i want to keep my car at its best status. but im not quite sure how to do this.

checking engine oil level regularly and what else?

because i think its always to late to hear the "ding ding" sound from idrive which i dont have hearing that from my car

 

Preventative maintenance.

Change oil every 5k, flush coolant every 20k, flush transmission every 30-40k, replace sparks at 50k, use Chevon Techron every now and then,

 

Important to keep it serviced (on-time) by the main BMW agent while under warranty otherwise they may refuse warranty claims.

Interestingly, a German colleague buys her Audi A6 then drives it for 60-100,000 miles without servicing or oil change. She then trades it for a new one and does the same. She never had any break-downs.

And while we all know the importance of oil change and regular servicing, this just goes to show how reliable modern cars are.

 

I just leave my car in the garage 99% of the time

 

This seems to be working great for me... On that note...if you weren't aware...the BMW "free maintenance" program will cover an oil change once a year...even if you haven't driven enough miles to make your "change oil" light come on.

 

LOL @ the idea of free anything in europe We don't get squat free.

 

whats that free maintenance program about? whats covered? and how much?

 

what do u mean by flush? wash it with water?

and where do i do the sparks replacement? with the stealers?

Is it necessary to do all these to keep the car at its best condition? i thought changing oil is all you need.... what if i dont change the coolant etc. does idrive give warning message for these? Because the idrive do not tell ppl to change these but the engine oil? if im right

 

Change your oil every 7k miles with only top-shelf BMW Full synthetic.

Flush your transmission fluid at 60k miles, then at 110k, then every 40k.

Do BMW's fuel injector cleaning service at 50k.

Change your sparks with NGK Iridium's at 50k and every 50k.

Check your gaskets for leaks, replace asap if there is a leak especially if you drive hard.

Check your radiator pump, they are known to blow at 50k or so. Especially pre-LCI models.

Be prepared to replace your battery every 4 years. If you just got your E60 and its an 04, might as well buy one now before its too late! I learned the hard way.

Use only Shell premium gas. Don't get shit gas, EVER.

Maintain your tire pressure and replace crap tires.

Check your control arms, bearings, bushings, brake fluid, coolant, and so on every oil change.

Inspect your radiator hose in the front. Feel if its firm, if not, replace it asap. It cannot be saggy or its ready to burst / tear.

Check rear diff at 60k , 90k, etc. Not sure if this needs to be flushed or not.

 

Flush basically means just draining out the old fluid and replacing it with new fluid. You can do the spark plugs yourself, but if you don't trust yourself, the dealer can also do it.
People have forgotten what actual maintenance is....keeping all the fluids fresh will help everything work better. Having fresh coolant will prevent corrosion and deposits in the cooling system, including the radiator and pump.