When do I have the first maintenance check?

Question

I have a BMW 328I, the service booklet doesn't say what mileage I need to have the it serviced. Do I go in every 3,000 miles?

Answer 1

All BMWs (other than the really old ones) do not rely on the traditional "3,000 mile service" like other cars. Instead, they have a Service Indicator computer to tell you when it needs servicing.

Depending on which 328i model you have (E36 '96-'98, E46 '99-'00 or E90 - latest model), you will typically see the service indicator coming on in the region between 10,000 - 15,000 miles.

This is because BMW's system adjusts the service interval depending on how aggressively you drive.

While there's nothing wrong at all to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles, with the car needing 7 quarts of synthetic oil every oil change, some may say doing an oil service so soon may be an unnecessary expense. Especially at BMW dealer rates.

Your service indicator will tell you do service your car in the following order...

- Oil Service
- Inspection 1
- Oil Service
- Inspection 2

If you're a little paranoid about the long service interval of the BMW system, you might like to have your oil changed every 5,000 - 7,000 miles instead.

Answer 2

If you have a new 328i (I assume it's new since you said first), you should watch the info panel when you start the car. It will show how many miles or what date you need to take the car in for service. The first service is due at one year or 15,000 miles. Although this figure may change if the car thinks you need it done sooner. Aggressive driving or lots of stop starting may move this figure up.

Frankly the whole 3,000 mile oil change thing is a myth created by American corporations to rip people off.

I lived in the UK for a number of years, and if you buy a modern Ford, they tell you only to change the oil every 8,000 miles. I also owned a GM car which told me to change the oil every 10,000 miles. This was ten years ago, I imagine the vehicles have become better since then.

Modern cars using modern oil, should not need changes every 3,000 miles. But companies that sell oil will keep pushing the belief that it is necessary.

So check that display when you start your BMW, but if you are in doubt, call the dealership.

Answer 3

Log on to the BMW Owner's Circle website. It will have a complete listing of your maintenance schedule as well as what services are required at each level.

https://oc.bmwusa.com/CFALogin/Login.aspx?TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-de53d108-7b46-481d-86e1-958cf3522968&GUID=&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=bmwusa-agent&TARGET=%24SM%24https%3a%2f%2foc.bmwusa.com%2f&redir=1

if you don't have a login, you can create one with your VIN.

Newer BMWs uses fully synthetic oil that they say has a longer life so they will change your oil at every 15k miles. Inspection 1 is at 30k and Inspection 2 is at 60k. The cycle repeats after that.

Answer 4

If it is a new model...15,000 miles....however, my car ran out of oil at 13,000 and I had to add two quarts of oil in it...go figure....just keep an eye on your oil level at around 10k, and you'll be fine...

if you go to the dealership for service, they wont change your oil until unless you are close to an oil change, within 1000 miles of needing one....

Answer 5

are you kidding? no one explained it to you when you bought it? anyway, you only go in every 15,000 miles or so. every time you turn on your vehicle look at the on board computer located between your speedometer and tachometer. that will tell you how many miles left until your next service

Answer 6

you get the oil changed every 3000 miles. other than that, you don't need it serviced unless something is wrong.