic customer supports atitude was well it will come right in the end, but to para-phrase the late great Eric Morcombe 'I've all the right services, just not necessarily in the right order'. thanks for nothing BMW main dealers. :thumbsdown:
 
mine 4 years old at the end Dec but has 7k till inspection one. I will probably get the inspec 1 done though and not just the oil as it will be easier to sell the car next year although I reckon I could go another 2 years before I did 7k
 
gannet said:
even the dealers don't seem to know :roll:
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So is that ALL BMW dealers or just the ones you have tried..... .
Oil change - at the identified interval or every 2 years whichever comes first (that's what my friendly BMW tech. told me).
 
AlanJ said:
gannet said:
even the dealers don't seem to know :roll:
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So is that ALL BMW dealers or just the ones you have tried..... .
Oil change - at the identified interval or every 2 years whichever comes first (that's what my friendly BMW tech. told me).
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Many of us has asked dealers and very few of them seem to know what the proper routine is.
 
I thought it was:
oil change
Insp 1 (inc oil change)
oil change
Insp 2 (inc oil change)
and repeat

at 2 yearly intervals or when indicated by the OBC (usually around 15-18k miles depending on use).

However, the service booklet (which I have in front of me) says "Calculation of the Service interval covers almost all operating situations. However, if you drive only very low annual distances, you should have the oil changed every two years at the latest, regardless of the distance the car has covered." That to me makes it sound like the Insp 1 and 2 should be done when directed by the OBC, and that the oil changes are every 2 years. Clear as mud though...

I'm going to continue on my 2-yearly cycle and alternate as above between an oil change and an Insp1 or 2. Although and perhaps overkill, even moreso when I cover only 5k miles a year, I change the oil every 12 months regardless - for the sake of the cost of the oil and the filter I'd rather do that than use the same oil for 2 years. As I say, probably overkill...
 
by the time my 2 years is up i will have only done 8000 miles, i assumed at this stage it would be oil service and inspection 1
 
The back of the service booklet lists what's involved with Oil Services, Inspection 1 and Inspection 2's and to be honest it's mostly checks - nothing major at all. Apart from renewing spark plugs on the Insp2 there's very little in there that justifies the additional expense of an Insp 1 or 2 over an Oil Service IMO.

Taz X - my think is the same as yours except 10,000miles.

I just get oil/brake fluid plus Insp 1 or 2 check every two years - keeps it simple.
 
a11y said:
The back of the service booklet lists what's involved with Oil Services, Inspection 1 and Inspection 2's and to be honest it's mostly checks - nothing major at all. Apart from renewing spark plugs on the Insp2 there's very little in there that justifies the additional expense of an Insp 1 or 2 over an Oil Service IMO.

Taz X - my think is the same as yours except 10,000miles.

I just get oil/brake fluid plus Insp 1 or 2 check every two years - keeps it simple.
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thinking of doing a trip to europe in april, so mine could be on 10,000 too
 
Hi,

Sorry to start this thread up again but i thought it would be better to continue on here rather than start a new one. I have done a lot of searching on here about Service costs, service intervals and Dealer Vs Individual BMW specialists but am still a little confused about the intervals on my service log and wondered if anybody could help to clarify please.

I have had the car since August and the following services have been done by the first previous owner:

Oil service at 13,800 miles (April 2005) and brake fluid changed
Inspection 1 (and air cleaner element) at 24K miles (Aug 2006)
Oil service at 33K miles (Sept 2008) and brake fluid changed

My clock symbol came up a couple of weeks ago so i know that i need to change my brake fluid (and this corresponds with the Sept 2008 last change, with me being slightly overdue). However, although i know that service intervals vary depending on the way you drive the car my service indicator is telling me that my next service is due in 3,125 miles. However, by the time i have done that mileage i would have only done approx 48K miles but i will need an Inspection 2 service (as indicated on the service indicator and by the oil service, inspection, oil service etc. pattern). Is this right? It seems like i am having to do the Inspection 2 service too early (as on here people say at approx 60K). Does anybody have any idea why it is so low mileage for the Inspection 2 on my car? I thought it may be because the first owner was doing it before the service indicator suggested? Although i still have 3,125 miles remaning until the Inspection 2 service, am i overdue given that the car was last serviced in Sept 2008?? I'm guessing if i go by the time-based intervals (which my dealer says is every 12 months) i am but if i go by the service indicator i'm not? :?

