Top 5 Budget Tips for BMW Maintenance
YouTube channel Exotic Car Playplace reveals how to save money and avoid steep dealership costs for BMW maintenance.
There’s no getting around the fact that BMWs are high maintenance vehicles. That’s not so say they’re unreliable. A properly cared for BMW will reward its owner with many miles of satisfying motoring. Mark Holubetz over at the YouTube channel Exotic Car Playplace has a handy video that details what he thinks are the five (technically six) most important aspects of BMW maintenance.
“A little bit of maintenance goes a long way with these cars,” says Holubetz. But how much is too much? “A lot of the maintenance schedules that you find in the owner’s manual are based on revenue generation,” he says. “It’s a dealer thing.” He also rightly points out that car dealers make most of their money from servicing cars that they have sold and not from the actual sales of the cars. “They make their money on the five, ten, fifteen years down the road when that car has to come back for maintenance and repairs.” The right preventative maintenance can keep your BMW on the road and more money in your pocket.
1. Oil Changes
“If you’ve always got clean oil in there and the right type of oil, that’s going to help extend the longevity of the engine,” says Holubetz. Regular oil changes are also essential for lubricating the turbos that most new BMWs use. “Oil is utilized for lubrication for the turbo bearings and for cooling as well.” Oil is also a critical aspect of the VANOS (variable valve and camshaft timing system) that pretty much all BMWs now use.
2. Cooling System Maintenance
Anyone who has owned BMW models over the long term is likely aware of the issues that these cars have with their cooling systems. BMW cooling systems are complicated, with a lot of hoses, connectors and components. “Part of the problem comes with age and the degradation of the coolant,” says Holubetz.
Over time the coolant can start to eat away at the internal components of the engine, making it very important to properly maintain the cooling system. For example, the N55 engines should have their water pumps and thermostats changed every 60,000 miles. One of his tips is to change any cooling system parts that you can access while you are performing other maintenance on the car.
3. Replacing Brakes & Fluid
Another crucial aspect of BMW maintenance is making sure the brake system is properly cared for. “There’s more to it than just changing your brakes,” says Holubetz. Water can get into the brake fluid over time, which in turn can cause corrosion.”
He also points out that the braking systems on newer cars are also used for stability control, torque vectoring and other systems. “The tolerances are very, very tight. You can’t just put on new pads and turn the rotors,” he adds. You really need to replace the pads, rotors and brake pad wear sensors at the same time.
4. Suspension Upkeep
“BMWs are known for their handling and some of their performance attributes,” adds Holubetz. If suspension bushings, tie-rod ends and other components are neglected you lose not only the quality and the performance, but you can also create dangerous conditions. He also rightly points out that a poorly maintained suspension can lead to premature tire wear.
5. Keep Your BMW Clean in the Winter
This one doesn’t seem related to actual car maintenance. However, for BMW owners that live in cold climates where the roads get salted, keeping your car clean is pretty important for its longevity. “Snow melt does create corrosion issues and it starts to eat the car from the inside out,” says Holubetz. The metal on cars can start to corrode and bubble in as little as three or four years.
Bonus Tip: Give Your Turbo Time to Cool
BMW uses turbochargers on pretty much every new car they make. “That little device produces so much heat,” says Holubetz. “The problem with turbocharging is that the heat has to go somewhere. Generally, a lot of it stays in the turbo.” If you’re driving on the freeway, on the racetrack or any conditions where the turbo is getting hot let the engine idle for two to five minutes before turning of the engine. If the engine is shut off when the turbo is still hot the oil crystallizes and starts to coat the turbo’s internals, the bearings, etc. Over time, this causes premature wear on the turbo.
Screengrabs: Exotic Car Playplace / YouTube