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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

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

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 514 of 536

#5127 of 5349 Re: A bit more data... [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Aug 29, 2011 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 29, 2011 10:21 am)
Well he apparently didn't get the memo. It's so hard to keep up on everything these days, what with all the new tech, so things are bound to fall through the cracks---even obvious things.
 
It isn't limited to BMW, by a long shot. Back in 2007 there was a topic on VW Vortex concerning the fact that more than a few VW dealers weren't even aware that the DSG required servicing at all. Here's my contribution to the thread:
 
 I called the three dealers in the Louisville, KY area(a 50 mile radius). In each case I asked for the service department. Once I was connected I asked how much it cost to service the DSG in a new Golf GTI. Here are the results of my informal survey:
  
Bachman Volkswagen, called on 2/28/07- "The newer transmissions are sealed and don't need service. Everything is done through the computer." Huh?
  
Neil Huffman Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- The first person in service who picked up asked me what a DSG was. I was transferred to a second person who stated that there was "no recommended service" for the DSG.
  
Clapp Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- "The service costs $339 and is performed every 40,000 miles." Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!
  
So...
Kudos to Clapp VW, which has the only service department in Kentuckiana that appears to know the service requirements of newer VWs.
  
OTOH, if ignorance truly IS bliss, then Bachman VW and Neil Huffman VW must have the happiest service departments in the area...
 
I wonder how many DSGs have failed because some lazy techs in VW service departments didn't do their homework? In any event, that was one of the primary reasons that -four months later- I spent my "hot hatch" budget on a new Mazdaspeed 3 rather than a GTI...

#5128 of 5349 Re: A bit more data... [busiris] by roadburner

Aug 29, 2011 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Aug 29, 2011 11:42 am)
There is no shortage of postings on forums where posters are asking for answers which can easily be found in the owner's manual. The obvious reason is that they are too lazy to look it up for themselves.
 
I agree, but in this case I wasn't blaming rhmass; after all, he actually requested that the ATF be changed.
 
Beats me why one would spend so much on an item, yet refuse to learn anything about that same item's functioning, until it's forced upon them.
 
I sympathize; I'm not too inclined to respond to a question if the answer can easily be found in that mysterious little book in the glove box.

#5129 of 5349 Re: A bit more data... [roadburner] by rhmass

Aug 30, 2011 (11:32 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Aug 29, 2011 1:10 pm)
Hi, roadburner, I thought may be I should post my thoughts concerning the issue which unfortunately I had brought up and had led to much controversial discussions. I posted to check if anyone had the same experience as having the orange transmission light shown indicating the malfunction of the transmission. Upon checking the manual and did what it suggested, the light went away and the car had run smoothly since without any detectable transmission issue. it might be worthwhile to note that in the manual, it doesn't say to bring the car to the dealership, as it usually does, if the light goes away after following the instruction. So obviously it wasn't a significant issue in itself. I, however, happen to be very meticulous about maintaining my car and to keep it at top shape, thus posting the question to see if other might have experienced the same issue. Obviously there isn't anyone who had encountered the same issue.
 
In the manual, 2002BMWxiT, it does say no need for transmission oil replacement. However a few years ago the service manager of the dealership said to me that BMW has changed their stance on this and would have the transmission oil changed every 100,000 miles. My car has 63,000, so theoretically has not reached to that level. As a CCA member for over 10 years and an avid reader of the Techtalk column by Mike Miller, I have followed what he always recommends. He does recommend to have transmission oil replaced at 50-60,000 interval. However dealers I know appear to be reluctant to do this particular service. May be they are concerned that the customer might blame them, had any issue develope upon oil replacement. This is so true as even Mike said it was somewhat an unknown outcome. Of all the BMWs we have owned (6), other than the 86 325E in which transmission oil was replaced, none of our other ones had transmission fluid replaced before we replaced the car without issue. One did have transmission failure, after we drove through a heavily flooded area at 78,000 miles. Hard to say if it was due to water got in or it was due to the lack of transmission oil replacement. What I am trying to say is that this matter is, I believe, an individual decision and he will then shoulder the consequences.
 
