BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

[ptrcktn]

Hi all,

I've been recommended by several mechanics to service my BMW regularly and not according to the service intervals as recommended by the car. This is because the service intervals are tuned for highway style driving in temperate climates as opposed to short start-stop driving in tropical conditions. One mechanic even showed me a E90 engine which had to be overhauled because the oil had clogged up so badly.

So I was wondering, is it necessary to service a brand new car within the first 5000 km, and then every subsequent 10,000 km thereafter? This was what was recommended to me.

Is the first 5000 km service really necessary? For E90 and E60, both brand new, registered in 2009. Thanks in advance for your inputs!

 

[wt_know]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

service every 5,000km -> some say overkill but if you feel like it -> why not
service every 10,000km -> i guess this is acceptable and practice by many
service every 8,000km -> some say at 8,000km the oil start to break so it's better to change

 

[ptrcktn]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

True, if you feel like it, it can't hurt. I was thinking service after first 5000 km, then every 10 000 km thereafter. Thanks for the opinion.

 

[Merlin_sg]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I will service it after first 5000 km, then every 8000 km thereafter

 

[davidtch]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I will do simple oil change after 1,000km because i don't know how long the oil has been sitting in the engine.

 

[Slater]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

10k fr 1st oil change shld suffice. good to check when the car was built not delivered, to get an indication of how long the engine oil has been seating in there.

 

[SpeedLover]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

The way the recommendation given it sound like driving a Japanese car man.... Was it PM advice or some other garages out there?

 

[Buaya82]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

If we know when the car is built, how long do we need to wait before we consider changing the oil or do we just wait for the 10,000km as the guage?

Though, I guess there is no harm sending the car in for servicing to check the oil at the 5000km mark just to play safe.

 

[longhorn]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

Is the first 5000 km service really necessary? For E90 and E60, both brand new, registered in 2009. Thanks in advance for your inputs!

it seems to me that u r worried. so for a few bucks, why not just buy some peace of mine and send the car for service at 5000km.. like some here said, no harm.

mine is serviced at 10k intervals. fyi one PML svc advisor did hint to me that in our city start stop driving conditions , we shouldn't wait for 25000 km to next service...

 

[ptrcktn]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I think as with all things there's never a harm in overkill, especially with service intervals. I got the advice from some random petrol kiosk at Lavender where the guy was overhauling an entire E90 engine. He showed me the photos he took and the actual oil cap for this particular E90. The oil sump was totally fouled with debris and the oil filter was completely clogged up. He wasn't trying to get me to service my car at his place or anything because I just needed an engine oil top up.

I had driven my E90 LCI 320i and serviced once at 7000 km (as recommended by the computer), then ignored it because it said the next service only due at 20,000 km. Between 7000 km and 20,000 km I noticed that the engine oil quantity started to decrease significantly below the middle marker between MAX and MIN, then there was a prompt saying that engine oil was low, then went to top up the engine oil at this guy's place.

That's where he showed me the photos and the current E90 he was overhauling.

That's why I think may not be such a bad idea to service more regularly, just to get the oil changed at least, especially if you intend to keep the car for awhile. Just my thoughts.

 

[davidtch]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

The way the recommendation given it sound like driving a Japanese car man.... Was it PM advice or some other garages out there?

There is nothing wrong to keep oil change interval of our beloved BMW like Jap car. There is nothing better than fresh oil.

 

[SpeedLover]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I am fine with changing the oil, just that I was told when driving the continental car, we do not have to service as often as the Jap car. May be those people advice may not be related to the oil but to the general servicing. I think i should also look into this, just to change oil.. ;-) Wah lau.. PM's sure happy to see me.. money tree hahahah

 

[Buaya82]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

Hmm, I agree. There is really nothing better for the engine than having fresh oil on regular basis.

 

[longhorn]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I think i should also look into this, just to change oil.. ;-) Wah lau.. PM's sure happy to see me.. money tree hahahah

hint hint: u don't HAVE to go to PML you know....

Hmm, I agree. There is really nothing better for the engine than having fresh oil on regular basis.

Yup.. it feels like having a new pair of underwear and socks everyday!!! Shiokkkk..

 

[SpeedLover]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

hint hint: u don't HAVE to go to PML you know....

Errr... Any suggestion? I know there are alternative workshops which specialize in BMW car, JuzzFORCARS. Any idea if they are good? Anyhow, I suppose changing oil no harm? BTW, any recommendation of oil?

 

[longhorn]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

well there are several site sponsors here. go try them. or if u surf this site long enough you will come across many recommendations. good luck.

 

[C3P0]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

For the older cars where there is no need to reset OBC indicators (or if your warranty is over and you bo chap anymore!), can just go to any workshop or those small service station at petrol station. They may or may not allow you to bring your own oil, but confirm you need to bring your own oil filter (unless they stock it; oil filter can get from Eng Soon).

But if OBC needs to be reset, then need to go to those workshops in our site sponsors page liao.

 

[Mtws]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I'm new here...just got my bm as 2nd hand, 1yr10mths old. First service maintenance done in 12km, and now running at 20km. Someone told me that bm service intervals are 15km +/-, is that true?

Thks & Rgds

 

[elginlye]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I got a new 318i. Salesperson said 12k svc interval.

 

[V6ENGINE]

Re: BMW Servicing Intervals? How often?

I'm new here...just got my bm as 2nd hand, 1yr10mths old. First service maintenance done in 12km, and now running at 20km. Someone told me that bm service intervals are 15km +/-, is that true?

Thks & Rgds

Dear Bro,

as we all know BMW cars works on time / condition based system. So the OBC will actually tell you when you need to do your service actually. But if you feel abit better and safer, you can just change the engine oil based on mid interval. (I.e. i did my first oil change outside at 8k then at about 15k, i went back to PML for oil change too..) So like what alot of bro here say, there is no harm doing more oil change . Strictly speaking, base on BMW schedule, you do not have to do the oil change till the OBC alarm sounds. Hope my 2 cents help...

cheers!