New 323i owner in need tips to keep car running smooth

[dmi3]

Hi All , I am a new BMW 323i owner . I was wondering if some of you GURU's have some tips for me on how to keep the BMW running smooth with the exception of going for the regular services with the agents which i will most definitely do . Some advice on the location to do the suggested maintenance is also welcomed as i have no clue which are good BMW workshops . I read a few things like doing balancing and alignment every 10k km ? go to any tire shops ? Any other tips ? Secondly , every now i then i find myself having to leave my UDM for a month or two in order to go out of the country for business trips . Any idea what I can do to make sure the battery is not completely dead when i come home ? rgds,dmi3

 

[benjovi]

dmi3,

Sounds like this is your first car? i won't bother much if I were you about our UDM, just treat it as normal car and the oil changed interval as suggested by the guys here is every 10k km.

If you found out that your allignments out, then just send it to the tyre shop etc...make sure they have the correct software though...

I travelled out of the country as well, mostly one month away and one month at home. I would just ask my wife to start it 2-3 times a week just to get the car going, other than that nothing major lor...

Enjoy your ride bro and have fun!

 

[dmi3]

benjovi ,

Thanks for the tips .
Yeap yeap ...first car im owning ( obvious eh ? )

With the oil change , do u go to BMW for the oil change ? or any other shops ? recommendation ?

Regarding my second question , my car is parked for long with no one around . bujang . so no wife to help out . neways , any ideas in that case ? disconnect battery ?

rgds,
dmi3

 

[benjovi]

dmi3,

If your car still under warranty, the BSRI should cover all of your oil changes, and this can only be done at BMW authorized workshops. I wonder why your SA didn't mentioned this to you?

As for ur 2nd question I am not sure unplugging your car battery is a good idea as the car need those power to run some of the electronic components even in stattionary. Please check with you BMW SC for further informations.

Btw, is your UDM brand new or used? Did you bought it from one of the authorized BMW dealer?

 

[MSport]

i dont think it's a good idea to detach the battery. cos there's electronics required to run even when the engine is off.

Nanti pintu pun tak boleh buka....

 

[dmi3]

Hi guys ,

Pintu tak leh nak bukak....ok ok ...will scrap that idea hehehe

Bought my car brand new .From Ipoh . Authorized BMW dealer ..
I know i have a service at 10k and 25k i think ...or something like that ( dont have the book with me as im typing this) . Im talking bout the intervals that are not covered in BSRI . for instance i do not think there is a 30k service ....what so i do then ? drive into BMW and pay for the oil change ?

So far no one has been able to give me an answer as to what to do if i leave the car idle for long. BMW SA also are not able to give me a definitive answer. ...

cheers !

dmi3

 

[macdaque]

Hi guys ,

Pintu tak leh nak bukak....ok ok ...will scrap that idea hehehe

Bought my car brand new .From Ipoh . Authorized BMW dealer ..
I know i have a service at 10k and 25k i think ...or something like that ( dont have the book with me as im typing this) . Im talking bout the intervals that are not covered in BSRI . for instance i do not think there is a 30k service ....what so i do then ? drive into BMW and pay for the oil change ?

So far no one has been able to give me an answer as to what to do if i leave the car idle for long. BMW SA also are not able to give me a definitive answer. ...

cheers !

dmi3

Read somewhere (if not mistaken the handbook), that if you leave the car for more than 24 hours, the battery will automatically disconnect, electronically, from major power sucking components, and retain trickling battery just to maintain settings (prob as much battery that a watch will use i.e. coin size battery can last 3-5 years, so BMW on battery a size of 10 loaves of bread won't be a problem). I have left the car for 2 weeks without starting at all (when I went to Europe), no problems at all when I returned. Car just started as though I didn't leave it at all. I think the recommendation is to ensure petrol tank is full (so that not much air that would cause evaporation of fuel). Apart from that, I think you should be able to leave for 6-12 months without regular starting, no problem.

 

[dmi3]

Hi macdaque ,

Thanks for the answer . :top:

It is interesting to know that BMW battery shuts down itself after a certain period . I will look this up and see how true it is . I hope you are right .
For normal car batteries ..(based on experience) ..the first time you leave it idle for a long period , it will be fine . but the more you repeat doing this , the shorter that period of idleness should be as there seems to be some permanent effect to the battery .

Thanks for the reply again ....:cheers:

 

[BMWood]

Hi dmi3, hope you can share with us more about your new 323i. Do you encounter issues like key fob problem with tinted film or headlight vibration, alignment, noise insulation etc like what being discussed in other thread?

I also noticed that there's not much talk on 323i model. Seem to me that most of the owners of new e90 are more on 325i or 320d. What's wrong with 323i?:106:

 

[fan_cheong]

Got my E90 325 last week. Alignment is a bit off. Otherwise no problem.
Anything else should we be aware off?

 

[lude]

Hi dmi3, hope you can share with us more about your new 323i. Do you encounter issues like key fob problem with tinted film or headlight vibration, alignment, noise insulation etc like what being discussed in other thread?

