Recommended BMW Maintenance:
Maintaining your BMW
The Oil and Safety Service consists of changing the engine oil and oil filter along with a general safety check, and checking/correcting the following (this is a partial listing): Operation of all exterior lights; Tire condition and pressures (including spare); Brake lining condition; Steering and suspension component condition; Fan belt condition; Checking for coolant, oil or other fluid leaks; Operation of warning systems; Operation of windshield wipers/washers; Level of brake fluid and coolant; Operation of horns; Parking brake operation; Vehicle road test (test drive).
The Inspection I Service is the smaller of the two Inspection Services (formerly called “major” or “major tune-up” services). It includes basically all of the items performed on the Oil and Safety Service, along with the following (this is a partial listing): Automatic transmission service (through 91 models); Manual transmission and differential oil level checks; Tire rotation (if needed); Pressure test cooling system; Function of shocks/suspension; Adjustment of valve clearances; Lubrication of body hardware (hinges/latches, etc.); Adjustment of belts; Adjustment of parking brake; A/C refrigerant level check; Fuel injection system/ diagnostic system checks; Miscellaneous checks and adjustments of engine, fuel, body, electrical, chassis and safety systems; Steam cleaning of engine.
The Inspection II Service is the larger of the two Inspection Services and basically includes all of the items performed on the Inspection I Service along with the following: Manual transmission oil change; Automatic transmission service (from 92 models); Differential oil change; Fuel filter and air filter replacements; Replacement of spark plugs.
Each time we perform a maintenance service on your BMW, our main priority is to ensure the safety and reliability of your vehicle. We change the oil, check fluid levels, etcetera, but the real value of our service is our expertise and familiarity with the problem areas, common failure points, and the practical service needs of your particular BMW model.
Service Maintenance Schedules
BMW has traditionally provided very comprehensive maintenance recommendations and schedules that have been aimed not only at ensuring maximum safety and reliability, but also to provide the longest possible service life for your BMW and its components. At European Motorsport, we assume that your intentions are to keep your BMW indefinitely, and that you want it to provide safe, reliable, comfortable and fun transportation for you throughout this time. This is why we strongly recommend not only following the factory maintenance schedules, but also including the intermediate oil services as shown below (although these are not required by BMW for the “new car warranty”).
Since 1983, BMW has used a service interval computer to determine (“indicate”) when one of the three main services are due. If you own a later model, normal driving in our area will have 9,000 to 15,000 mile “indicated” service intervals. “Indicated” services are shown below in bold.
Service maintenance schedules for models 1999 and later generally appears as follows:
- 7,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 15,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 22,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 30,000 miles – BMW Inspection I (I/1)
- 37,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 45,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 52,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 60,000 miles – BMW Inspection II (I/2)
- 67,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 75,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 82,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 90,000 miles – BMW Inspection I (I/1)
- 97,500 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1) etc. …
Service maintenance schedule for (1986-1998) models:
- 5,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 10,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 15,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 20,000 miles – BMW Inspection I (I/1)
- 25,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 30,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 35,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 40,000 miles – BMW Inspection II (I/2)
- 45,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 50,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 55,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 60,000 miles – BMW Inspection I (I/1)
- 65,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 70,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 75,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 80,000 miles – BMW Inspection II (I/2)
- 85,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1)
- 90,000 miles – Oil and Safety Service (O/S2)
- 95,000 miles – intermediate oil service (O/S1) etc. …
Our experience over the years has shown us that owners who maintain their BMW’s well, tend to keep their cars longer, are happier with their ownership/driving experiences, and are let down by their cars very rarely. Ninety percent of our customers maintain their cars according to the recommended schedules and realize the cost effectiveness of proper vehicle maintenance over the years. The others apparently think that all one needs to do to maintain a BMW, is to take it in to a “quick lube” now and then (and unfortunately get what they pay for) and bring it in to us when they have a problem. As expected, these are the cars that we are more likely to see being towed-in to our shop. Many times these (often very expensive) problems could have been prevented if the car had received proper maintenance (An anonymous reviewer: “If you think a good BMW mechanic is expensive, just see what happens when you try a cheap one”).