I have been contemplating putting it in for a service at the end of Jan (when my MOT is due) and get the Inspection 2 done and the brake fluid changed all in one. If i did this should the counter be reset even though i will probably have approx 2,000 miles left on the service indicator? My next dilemma is also whether to go to a Dealer or an Independent specialist. It has a FBMWSH to date and i expect i will sell it on in the next 2-3 years (as i'm expecting to start a family!), so it will be about 9-10 years old and i do approx 10-12k per year mileage.

I do not know of any independents in my local area (East Angia) and i'm not sure what is the best course of action. I've been quoted between £493 and £536 from 2 BMW dealers in the local area for Inspection 2 and brake fluid change. Do people think this is reasonable or am i better off going to a an independent? Are people aware of any independents in East Anglia?

Sorry for the long post - i have been considering all of this for the past couple of weeks and thought i'd post all my queries at once. I'd really appreciate anybody's thoughts or advice. Thanks.
 
I have been contemplating putting it in for a service at the end of Jan (when my MOT is due) and get the Inspection 2 done and the brake fluid changed all in one.
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Sorry, actually just checked and MOT is due on 7th Jan! :roll:
 
As above I had mine serviced over Xmas @ 27K. As it was four years old it was due Oil Service at the very least along with Brake service, all three dealers I phoned said it needs Inspection 1 without prompting although this is of course a revenue generator.

I did however opt for Inspection 1 although there were 7k until this was technically due as I believe it will make the car easier to sell as if anything it has been over serviced. The cost for the Inspection 1 at my local main dealer was negioated down to £199 from there original £370.

My advise is get the Inspection 2 otherwise it will cost you a lot more as you will get an oil service now and again in 3K time when you do the inspection 2. Simples :wink:
 
LEC said:
Hi,

Sorry to start this thread up again but i thought it would be better to continue on here rather than start a new one. I have done a lot of searching on here about Service costs, service intervals and Dealer Vs Individual BMW specialists but am still a little confused about the intervals on my service log and wondered if anybody could help to clarify please.

I have had the car since August and the following services have been done by the first previous owner:

Oil service at 13,800 miles (April 2005) and brake fluid changed
Inspection 1 (and air cleaner element) at 24K miles (Aug 2006)
Oil service at 33K miles (Sept 2008) and brake fluid changed

.
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Judging by the previous dates, I would have had the Service 2 done in Sept last year (2010) along with a brake fluid change.

As for BMW or independant, I'd go for BMW since I've always managed to get a reasonable price at my local dealership and it's nice to continue the history. Make sure you're getting the 4+ discount for having an older car :wink: saves a lot on labour.
 
Dr Phibes said:
4+ Discount ??

Tell me more Herminator 8)
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Most but not all BMW dealerships do it, discounts seem to vary so best to ask whoever you use but most websites seem to have something similar to this-

BMW Four Plus

Welcome to BMW Four Plus (real savings on specialist care and Genuine BMW Parts).

BMW Four Plus is a complete care programme specially designed for BMWs four years old or more. It offers drivers of older BMWs the opportunity to enjoy genuine BMW care at genuinely affordable prices.

Peace of mind comes as standard. It's a fact that the older your car gets, the more important it is to make sure that it's looked after by experts who really know how to keep it performing at its best.

You can be sure that our technicians know your car inside out, because they are all BMW Approved Technicians
 
Thanks for that :thumbsup:

Just looked at mine again and it says Oil Service in 2500 miles but the clock is lit meaning brake fluid is due too ?

Whats the advice ?
It's done 40k

Should I wait until the Oil service is due ?

Is the brake fluid change part of the Oil Service ?

What sort of price should I expect to pay - as my local main dealer is offering 10% off any other quoted price.... ?

Cheers :thumbsup:
 
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