BMW Servicing Experience(s)....

[bmwmike]

Sticks. said:

I was told that coolant didn't need changing during the life of the car. I was surprised, not checked. I imagine yo asked for Value Servicing.

I still get mine done as they still collect, even for a MoT, and being mileage based (except brake fluid) it averages out OK pa.

Parts are expensive imo.

Nick

Coolant - I was told that too. Lifetime fluid. Yours is an n52 presumably. Mine is an n53. Similar construction. Not sure how the antifreeze and anticorrosion properties could be measured.. traditional way I guess.

[metelmickey]

told the same thing about the gearbox ( auto ) "sealed for life" they will say but talk to ZF who make the boxes they will tell you 80,000 miles and it will need a service, so who would you believe BMW who fit the box or ZF who make them, also it's only around 500 euros for a full service and rebuild ( the ball bearings and springs wear out ) only thing is the drive to cologne to get the service. i did it for a long weekend holiday, great for not paying for parking while on holiday and they made a good job, the box's a lot smoother.

[Mr Whippy]

We'll all up on

Insp2, coolant, brake fluid, a BMW Indy is around £450 vs BMW at £600... give it take.


Main reason for coolant is that, despite it looking blue, I've not always had time to top up properly.
Sometimes concentrate, sometimes water.
Think I might have a leaky (slightly) cap.


I dunno, seems like BMW stamp might easily add on £150 in value/reassurance to a future buyer.
F(ish, I let time based overrun!)BMWSH from same dealer for 60k miles and 9 years has a ring to it.


Obviously there are other pros and cons but still... the numbers aren't terribly different.
Even on a car worth maybe £3000 tops that extra £150 for a FBMWSH seems ok.

Had I still worked near Wakefield with their pickup and drop off then their service is easily justifiable imo.


It's just when they let you down.

Sandal Wakefield have been spot on for me for years, but I'm now 30 miles and 1hr 15min away.

My much more local BMW Harrogate/Stratstone generally haven't been so great which puts me off.
I just know if I took my Z4 or 335xd there something would 'go wrong'

[thatdude]

metelmickey said:

told the same thing about the gearbox ( auto ) "sealed for life" they will say but talk to ZF who make the boxes they will tell you 80,000 miles and it will need a service, so who would you believe BMW who fit the box or ZF who make them, also it's only around 500 euros for a full service and rebuild ( the ball bearings and springs wear out ) only thing is the drive to cologne to get the service. i did it for a long weekend holiday, great for not paying for parking while on holiday and they made a good job, the box's a lot smoother.

I'd just like to point out that you ("you" meaining "anyone") don't need to go to ZF to have a ZF transmission serviced. I had my wifes 120D transmission serviced by a friend (who is a professional, and has been on ZF training courses) out the back of his garage. It's a messy job, and requires careful monitoring of the temperature during the refilling, but it's easily done by a competant technicial who has the right software. Is absolutly certainly worth doing; I think ZF state a range of 60,000-80,000 miles.