F8X maintenance intervals

[neo871]

There's one thing regarding modern car maintenance that seems to cause endless controversy. I'm looking to hear your opinion on whether we should stick to the condition based maintenance schedule showed in the iDrive or do at least one oil change in-between.

I remember that after I did the 2,000km service (1200 Mi) the iDrive estimated the oil change should be done in 25,000km (~16000 Mi), but isn't that too much to go on an oil change?!

[Flupke]

Mine says 9000 Mi after the 1200 Mi service.

[neo871]

Originally Posted by Flupke

Mine says 9000 Mi after the 1200 Mi service.

That's strange.

On the other hand, my brake pad CBS (front and rear) hasn't dropped a single mile since I bought the car and I am close to 12000 Mi. It still shows 82000 Mi for front pads and 63000 Mi for the rear ones

[Flupke]

Maybe that is the mileage at which these services need to be done, not in how many miles.

[neo871]

I am 100% sure that is not the way it works.

[Flupke]

Did your 1200 miles service decremented to 0 miles as you were approaching it?

[neo871]

That's a different thing. During the break-in, BMW asks to drive within some specific limits and, based on that, they assume 1200 Mi would be suitable for the purpose of that service.

[alz0rz]

The iDrive service intervals are all based on how you drive. They are also how many miles until you need them not what your mileage should be.

Go for a track day or two and watch those intervals plummet.

[neo871]

I know who the modern CBS works and yes, after have use they drop a little faster. However, in the long run you will cover close to the same distance as the iDrive showed right after the last service.

My initial question was if we should stick to what the iDrive says or do an intermediary oil change.
Actually I already went ahead and did an oil change yesterday, while the iDrive was showing 11,000 km to go until next oil change. It now shows 30,000km and this is the reason I've started this thread.

[BwoodBMW]

Unless you track your car I'm confused why you would add any service. I've never heard a single report of any issues from anybody that drove under normal conditions and followed the recommended intervals. But if you have cash to burn I guess why not?

[Ian1973]

Now that BMW ended it's 15,000 mile oil interval I doubt I will bother doing an oil change myself mid cycle like I used to. I'll just tolerate 10,000 mile oil changes.

[Lojs]

My car showed 28000km after the 2000km service. Makes me kinda uncomfortable especially that I do a couple of track days a year.

[neo871]

Originally Posted by Lojs

My car showed 28000km after the 2000km service. Makes me kinda uncomfortable especially that I do a couple of track days a year.

Same here.

[JoeFromPA]

I just did an oil change in between intervals. Couldn't be easier on this car - hell, part of the oil change is putting in a whole new plug and crush washer, so even that is easy.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Ian1973

Now that BMW ended it's 15,000 mile oil interval I doubt I will bother doing an oil change myself mid cycle like I used to. I'll just tolerate 10,000 mile oil changes.

This seems close enough for me as well. 15k did seem a bit crazy to me too.

[neo871]

For those who do an an oil change in-between intervals - do you also reset the service entry? I know this was possible on the e90.

Another thing I am curious about is what happens to the CBS due milage after you do an oil change without resetting the on-board computer? Does this push the iDrive due date/milage further or not?

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by neo871

For those who do an an oil change in-between intervals - do you also reset the service entry? I know this was possible on the e90.

Another thing I am curious about is what happens to the CBS due milage after you do an oil change without resetting the on-board computer? Does this push the iDrive due date/milage further or not?

No, I keep it as BMW needs to see it wants its oil changed to change it.

Changing the oil does not alter CBS - please note that it isn't sensing the oil, it's sensing your driving habits and duration of time and mileage. So when I change the oil, CBS doesn't realize I have done so.

[neo871]

I've heard that there is some kind of sensor that monitors the engine oil state. It's made by Bosch.

http://www.fitzhughmedia.com/MBF/oilchk.html

[DarkSide24]

My M4 has 9500 miles on the clock. It says the next service is due in 14,000 miles(!). This would mean well over 20,000 miles between services.

Unfortunately I have to do a lot of highway driving in my car and do so mainly at weekends, however I have done a track day and do use it for local drives during the week. It does get driven like an M car and isn't confined to pure highway cruising.

Should this size of interval for a high performance car be trusted?

[A Frankfurt]

Originally Posted by neo871

There's one thing regarding modern car maintenance that seems to cause endless controversy. I'm looking to hear your opinion on whether we should stick to the condition based maintenance schedule showed in the iDrive or do at least one oil change in-between.

I remember that after I did the 2,000km service (1200 Mi) the iDrive estimated the oil change should be done in 25,000km (~16000 Mi), but isn't that too much to go on an oil change?!

It is best advised to perform an engine oil service in-between your maintenance period.
If you own the vehicle and plan on keeping the vehicle once the warranty period is over..change it in between.
I don't reset the service intervals on clients vehicles and I use factory BMW parts, that way the client can still go to the dealer for the "free" engine oil service.

[cctm4me]

I have 26k miles and just got service done before the car told me it was ready. As said above, I feel better changing oil in between when the car tells the dealership that it's ready.

[neo871]

What about spark plugs? Any ideas on when those should changed? I think BMW recommends changing them at every 3rd oil change.