How Often Do you Service your Car?

[rohoni]

Regular mechanical inspection
For your safety, I recommend to have your car inspected regularly, at least once a year, by a mechanic. I mean not just visual inspection by one of the fast lube places, but a mechanic that can lift your car and check major components such as brakes, suspension, etc., while having your tires rotated, for example. This is because many components (e.g ball joints), can not be inspected visually.

 

[E3six]

yes i do change my engine oil every 30~45days without fail... thanks fabianis it waste of money here ... ummmm don't think so cuz now i can re-sell the used engine oil to my mechanic or used in my another car....it's just me and i've tested this teory for the past 47K millage on my old car that's still running without any TOP overhaul and so .... current millage 247K and moving...

Btw, what type of oil you are using ?

 

[initialM]

dear mouse :1) i've been changining oil since i've being told by a so called speciallist that my car needs a TOP overhaul and it's darm sluggish

Bro, Why yr car need Top overhaul? Any leaking?

My engine need to change head gasket and may do top overhaul as well.
Cannot do it now due to hari raya and just change oil. Will this help?
Now only one drop of water leakin every morning. Just hv to monitor water level daily.

 

[khisham]

...the E36 models have those green coloured 'idiot proof' service LEDs...when there is only one left on, it's very near time to visit Auto Bavaria...(..I always suggest Auto Bavaria because they are the only ones who do the job right, the first time...)

...did you know that BMW designed the E36 & other models after that so that the owners would never have to look under the bonnet into the engine bays..?...that's what the green LED lights are for...as reminders to let BMW staff get their hands dirty...

 

[elwine30]

hi khisham,

the led lights are meant to indicate the service intervals and owners to bring it back to workshop for service. It's being around since the late 70s from e21,e28 models. So, the led lights are one of the foundamental designs from BMW. It's their signature.

 

[initialM]

I never trust that indicator. I change my semi syn engine oil and filter every 5,000km religiously.

 

[rexmail]

Change the oil/filter myself every 7-8K on my E46, using Castrol Magnatec. Every 3rd oil change, ie 23-25K will take it to the mechanic for annual check-up and whatever that needs replacing. Coming up to 50K since gearbox oil change. Will be changing again when mileage hits 60K. My mechanic is just around the corner from my hse. Very convenient so always pop in now and again for advise and chit chat. Car seems to like that and has never given me any problems.......hehehe

 

[anxious]

I have decided to follow the following schedule:-

Oil Service @ 6 months @ 10000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter

Inspection 1 @ 12 months @ 20000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter
Change Air Filter
Microfilter?
Whatelse??

Oil Service @ 18 months @ 30000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter

Inspection 2 @ 24 months @ 40000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter
Change Air Filter
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Microfilter
Brake Fluid
Coolant
Steering Fluid
ATF & Filter
Diff Oil

Whatelse?

Also what synthetic oil do you guys use/recommend?

Thanks.

 

[dopodo]

I have decided to follow the following schedule:-

Oil Service @ 6 months @ 10000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter

Inspection 1 @ 12 months @ 20000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter
Change Air Filter
Microfilter?
Whatelse??

Oil Service @ 18 months @ 30000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter

Inspection 2 @ 24 months @ 40000km
Change Synthetic Oil & Filter
Change Air Filter
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Microfilter
Brake Fluid
Coolant
Steering Fluid
ATF & Filter
Diff Oil

Whatelse?

Also what synthetic oil do you guys use/recommend?

Thanks.

Recommend Q8 F1 or shell

 

[Mouse]

i highly recommend Q8 F1, never plan to switch after trying once.

 

[musclehedz]

all fluids are change at 15k service interval w/o failure:

- crankcase oil with engine flush. use fully synth oil only.
- transmission atf flush (filter only change at 40k km). dexron iii
- flush engine coolant. bmw coolant
- flush rear differential. gl5 gear oil
- flush brake fluid. dot 4
- flush power steering fluid. dexron iii

 

[initialM]

all fluids are change at 15k service interval w/o failure:

- crankcase oil with engine flush. use fully synth oil only.
- transmission atf flush (filter only change at 40k km). dexron iii
- flush engine coolant. bmw coolant
- flush rear differential. gl5 gear oil
- flush brake fluid. dot 4
- flush power steering fluid. dexron iii

Good practice there:rock: but I would suggest earlier engine oil change at 10k. Remember engine oil deteriorate faster as it involved combustion compare other fluid which is more as lubricant. Dun forget traffic jam or on idle which doesn't include in mileage. For me frequent engine oil change is better for long term engine proctection:top:

 

[keN330]

Agreed to change on 10k-15k but, why AB advise to change on 25k?

 

[initialM]

Agreed to change on 10k-15k but, why AB advise to change on 25k?

I think because they follow german spec. Even gear oil also quote lifetime and what they mean by lifetime is 5 yrs:burnout: After that they change to new car:smokin:

Again it depend on indivdual preference. For me semi syn every 5k km. Normally the service light will gone 2 boxes only.