calpalmer

And, if you search this forum and bimmerfest.com, you'll find dozens of threads asking the same question with lots of replies as to how frequently folks are changing fluids.

Cal

pinguhk

I am planing to drive my car for 3 more years, so like you I will keep my car in tip top shape.
it good that you change you stuff on the car before the computer tell you to, I never turst the BMW computer.
I change my engine oil every 7k km to 8k km
brake oil at about every 35k km
gearbox oil and filter at 45k km
coolant just top up, I have not change
spark plugs at every 2 engine oil change.
K&N air filter just clean every 8k km

Just a tip when you do your next brake flush. change you brake line from rubber to steel 1s, they will last much longer and brake a little bit better

Loge

I just had the ATF, water pump, charcoal filters, oil and filter, and thrust arm bushings changed at 50,000 miles on a 2004 525i that had gone thru the usual lease maintainance schedule up to this point. I will change the spark plugs at 60,000 miles. I plan to try and keep this car a long time if no major problems arise. I may be wrong in not getting an extended warranty, but I will put a dedicated amount of money aside each year for maintainance costs. When I asked the independent SA why BMW says the ATF service can be delayed, or could last the life of the car, he simply said "because they want to sell you a new transmission at 150,000 miles". My analogy is that $1500 to $2000 saved for yearly maintainance (hopefully less) is about equal to 4 months of leasing a 750il that you don't own.

p3style

Mike Miller's recommended schedule for our cars:

Synthetic Oil > 5,000 miles
Manual Transmission Fluid > 30,000 miles
Automatic Transmission Fluid > 30,000 miles
Differential Fluid > 30,000 miles
Air Filter > 30,000 miles
Fuel Filter > 30,000 miles
Timing Belt > 50,000 miles
Engine Coolant > 2 years
Brake Fluid > 1 year

KAF

There is always a trade off between cost and perfection.

Using this schedule will cost a bomb unless you do it yourself.

I have never seen a car with a recommendation to change the brake fluid yearly, 2 years is pretty standard, most manufacturers will tell you that modern coolant will last 3 years easily, often 4 with no loss of performance.

What is the point of top line synthetic oil if you are going to change it every 5,000 miles,

Sorry, but this seems a little bit of overkill to me.

subarashi

KAF-agree-clearly there are divergent opinions here. My car runs well with the regular BMW maintainence but the issue that is at hand is whether that is sufficient for those of us looking to keep these cars 5+ years.... In that aspect, "overkill" becomes a totally relevant term...

Rizbel

Has anyone changed the fuel filter? If so, please post a DIY. Thanks.

barry325

Just changed my oil/filter this morning. The above directions got me close, but weren't exact with my 05 530, with regards to resetting the service indicator for the oil.

I had to turn the key to run, and let the car go for about 10 seconds until I had a constant seatbelt indicator.

Then I had to push/hold the trip meter reset button. That got me to the oil indicator. I then followed the directions in the above PDF.

I have a reset oil service indicator.

YMMV,
Barry

jagbagri

I agree, it does seem overkill except the engine oil. You can extend it to about 6000 but no more. But the trany fluid at 30,000? I don't think anybody follows that. I would change it at 60,000. He may be talking about the cars made about a decade ago when more of this kind of maintenance was required.
Just my 2 cents.

jagbagri

I also intend to keep my car for well over 100000/150000 miles but here is what I would do:

Synthetic Oil > 5,000 miles
Automatic Transmission Fluid > 50-55,000 miles
Air Filter > 25-30,000 miles
Fuel Filter > 50-55,000 miles
Timing Belt > 60-70,000 miles
Engine Coolant > 3 years easy
Brake Fluid > 2 years easy