BMW m4 maintenance

[WesamE]

Hey guys
So I bought an m4 last year with 25,000 miles on it I've had the car for almost a year now it's has 38,000 miles I drive my car every day and the only thing I had done on it was an oil change I just wanted to know what other maintenance should I do and when should I do it to keep the car running fine without having any issues

[HoldenMI]

Originally Posted by WesamE

Hey guys
So I bought an m4 last year with 25,000 miles on it I've had the car for almost a year now it's has 38,000 miles I drive my car every day and the only thing I had done on it was an oil change I just wanted to know what other maintenance should I do and when should I do it to keep the car running fine without having any issues

Major maintenance is every 30k. Feel free to search the forum archive or even Google.

[Suds]

You are probably due for spark plugs.

[GearRex]

BMW Recommended Maintenance Schedule for M3/M4 F series vehicles.

You are due for:
- Replace Engine Oil and Filter
- Replace Engine Intake Air Filter
- Replace Spark Plugs (Coils are not required by BMW, this is incorrect)
- Change Brake Fluid

Note that the recommended schedule is every 10K miles or 12 months, whatever is first.

[65fastback]

Interesting... the 2016 M4 i just bought happens to be under extended maintenance plan purchased by the original owner.
The car has 32k on the clock and i took it in to bmw today and they refused to replace the spark plugs unless i paid out of pocket.
My SA said "the car will tell you when its needed" on the idrive, we can't replace them yet.

Hard for me to complain since this maintenance plan was a unknown at the time of purchase & a total surprise...but sheesh!

[GearRex]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Interesting... the 2016 M4 i just bought happens to be under extended maintenance plan purchased by the original owner.
The car has 32k on the clock and i took it in to bmw today and they refused to replace the spark plugs unless i paid out of pocket.
My SA said "the car will tell you when its needed" on the idrive, we can't replace them yet.

Hard for me to complain since this maintenance plan was a unknown at the time of purchase & a total surprise...but sheesh!

Weird. He is lying to you, of course. Is either mileage, or time, or CBS computer, whatever is first.

Every 3rd oil service are the spark plugs service required, according to BMW.

I would find another dealer.

[GearRex]

You could reference this post.

Photo was taken directly from the SA's computer screen

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1&postcount=11

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by GearRex

Weird. That is a lie, of course. Is either mileage, or time, or CBS computer, whatever is first.

Every 3rd oil service are the spark plugs service required, according to BMW.

I would find another dealer.

Yeah... i was giving him some push back, i said its a 2016 and over 30k what more do you need? over on milage and time!!! and still no bueno.

they did a oil change and cabin filter and wipers to shut me up. but its not over.

[GearRex]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Yeah... i was giving him some push back, i said its a 2016 and over 30k what more do you need? over on milage and time!!! and still no bueno.

they did a oil change and cabin filter and wipers to shut me up. but its not over.

I can't imagine why. The spark plugs service is expensive, as there are a lot of parts to remove, so it has about 4 hours of labor that they can charge to the BMW maintenance plan, or the customer, if the maintenance has expired.

It is easy money to the dealership.

One possibility is that the previous owner did not bring the car for oil service at 10K religiously (maybe he waited for 15K oil services), so perhaps the dealer's computer is saying this is the second oil service, thus not eligible for spark plugs, or, they did not reset the oil service one of those times, so the CBS counter is on #2, instead of #3. I am just guessing.

As I said before, spark plugs are every 3rd oil service.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by GearRex

You could reference this post.

Photo was taken directly from the SA's computer screen

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23335381&postcount=11

I believe the car has to call for it based on everything in this post saying "approx" in terms of miles and time.

[Isj]

Maybe the spark plugs were already replaced when you bought the car used? Can you ask for the car's prior service history and see if they already did it from the previous owner?

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Interesting... the 2016 M4 i just bought happens to be under extended maintenance plan purchased by the original owner.
The car has 32k on the clock and i took it in to bmw today and they refused to replace the spark plugs unless i paid out of pocket.
My SA said "the car will tell you when its needed" on the idrive, we can't replace them yet.

Hard for me to complain since this maintenance plan was a unknown at the time of purchase & a total surprise...but sheesh!

regarding the plugs: that car SHOULD have had the plugs changed at 30,000 miles OR 36 months, so it seems likely that it's already been done. easy enough to tell though, just have the SA show you the key-read. if for some reason they won't show it to you (or claim they can't) you need to find another dealer ASAP.
if the plugs haven't been replaced, and you're still under a valid maintenance plan then it's no cost to you and any suggestion that you have to pay should also result in a trip to a different dealer.
let us know how this turns out.

[NickyC]

Ahhh, so they did take me for a ride recently during Miami servicing for my M4. They said I needed differential oil replacement, said it’s done at 40k and my car had 38k at the time so I went ahead and approved. Charts here show it’s not needed until 50k.

Oh well my fault, should have thought to check here first. on the bright side it looks like I’m covered until 60k other than oil changes!