You have been a very good resource for many with questions and I recalled you actually had answered one of mine previously. However, I have noticed some posters have the tendency to kind put down those with questions. I recalled once I asked the question concerning the inside tracks of my tires wearing a bit more than the outside, while there seemed be no alignment issue as the car tracked straight. One poster answered me saying that I should just run the car backward for a few thousand miles to even out the wear. Not only this was not helpful, but the sarcasm also was very unfriendly. You do occasionally sense this kind of attitude and generally they tend to be new BMW owners/leasers.

#5130 of 5349 I'm Guilty by puffin1

Sep 01, 2011 (7:40 am)

I never read the manual except to change from
daylite savings time back to normal and I still do it every year. I did read up on the oil viscosity and the damn run flats. I had to read it for the Blue tooth.I screwed that up somehow.I'm a visual learner and when I buy my cars it seems the salesman doesn't spend enough time explaining all the dodads and I end up bringinging the car in for service thinking they know best.I put Mobile 1 in it and it's suppose to last a year.However, I change it every 6 months.I know people that never change their ATF. I figure you spend 50 k for a car the service mgr should know whats best,as all the records are on a computer electronically filed,same as your medical records these days.
     Also, I'd never keep a BMW over 50k because of repairs that might incurr. However that's just me.

#5131 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [puffin1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 01, 2011 (8:46 am)

Replying to: puffin1 (Sep 01, 2011 7:40 am)
No it's not just you. A lot of people bail out of a car in the 3-5 year bracket. The loan is mostly paid up, the warranty is mostly over, depreciation has occurred but the car still has value as a trade-in, --so it's not an irrational decision by any means.

#5132 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Sep 01, 2011 (10:30 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 01, 2011 8:46 am)
Whatever floats your boat. My wife's 2004 X3 has 121,000 miles on it and it was paid off in 2007. Since the 50,000 mile mark the repair and maintenance costs(including 1 set of four tires) have amounted to $3998- a bit less than six cents per mile, or $83 per month. And note that $427 of that figure represents more frequent oil, ATF, and transfer case changes than BMW calls for. As I said in another topic, I guess I really should buy a new car and saddle myself with $40k-$50k in consumer debt so that I can save some real money...

#5133 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [roadburner] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 01, 2011 (11:51 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Sep 01, 2011 10:30 am)
Well as the car ages the maintenance per month will go up, and you aren't very typical since you DIY a lot.
 
I always tell people that a used BMW out of warranty is going to cost you about $150/month to keep healthy, presuming of course a) you average that out over a long period of time and b) there is no catastrophic failure.
 
These days, as you know, an engine failure (rather unlikely on a BMW) would total most used Bimmers valued under $10K.

#5134 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Sep 01, 2011 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 01, 2011 11:51 am)
On the X3 the only DIY work I've done are the oil changes between the scheduled services- $227. All other service(excluding tires) has been performed at my local BMW dealer. I suspect that running costs will still be averaging less than $100 per month at 150,000 miles. Even so, lets assume the costs do increase to $150 per month; I'm still $3600-$4800 per year ahead of the guy who is leasing(AKA renting) a BMW for 3-5 years.
And let's face it- a lot of dealers actually encourage the "you'll need to take out a second mortgage to maintain a BMW out of warranty" foolishness, as it provides the dealer with a steady stream of rubes who want to flip their car at the 50,000 mile mark...

#5135 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [roadburner] by busiris

Sep 01, 2011 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Sep 01, 2011 12:24 pm)
Well, they don't sell those extended warranties at a loss....

#5136 of 5349 Re: I'm Guilty [busiris] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 01, 2011 (1:18 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Sep 01, 2011 12:38 pm)
True, they are betting your car doesn't break and you are betting it does.
 
That way, when your engine blows up, you get to say WHUPPIE!
 
$100 a month may be optimistic, but I hope you make it.

Messages Page 514 of 536

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