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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 473 of 536

#4717 of 5349 Re: Life time maintenance cost? [ginrita] by dujox

Jun 28, 2010 (11:36 am)

Replying to: ginrita (Jun 27, 2010 11:10 am)
You are asking a million dollar question but never less a good one.
I have a 325xi, Sedan, 2003. Got it on 07 and it had already 125,000 "freeway miles".
It is- still- my first Bimmer and I did tons of research (BEFORE buying it).
 There are couple things that a first time Bimmer-man should know.
-Miles in a BMW does not quite tells a lot about a car real condition. Maintenace DOES. Those cars are beautiful but they are drama queen!
-My research showed me that In order to keep up with my Queen, i should save about 2k a year for maintenance and repair. I then, checked for an "Extended Warranty". (You may check this forum for my finding)
-I took the advice of 'saving my own Extended Warranty". The cost of an EW goes from 1,500 to 3,500 3 years ago.
- I plan was to save the equivalent of one work-hour everyday or 2,000/year. This car just got out a lease. So instead of tossing out $2,500 on "Extended warranty'" I took the car to an Indy BMW garage and made are the critical repair. (Not many).
 
-As you can see having the taste but no necessarily the status-income to keep up with those car made most of us very creative.
- Finally, one pieces of advice if you ask: Don't buy Carfax report. BMW DO NOT report anything to anybody. They do not give away the car maintenance record either. It is "classification information" only available to a car's original owner.

#4718 of 5349 Re: Life time maintenance cost? [ginrita] by srs_49

Jun 28, 2010 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: ginrita (Jun 27, 2010 7:16 pm)
Well, I originally bought the car for my son when he was in college. He drove it for 6 or 7 years, then we did a trade and I got the '325 back. It was my daily drive for the next 3 or 4 years, though I always had a spare vehicle to drive if the BMW was tied up for repairs, such as when I replaced the steering rack. If it had been my only vehicle, then repair costs would have been much higher since I would have needed to rely on a shop for most of the work.

#4719 of 5349 Re: Life time maintenance cost? [srs_49] by roadburner

Jun 28, 2010 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: srs_49 (Jun 27, 2010 2:13 pm)
No US spec BMW has had a timing belt since late 1991.

#4720 of 5349 Re: Life time maintenance cost? [ginrita] by roadburner

Jun 28, 2010 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: ginrita (Jun 27, 2010 11:10 am)
I can't find out what I should expect to pay for annual maintenance costs and when is that really big tune up due?
 
All modern BMWs use a Service Interval Indicator or Condition Based Service(CBS) systemto inform the driver when routine maintenance is required. On a 328i an Oil Service will be called for at 15,000-20,000 miles. To be honest, I don't like to run oil that long, so I perform an oil change at 7,500-9,500 miles. I also use Mobil 1 0W-40 synthetic, which I prefer to the BMW-branded Castrol synthetic. It's a ridiculously simple DIY procedure and it costs me less than $55. The minor service(Inspection I) will come up at 30,000-40,000 miles and the major service(Inspection II) at 60,000-80,000 miles. An Oil Service will cost $60-$150, an Inspection I $150-$300, and an Inspection II $450-$800(prices will vary based on where you live and whether you go to a dealer or a indie BMW shop). Coolant must be changed every three years(using BMW Coolant ONLY), while the DOT4 brake fluid gets flushed every two years. If the car has a slushbox BMW also calls for changing the ATF at 100,000 miles, although I would have the procedure performed every 50,000 miles- and I'd have the differential oil changed(and manual transmission, if applicable) at the same time. Plugs get changed at 100K as well.
Finally, join the BMW Car Club of America. Many dealers and independent shops offer CCA members 10%-25% discounts on parts and/or labor.
 
I read some where that these cars only have about 100,000 miles in them. Is this true?
 
Not even close. You can easily get 200,000 miles out of most any BMW as long as it is maintained properly. My wife drives a 2004 X3 with over 96,000 miles on the clock and it looks and performs like a new car. Non-scheduled repairs have consisted of a passenger seat airbag sensor which was replaced under warranty. As others have noted, I'd budget $500-$1,000 per year for maintenance. As for another example of a worn out 100,000 mile Bimmer, here's my 1995 3 Series...

#4721 of 5349 Where does BMW mention about 100k transmission fluid change? by Firebird_EOU

Jun 28, 2010 (7:18 pm)

I thought they claim it's lifetime fill and you don't need to change it?
My 2006 330xi has 90k now. I changed oil with CBS about 17k miles interval one time at 10k interval out of pocket. My front brake pads haven't been replaced that's how much highway driving or little brake I used. Rear pad replaced before 50k miles by dealer so that's the odd part. The 2nd set of RFT Continental has over 50k miles and it's still got good threads left....
 
There is an occasional squeek coming from the lower panel where the heated seat buttons are. If I press down hard on the rubber piece to the left or right of the heated seat button then the noise stops. Does anyone know of a long term fix for this?

#4722 of 5349 Re: Where does BMW mention about 100k transmission fluid change? [Firebird_EOU] by roadburner

Jun 28, 2010 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: Firebird_EOU (Jun 28, 2010 7:18 pm)
I thought they claim it's lifetime fill and you don't need to change it?
 
BMW recommends a 100K change on some models. If you aren't keeping the car much past 100K, don't change it. I'm planning to keep the X3 for 3-4 more years so I changed it at around 56K.
 
I changed oil with CBS about 17k miles interval one time at 10k interval out of pocket.
 
I perform used oil analysis on my X3(and MS3) and the reports on the X3 show that by 9K-10K the additive package in the Mobil 1 0W-40 is almost totally depleted. I sure would not want to run that oil another 8K-10K. Note that Mobil 1 0W-40 has BMW LL-01 approval. I've since switched to Mobil 1 5W-40, which is an SM oil that also meets the tough CJ-4, CI-4, and CH-4 diesel specs. It actually holds up a bit better.

#4723 of 5349 BMW doesn't have Mobile 1 as factory fill? by Firebird_EOU

Jul 04, 2010 (4:30 am)

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Long_Drain_Intervals- _in_a_BMW.aspx

#4724 of 5349 Re: BMW doesn't have Mobile 1 as factory fill? [Firebird_EOU] by roadburner

Jul 04, 2010 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: Firebird_EOU (Jul 04, 2010 4:30 am)
Castrol is the factory fill. In all but the M cars it is labeled as BMW Synthetic 5W-30, and it is NOT the same as Castrol Syntec 5W-30. The only OTC Castrol oil that has LL-01 approval is Syntec 0W-30, AKA "GC" or "German Castrol".

#4725 of 5349 Driver side door lock malfuction by Firebird_EOU

Jul 09, 2010 (9:32 am)

2006 330xi
 
Dropped off car at BMW dealership for oil/filter change. After that, drive door cannot be unlocked (actuator seems broken). Dealer says they couldn't have possibility caused it because door panel wasn't touched. Prior to that no problem with the locking mechanism.
 
Is it possible for someone to open the door via latch that would have caused this?
 
If on purpose, depress down the lock button while trying to unlock would break it?
For now I can manually unlock the door from outside with the metal key inside the remote.

#4726 of 5349 check engine by uncleto

Jul 09, 2010 (3:07 pm)

Just want to know if anybody knows what a P1028 code means. i used an actron obd2 reader. many thanks!

Messages Page 473 of 536

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