Wasn’t cheap either. I think engine oil, brake fluid, and rear differential oil change was $1300 combined. I don’t think my Missouri plates were lost on them lol. Another redneck fleeced in South Florida!

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Ahhh, so they did take me for a ride recently during Miami servicing for my M4. They said I needed differential oil replacement, said it’s done at 40k and my car had 38k at the time so I went ahead and approved. Charts here show it’s not needed until 50k.

Oh well my fault, should have thought to check here first. on the bright side it looks like I’m covered until 60k other than oil changes!

Wasn’t cheap either. I think engine oil, brake fluid, and rear differential oil change was $1300 combined. I don’t think my Missouri plates were lost on them lol. Another redneck fleeced in South Florida!

Good on you for not believing that oil is “lifetime”. I think that’s more costly that what my local Indy charges for that service on my porsche.

M markup + franchise dealer markup combined to beat up on your wallet.

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

regarding the plugs: that car SHOULD have had the plugs changed at 30,000 miles OR 36 months, so it seems likely that it's already been done. easy enough to tell though, just have the SA show you the key-read. if for some reason they won't show it to you (or claim they can't) you need to find another dealer ASAP.
if the plugs haven't been replaced, and you're still under a valid maintenance plan then it's no cost to you and any suggestion that you have to pay should also result in a trip to a different dealer.
let us know how this turns out.

The plugs have not been changed as far as i know.... SA was saying the service light in the i drive should go off within the next 5-10k and the 30k number is just a aprox number they use. Bring it in then for the plug service. This all sounds like classic bmw double talk.

however on the car fax it says at 25k the plugs were "cleaned " and "re gapped " at a bmw dealership WTF?? that does not sound right. What happened to the we dont fix parts "we replace them" motto?

My maintenance plan is good until may 2022 or 100k That is a fact so....Iam going to go to a different dealership ( the one were the car was originally purchased and serviced ) and have them do a key read right in front of me.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Good on you for not believing that oil is “lifetime”.

Well, notice that none of the maintenance includes transmission oil - that's the lifetime stuff they (BMW) are selling.

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by doug_999

Well, notice that none of the maintenance includes transmission oil - that's the lifetime stuff they (BMW) are selling.

to paraphrase from memory a Mike Miller comment from some time ago on this very subject: "BMW defines the lifetime of a 'lifetime fill' to be the lifetime of the part lubricated by the 'lifetime fill'. When the part fails (because of failure to replace fluids) then the lifetime of the 'lifetime fill' is at an end and the customer must purchase a new part with a new 'lifetime fill' from BMW."

[65fastback]

OMG!!! i just called another dealership to get my plugs done and was told ill need to pay $700 to do a "maintenance plan refresh" in other words transfer it into my name.


Is this the biggest FU ever... or for real????

[Poupon McArr]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

OMG!!! i just called another dealership to get my plugs done and was told ill need to pay $700 to do a "maintenance plan refresh" in other words transfer it into my name.


Is this the biggest FU ever... or for real????

I purchased a used M4 that had maintenance plan. When I purchased it I had no idea. Went in for routine service and they said I was good to go because of the maintenance plan. I was like WTF, but didn't ask questions. Seems like it just went with the car

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by Poupon McArr

I purchased a used M4 that had maintenance plan. When I purchased it I had no idea. Went in for routine service and they said I was good to go because of the maintenance plan. I was like WTF, but didn't ask questions. Seems like it just went with the car

Yeah...thats exactly what happened to me yesterday, nothing was said other than your extended plan is good until 100k or 2022..... until a called a different dealer just now and thats when they brought up the $700 "refresh" thing. Thats were the car ( and maintenance plan ) was originally bought

[Poupon McArr]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Yeah...thats exactly what happened to me yesterday, nothing was said other than your extended plan is good until 100k or 2022..... until a called a different dealer just now and thats when they brought up the $700 "refresh" thing. Thats were the car ( and maintenance plan ) was originally bought

Weird, it looks like it says it's non-transferrable, so not sure why I have it. But for you it's a MY16 right? So to get to 2022/100k I think the $700 is a no-brainer if that's the only way to keep it. Brakes alone would make it worth it.

https://www.bmwusa.com/explore/bmw-v...onditions.html

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by Poupon McArr

Weird, it looks like it says it's non-transferrable, so not sure why I have it. But for you it's a MY16 right? So to get to 2022/100k I think the $700 is a no-brainer if that's the only way to keep it. Brakes alone would make it worth it.

https://www.bmwusa.com/explore/bmw-v...onditions.html

Thanks for that link, it does read as if on 15/16 model years maintenance plan's only are good for original purchasers. Maybe this is only for the original maintenance NOT extended purchased plans. I agree $700 is well worth it in my situation.

My 16 still has about 1 month of OEM factory warranty left. Which brings me back to... why won't they change my plugs since its over due on milage and time?