I also noticed that there's not much talk on 323i model. Seem to me that most of the owners of new e90 are more on 325i or 320d. What's wrong with 323i?:106:

i dont think its because there's smtg wrong with 323, we all make our purchases based on preference, budget etc. i get ppl asking me "why didnt u get the 325?" all the time..
nways i got my 323 more than 2 months ago and so far i havent encountered any headlight vibration nor alignment problems.. but as soon as i tinted my car, key fob range and CA was definitely affected. noise insulation only pose a problem above speeds of 200kmh..

 

[dmi3]

Hi BMWood ,

I am VERY happy with the car .
I was caught between the 323 and 325 but finally went with the 323 due to personal preference..was not really a fan of the bucket seats . I think both cars are amazing though .

I have some issues with CA and the FOB range also , but i took the car from the SC with tinting done so i cant really pin point why . When i get back in town i am taking the car to the SC to check on this issue ...

Other than that ...no issues really....car drives like a dream . I do not have any issues with the lights . I have not broken the 200km/h barrier so im not so sure about the noise insulation problem lude is highlighting ...new car ....dont want to push it too much

Hope that helped.

 

[stanleycck]

Hi dmi3, hope you can share with us more about your new 323i. Do you encounter issues like key fob problem with tinted film or headlight vibration, alignment, noise insulation etc like what being discussed in other thread?

I also noticed that there's not much talk on 323i model. Seem to me that most of the owners of new e90 are more on 325i or 320d. What's wrong with 323i?:106:

Wood.........I do not encounter such issues with mine. Have been driving my 323i for more than 1 year and nothing major. The only thing was that the aircond started to give out a musky smell after a few months old. Had the filter changed under BSRI. My tint is basically from Ving Guard......I do not encounter any issues as what we see in the forum.

Yes, it is true that this model is not much spoken about. The 323i shares the same capacity as the 325i but only a detuned version. The 325i comes fully furnished with M Sports goodies. I went for the 323i instead of the 325i as I wanted a comfy ride.......remember that the 325i comes with M Sports Suspension system. Just my 2 cents that the 323i is much more of a family orientated sports saloon. With the headlight vibartion, I believe that there is a discussion on this forum with adequate answers.

 

[fan_cheong]

The tint on my car is "win-card". No issues on fob range and CA.

I didn't try out the 323, the 325 is a bit bumpy especially going through speed breakers before reaching the toll booth.

 

[BMWood]

I share the view with stanleycck. Comfy drive and iDrive gadget are the reasons why I prefer 323i over the 320d and 325i. Oh ya, just got a call from the SC. They are giving more discount on Pre-reg and Pre-own units. 5 to 10k cheaper than what I've being offered earlier. :1:

 

[ahmz]

I second BMWood! Anyway, I dumped the CSC tyres supplied stock on the 323. Prone to aquaplaning and wear rate is horrible. Now using Michelin Primacy HP ZP. So much better...

 

[tpleong]

I share the view with stanleycck. Comfy drive and iDrive gadget are the reasons why I prefer 323i over the 320d and 325i. Oh ya, just got a call from the SC. They are giving more discount on Pre-reg and Pre-own units. 5 to 10k cheaper than what I've being offered earlier. :1:

BMwood,

Mind sharing which SC giving the extra discount for pre-reg & pre-won units? What's the price if I may ask? Am looking at either 323i or 320d.......may consider if the price is right. By the way, new here.

Thanks.

 

[Daytona]

Got my E90 325 last week. Alignment is a bit off. Otherwise no problem.
Anything else should we be aware off?

Make use of your indicator lights more. 3 months after taking delivery of my new car the rear indicator light fused. They had to change the whole light assembly! Cannot just change inidcator bulb. Few months after that, it fused again! Changed again under warranty. Thsi time they assured me it is a new improved batch. It is 6 months since the last change and it is ok. Basically, use the inidcator lights eventhough in MLY we tend to not use much or at all!!! This way, any faults can happen during your warranty period. I can only imagine how much it would cost to change the whole light assembly after warranty..ouch!

 

[fan_cheong]

Make use of your indicator lights more. 3 months after taking delivery of my new car the rear indicator light fused. They had to change the whole light assembly! Cannot just change inidcator bulb. Few months after that, it fused again! Changed again under warranty. Thsi time they assured me it is a new improved batch. It is 6 months since the last change and it is ok. Basically, use the inidcator lights eventhough in MLY we tend to not use much or at all!!! This way, any faults can happen during your warranty period. I can only imagine how much it would cost to change the whole light assembly after warranty..ouch!

Noted. Actually last week the idrive indicate my right indicator failure. The indicator sound was ticking very fast. After that I shut the engine and restarted again. Surprisingly, all is well.

Yesterday, I took my car to re-do the alignment at AB Sg Besi. It took about 6hrs to rectify the matter.
The SA told me the computer is taking a long time to check on the matter...

 

[BMWood]

BMwood,

Mind sharing which SC giving the extra discount for pre-reg & pre-won units? What's the price if I may ask? Am looking at either 323i or 320d.......may consider if the price is right. By the way, new here.

Thanks.

Have PM you.:wink: