Z4 service intervals

[mav5125]

Hi, does anyone know what the z4 service intervals are? The service book doesn\'t say.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Go to the BMW site below ... select your car's Mfg. Year, Model etc. It will then open a PDF file for your car.

I keep my file in my maintenance folder for my car to have it handy when my car requires or is due for service. On our ///M cars some dealerships are confused as to what is actually required to be done so this PDF official BMW document helps a lot.

To open the BMW Maintenance file ===> CLICK Here

[az34]

Originally Posted by mav5125

Hi, does anyone know what the z4 service intervals are? The service book doesn\'t say.

its well documented in the service and warranty guide that should came whit your car.

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

If it's the latter, then check this out:

Nice!

[XStarkX]

Change your oil every 5,000 miles! The average mileage for CBS data (condition based service) is 15,000 miles, which is calculated based on driving style, type of driving "city vs highway", and climate. Long oil change intervals are known for causing carbon build-up on the valves. This is caused by the vehicle being direct injected and having a crankcase ventilation system that pumps oil vapor over the valves. Synthetic oil will just start to breakdown the additives in the oil at 6-7,000 miles and cause the oil vapor to collect at turbulent areas. N54 and the mini's n-14 is known for this problem. Catch cans are a great option if you want to extend your oil changes.

[48redlands]

Originally Posted by XStarkX

Change your oil every 5,000 miles! The average mileage for CBS data (condition based service) is 15,000 miles, which is calculated based on driving style, type of driving "city vs highway", and climate. Long oil change intervals are known for causing carbon build-up on the valves. This is caused by the vehicle being direct injected and having a crankcase ventilation system that pumps oil vapor over the valves. Synthetic oil will just start to breakdown the additives in the oil at 6-7,000 miles and cause the oil vapor to collect at turbulent areas. N54 and the mini's n-14 is known for this problem. Catch cans are a great option if you want to extend your oil changes.

since the service is free with the car, i thought the car would tell you when to change the oil, are you changing the oil at your expense ?

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Nice!

This was my response in regards to a post of "Mike Millers Old School Maintenance Schedule for BMW". Since it is a copywright material the post was removed. Posting copyrighted material -- is frowned upon by the law abiding citizens attempting to protect their intellectual property.

It is a weath of information from Mike Miller who is associated with BMWCCA. Additionally Mike updates the info occasionaly and this way you have the latest and greatest.

I understand that if you shoot Mike an email, you can get a copy of his latest Old School Maintenance Schedule which is what he believes the maintenance schedules for our cars essentially would be if it weren't for the free maintenance program.

His email is auspuf2002@aol.com

So if you "own" your Z and plan on keeping it for 10+ years or >100K miles, it is highly recommended that you perform some additional preventitive maint (PM) on your vehicle at your own cost.

[jparnes1]

I removed the post after a heads up by Rolf Deiter. My bad.

[XStarkX]

I do it myself every 5,000. I also do a zmax engine and fuel system treatment. I work for BMW and see these cars every day. And rumor mill is getting rid of warranty free maintenance...

[BMWZ4]

Actually, I'm fairly certain that maintenance PDF speaks only to U.S. customers.

Just follow the suggested maintenance intervals in your iDrive. If you feel the need to change your oil sooner than what is suggested, go for it.

Dave

[tranquility]

I am kind of skeptical about our Cdn oil change interval recommendation by the dealer: 24,000kms (~15,000miles) or 1 yr, whichever earlier??!! Is that too long or should I just adhere to it?

[rfx45]

To be safer, I think changing oils every 5,000-7,500 miles is best especially if you plan to keep the car for a long time. If it is a lease however, I wouldn't worry about the extra expense to be quite honest. I don't think changing every 10k miles is that bad though, it might depend how you drive though. Other believe the oil has a longer life if the car is driven more often in the freeway than stop and go city driving. Can't confirm that though so take it with a grain of salt.

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by mav5125

Hi, does anyone know what the z4 service intervals are? The service book doesn\'t say.

If you give your BMW service manager your primary remote control, they will download your car's data and tell you exactly what scheduled servicves are coming up.
Or you can toggle throuth the onboard computer and it will tell you your upcoming service schedule.

[nickm9]

I've not had a service, a major one, in over 20,000 miles. Dealer says this is normal and is car and driver condition based.....but it's due in the next 1000 miles. We pay for the service package here. I'm cynical in thinking if I didn't ay for it, it would be due a service every 15000 miles, but since yo pay for the 5 year package all of a sudden it goes up to 25k plus servicing!! BMW trying to make their money!!

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by nickm9

I've not had a service, a major one, in over 20,000 miles. Dealer says this is normal and is car and driver condition based.....but it's due in the next 1000 miles. We pay for the service package here. I'm cynical in thinking if I didn't ay for it, it would be due a service every 15000 miles, but since yo pay for the 5 year package all of a sudden it goes up to 25k plus servicing!! BMW trying to make their money!!

We do not pay for regularly scheduled maintenance here in the US. My BMW dealer has followed stricktly to what the car's computer tells them. ...and in the case of the oil changes, the 12 month calendar has taken priority over the mileage, since I do not drive anywhere near 15k miles/year.

[brianh968]

I have just taken mine in for the 30K service per red-light notification on dash. Was quite surprised to learn that oil change is not is not scheduled for my car. It was last changed at I think ~17K. S.A. wants me to bring car back not before 3/19 - when they will do the scheduled oil change.

Guess I have no clue how these service algorithms work.

[cdeslandes]

With synthetic oil (which is used in the Z4) 7,500 miles is perfectly fine.

My personal schedule is 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by brianh968

I have just taken mine in for the 30K service per red-light notification on dash. Was quite surprised to learn that oil change is not is not scheduled for my car. It was last changed at I think ~17K. S.A. wants me to bring car back not before 3/19 - when they will do the scheduled oil change.

Guess I have no clue how these service algorithms work.

The oil changes occur every 15k miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. Or if the car's computer determines that for whatever reason, it needs an oil change prior to 15k miles point, due to extreme driving conditions or any other number of variable.

[HerrK]

Nearing it's 2 year build and delivery date from the Welt, mine is going in for its computer generated ~16K miles service tomorrow. I asked them to change it last year (12 months) at approx 10K. They did not reset the computer at this time. I changed it myself at 5K. I prefer a 6-7K or 12 month change rate with the synthetics. Hoping to get them to do the normal 2 yr items - brake fluid and cabin air filter (which I still cannot find out where or how to access). I will probably do a trans, differential and coolant flush myself this summer. Received some magnetic plug "stocking stuffers" I've been wanting to put in.

http://www.drainplugmagnets.com/magn...plugshome.html

The synthetic oil itself is easily good for 15K miles. It's the additive packages that begin to loose effectiveness after about 7-8K miles.

Here's a couple of good sites. The first one is if your really curious about the state of your oil you can send it in and have it analyzed for a relatively small fee. It is most effective if you do this regularly at each oil change, use the same oil and change at the same milage. That way you can easily spot changes in the results, which by the way the company tracks and notifies you of past results. Increase in certain elements indicating bearing wear, etc.

The second one if you really want to know everything about your oil, various brands, additive packages, etc.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by HerrK

This was my response in regards to a post of "Mike Millers Old School Maintenance Schedule for BMW". Since it is a copywright material the post was removed. Posting copyrighted material -- is frowned upon by the law abiding citizens attempting to protect their intellectual property.

It is a weath of information from Mike Miller who is associated with BMWCCA. Additionally Mike updates the info occasionaly and this way you have the latest and greatest.

I understand that if you shoot Mike an email, you can get a copy of his latest Old School Maintenance Schedule which is what he believes the maintenance schedules for our cars essentially would be if it weren't for the free maintenance program.

His email is auspuf2002@aol.com

So if you "own" your Z and plan on keeping it for 10+ years or >100K miles, it is highly recommended that you perform some additional preventitive maint (PM) on your vehicle at your own cost.

Good stuff

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

Actually, I'm fairly certain that maintenance PDF speaks only to U.S. customers.

Just follow the suggested maintenance intervals in your iDrive. If you feel the need to change your oil sooner than what is suggested, go for it.

Dave

Dave, I don't think you can go far wrong by following some of the recommendations if you plan your own preventative maintenance on you car. Mike Miller is one of the better fellows out there and he sure knows his stuff. As for the US verses the Canadian car ... I am sure we both agree a car is a car is a car not much difference between the two except one gives you feedback in Imperial and the other in Metric and that would be the end of it ... unless you know something that I don't know.

Good luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There are some excellent recommendations in this thread. I just like to add that in the end they are just that "recommendations"

I found in the past that the scheduled intervals (for oil changes) from the dealer are perhaps too long. For our still active BMW 535is that will turn 25 years this year and getting closer to the 500,000 KM mark now I've more or less changed my own oil (in-between the recommended intervals by the dealer). The PDF file (see below) addresses this issue very well and I need not to elaborate on this point. As stated in the PDF file when it states "draw your own conclusions" said it very well. In the end we all do what we think is right.

EDIT:

If you like to see the PDF File ....

===> you need to GOOGLE yourself "Mike Millers Old School Maintenance Schedule for BMW" then open the PDF file or as HerrK recommended e-mail Mike Millers, his office will send you a PDF file within a few hours.

Thanks Dave for the heads up my bad (missed the copyright notice at the very end of the former link). I removed the link that lead to the Internet link.


Happy motoring all ... winter will be done soon

Cheers, Rolf


END EDIT:

[BMWZ4]

Actually Rolf....the PDF you've linked to actually recommends following the iDrive. Additionally, the reason I said I thought that PARTICULAR PDF spoke primarily to the U.S. customers, is because they only talk about U.S. & Puerto Rico. Canada is only referenced if using BMW Assist.

Then I followed up by saying, HOWEVER, if you prefer to change your fluids more frequently, to knock yourself out and do so.

EDIT: I thought you weren't supposed to post a link to "mike millers"......the "click" you provided goes directly to a link of his, which notes a copyright at the bottom of the page....oops!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Dave Marien

EDIT: I thought you weren't supposed to post a link to "mike millers"......the "click" you provided goes directly to a link of his, which notes a copyright at the bottom of the page....oops!

You are absolutely correct, I removed the link. Thanks for the heads up Dave.