Misinformation

[Hawkeye]

Just thought I would post this since I got tripped up by it and I don't want others making the same assumtion or mistake.

It was recommended by my technician that, since I live in a wild climate area, I get my oil changed every 7,500 miles. I was told that I had to pay for that one but my 15,000 mile service (really bad name) would not change at all.

So I make my 15,000 mile oil change with 15K on the clock. Get it to the service dept with about 15,050 miles on the clock. Well, my car gets pulled around early and I say "wow, that was fast". Turns out they can't do the service as part of the free maintenance because my guage (that tells you how many miles till the next change) still says 3,500. That is a lot.

I checked the reading when I took my car in for the first change and it said about 7,500. The Tech at my new dealership said that the reading actually takes the oil viscosity and suc into account, which means I pretty much paid for an oil change and still have to wait an ADDITIONAL 11K to get my first free one.

So, pretty pissed off about it. Called the stealership that I bought my car from and they said "Sorry you didn't understand the terms...blah blah blah".

So lesson learned for me. And for all you, 15K mile service does not mean 15K mile service. It means whenever your counter is at zero service.

Has anyone else encountered this or was I just daft?

[epbrown]

The computer doesn't monitor your oil's viscosity or count starts or any crap like that. BMW tried that years ago and it didn't work well - too complex. Now, the OBC monitors how much fuel you burn. On your 3.0si and other non-M cars, you have to burn 500 gallons, on Ms, it counts 600 gallons, iirc. Makes sense: if you drive the car hard or do a lot of city driving, you'll burn more fuel and need it sooner; if you drive it easy or on the highway, you'll get better mileage and need it later.

Two more points. One, the technician that did the 7500-mile oil change should not have reset your OBC. Second, your 15k mile service, called an Inspection I, should still have been performed it since it's more than just an oil change; they're supposed to inspect the car for wear and possible problems.

No offense, but your service department sounds pretty freaking clueless to me.

[BMW-NC]

uhm, it is not called 15k mile service at all :-) Be happy that the oil in your car lasts longer...

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by BMW-NC

uhm, it is not called 15k mile service at all :-) Be happy that the oil in your car lasts longer...

That is what everybody at my dealership called it. Tell that to them. Sure the oil last 3 times longer, but it is more than 3 times the price of what I used in my civic... so why would I be happy about that?

Just found this page and it puts it very openly. Apparently the inspection 1 isn't until 30K miles for the newer vehicles.
http://www.brechtbmw.com/service.php#intervals

[takedown8]

At your first approximate 15,000 miles, you're supposed to have an "Oil Service". This may be slightly less or more than 15,000 miles depending on your driving habits, but your car computer will tell you whenever you start the car. The "Oil Service" includes an oil change, inspection of brake pads, inspection of tire tread, and checking tire pressures & correcting them if necessary.

Oil changes are, based on BMW, supposed to be done every 15,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. These are supposed to be covered under the maintenance warranty. So if your car went for a year without reaching 15,000 miles, then your oil change should've been free. Then when you reach 15,000 miles, then you should have the "Oil Service" done for free too.

Inspection I doesn't come until approximately 30,000 miles give or take, again depending on your driving habits (calculated by your car computer).

[speedygirl]

Service Manual recommends oil change at minimum once per year - I am assuming this is covered under the maintenance program. Brake fluid also to be changed at 2 years per the manual.

I am coming up on 2 years this week so am planning to call the dealer to set this up..

[takedown8]

Originally Posted by speedygirl

Service Manual recommends oil change at minimum once per year - I am assuming this is covered under the maintenance program. Brake fluid also to be changed at 2 years per the manual.

I am coming up on 2 years this week so am planning to call the dealer to set this up..

Really? Brake fluid change at 2 years? Are you sure?

[rosierobins2003]

I was told yearly or 15K, but that was before BMW became a stickler about your counter had to be 0 or negative before they could do the service. Not sure anymore if they would service it if it was on the yearly plan.

Rosie

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by takedown8

Really? Brake fluid change at 2 years? Are you sure?

On both my 325i and Z4 2.5i, they changed the fluid after 2 years.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by epbrown

The computer doesn't monitor your oil's viscosity or count starts or any crap like that. BMW tried that years ago and it didn't work well - too complex. Now, the OBC monitors how much fuel you burn. On your 3.0si and other non-M cars, you have to burn 500 gallons, on Ms, it counts 600 gallons, iirc. Makes sense: if you drive the car hard or do a lot of city driving, you'll burn more fuel and need it sooner; if you drive it easy or on the highway, you'll get better mileage and need it later.

Two more points. One, the technician that did the 7500-mile oil change should not have reset your OBC. Second, your 15k mile service, called an Inspection I, should still have been performed it since it's more than just an oil change; they're supposed to inspect the car for wear and possible problems.

No offense, but your service department sounds pretty freaking clueless to me.

+1000, I totally agree, I can't understand why some dealerships are so clueless sometimes? Also, if you don't reach the approriate interval in a 12 month period you are still entitled an iol change. This has been true for all of my BMW's for the past 10 years.

[speedygirl]

Originally Posted by takedown8

Really? Brake fluid change at 2 years? Are you sure?

Yep, just double checked the manual.

PS. No one has responded to my thread about the body inspections to maintain the rust perforation warranty - anyone had any experience???

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

+1000, I totally agree, I can't understand why some dealerships are so clueless sometimes? Also, if you don't reach the approriate interval in a 12 month period you are still entitled an iol change. This has been true for all of my BMW's for the past 10 years.

