I've had my car (05 530i 48k miles) for 1,500 miles and my iDrive still sais "12,000 miles" until my next oil change is due, just like the day I bought it. All the other numbers are exactly even as well with all zero's at the end. Common sense tells me it is not counting down miles to next service date. The dealer tells me the iDrive in these cars doesn't "count down" miles like other cars, but is based on driving style and other factors. This seems questionable to me...considering I've drove over 1500 miles and the 'miles to service' indicators haven't budged. Is this accurate or is the dealer giving me false information?

 

The condition based service indicators are recomputing, based on how your car is driven. But mileage is only one of the indicators. Time between services is also important. That said, if you aren't comfortable with extended service intervals for oil changes and the like, have them done at a BMW Service Center, an independent mechanic who has BMW-Specific experience, or DIY. You won't harm your BMW by treating it to an extra oil change every now and then.

 

Dealer is correct. Just don't worry about it and drive the car. It will display a warning when service is needed.

 

It only reads in thousands of miles till you are down lower -- not sure where (maybe at 2,000) it switches over to 100's. Never shows an exact mileage number -- always zeros at the end.

 

Ya it sounds normal for now still. Just for comparison after my last oil change my counter said 12,000 till the next oil change and after over 2,000 miles of driving it STILL said 12,000 miles to the next oil change and then it finally showed 11,000 to the next oil change like after 2,500 miles of driving... Its based on how you drive the car... the more highway and cruising the slower it counts down. THe harder you drive it the faster it counts down.