I knew this and made sure they did not reset my OBC. That is why I am pissed, and how I know the counter takes more into consideration than just fuel consumption and such.

I have 16,670 on the clock and my counter (never reset) has about 2,000 left. It is not because of my driving I am pretty sure. Even though most of my driving is highway, I drive my car fairly hard in the city.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I knew this and made sure they did not reset my OBC. That is why I am pissed, and how I know the counter takes more into consideration than just fuel consumption and such.

From the Bentley Manual for the E46 3-series and Z4:

Up to the 6/2000 build, the SII software calculates maintenance intervals based not only on elapsed mileage, but also on such inputs as engine speed, engine temperature, number of starts, length of trips, and the amount of fuel used. At the appropiate time the system indicates, through lights in the instrument cluster, when the next routine service is due.

For the 6/2000 and later build cars, BMW introduced new service interval software which calculates service based on the amount of fuel used. When SII detects total fuel consumption that equals preset limits (in gallons), the instrument cluster indicates that service is required. The example given for the preset limits (on a 328i) is 601 gallons for a manual or 667 gallons for an automatic transmission.

[155MPH]

BMW has what is called a "low mileage Oil Change". Once a year included in the free maintenance they will change the oil for free, regardless of how many miles. Especially important for those of us that have our Z's as a second car that we drive only on weekends. Make sure you tell them NOT to reset the maintenance indicator. When you call to schedule it make sure you tell them it is a low mileage oil change.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by epbrown

From the Bentley Manual for the E46 3-series and Z4:

Well if that is true I have no explanation why I average 25.2 mpg most tanks and I have to wait 18,000 miles to get my "15,000 mile oil change".

Guess the cars knows best. Perhaps I won't fill my tires with air till the on board computer tells me to as well

That is not directed at anyone... well maybe BMW itself.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Well if that is true I have no explanation why I average 25.2 mpg most tanks and I have to wait 18,000 miles to get my "15,000 mile oil change".

The quote from Bentley was just to clarify that the computer software goes by fuel consumption, period - because the pre-2001 cars measured all sorts of things, a lot of people (not just you) are stuck on the idea the cars still do. It definitely can vary - I'm at 4000 miles on my M Coupe and the OBC says the next oil service is due in 7000 miles. The current manual only covers the pre-facelift Z4s, so I don't know how many gallons your N52 is supposed to go through; could be higher since the car is more fuel efficient than the M54, could be lower.

As far as just doing what the computer and dealership tell you, not many people would recommend it but your car would likely run fine for years if you did. I plan on keeping my car a long time, so I halve the service intervals myself - I changed my oil/filter 500 miles ago, when the indicator said 7500 miles till the next service.

I did it myself to avoid any issues like you've encountered like someone fiddling with the service resets, to save some money, and because from what I've seen no dealer sees enough Z4Ms to really know much about them. You'd think after years of working on the very similar E46 M3, there'd be no problem, but we've had some disquieting conversations.

[pbdm4k]

Invest in a Pela Oil Extractor, never even have to jack up the car anymore.

I do my own oil changes every 7500km religiously and after hitting the track just in case.

Yes Oil gets VERY expensive, but with the way I drive, it can't hurt.
I also use the LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser for that extra liter.

6L Castrol Syntec 5w30 + 1L LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser + Filter = $80

And I do it myself too... yeouch!

[RussRamz]

Originally Posted by epbrown

on Ms, it counts 600 gallons.

Are you sure about this? From what I have read, the condition of the engine oil is monitored by a sensor in the oil pan. This sensor obtains the requisite information by measuring the electrical properties of the oil, which change as wear progresses and the additives in the oil become depleted. If your logic is used, I got 2.63 mpg--I don't think it's gallons of fuel used.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

Invest in a Pela Oil Extractor, never even have to jack up the car anymore.

I do my own oil changes every 7500km religiously and after hitting the track just in case.

Yes Oil gets VERY expensive, but with the way I drive, it can't hurt.
I also use the LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser for that extra liter.

6L Castrol Syntec 5w30 + 1L LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser + Filter = $80

And I do it myself too... yeouch!

My dealer does the oil change for $89 and I get a crappy car wash for free! Haha. I will probably start doing it myself when my warrenty expires.

[vachss]

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

Invest in a Pela Oil Extractor, never even have to jack up the car anymore.

I do my own oil changes every 7500km religiously and after hitting the track just in case.

Yes Oil gets VERY expensive, but with the way I drive, it can't hurt.
I also use the LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser for that extra liter.

6L Castrol Syntec 5w30 + 1L LucasOil Synthetic Oil Stabiliser + Filter = $80

And I do it myself too... yeouch!

You might find it difficult to use a dipstick oil extractor in a 3.0si which has no dipstick. I did my first at 5K using the classic bottom drain method. I haven't decided yet whether I'll keep up with the 5K interval or relax it to 7500 as most here seem to prefer.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by vachss

You might find it difficult to use a dipstick oil extractor in a 3.0si which has no dipstick. I did my first at 5K using the classic bottom drain method. I haven't decided yet whether I'll keep up with the 5K interval or relax it to 7500 as most here seem to prefer.

I only did 7,500 because I was under the impression I got them free from the dealer at 15,000. I just did not want to go a full 15K without an oil change. Especially with the weather here and the way I drive!

[ianbiz]

You get one free oil change every 15k or 1 year. I go to an indy shop for the ones in between (car is too low), to do it myself.