DIY: Service Inspection II for Dummies PDF

[bindas]

I'm at my last light on my E53 2004 3.0.

So called up the Steeler and told them about this they said expect a $1200 min bill if everything is cool.

So for 12 bills plus tax I get:

1) Oil and Filter Change

2) Spark Plug Change

3) Replace Fuel Filter (Not sure some dealer are generous and doing this others aren't)

4) Top off of fluids

5) Complete Check of the Bimmer with Computer read-out(to replace parts that may not need replacement)

6) Reset Sevice Indication lights

So I decided I can do the top 2 items on my own, and even top off the fluids all around the maybe 2 bills give and take $50.

Funny thing is I even called a local Toronto independent BMW repair shop hoping they would be reasonable, they wanted around $1000 for the above, I joked and said your more or less same as the Steeler...!! he said well we are trained BMW mechanics so thats why...and we won't rip you off.

I don't mind a businesses making a living but charging $8-10 bills for just doing a 51 point check and top off of fluids!

If someone did the second inspection total for $400.00 I would pay that why not, but 1000 to 12000 is insane, unless you got the bucks to burn or you don't know the difference between a drill and rachet..(with the latter being mostly the case)

I've started collecting all the info with DIY instructions with Pics, and consolidating them into one document called
"DIY-Service Inspection II for Dummies!"

This will have all the steps above and maybe we can add more like checking or replacing belts.

Once done I'll make the PDF and put it up here on the site (if I can) and we can forward it on to whomever requests it, Instead of just being in threads here, a PDF can be saved individually by us, so if a thread gets corrupted like the one I came across on this site related to sparkplug changes (all the pics are missing and I tried sending a PM to the poster but got a message saying he can't accept PMs), we still have our copies on our system.

Also we can add vendors for this list too.

So one consolidated PDF to refer to everything we need.

I so far have the following contents:

1) Vendors; for US and Canada:

ECS Tuning ECS Tuning ::OEM / Performance Parts for Volkswagen :: FrontPage is good for US customers and for Canadians I have: Bimmer Specialist.com (who's rates are good for Canadians, cause of no Duty and shipping and is around $15.00 for 6 plugs and oil filter, but I'm gonna check with the local shops, if the rates work out the same than why not buy from the local vendor)

2) Oil Change

3) Spark Plug Change (Done on e46 said to be same- Thanks Generx, who directed me to this post, here is the link, this Guy at Bimmer Fest is awesome, I might even include the Power Steering Fluid Replacement and Mass Air Flow Sensor (can someone verify if this is the same in an X5?) : http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=213711)

I need:

3) Fuel filter change

4) Top off of fluids

5) Belt check / change

6) Resett of Service Indicator lights

So folks help me out here and we can creat an awesome doc with all the above info in one PDF! This will save everyone time from hunting sites and Googling all day to find dead links and posts with-out pics.

If you personally have the pics and info or if you just send me the links, I'll do the rest.

Hopefully we can create the One Stop doc for this whole chabang!!

[amacman]

a wonderful idea , i`ll keep a watch and see if i could add any info when i got time . i see no mention of replacing fuel filter as part of routine servicing , only replace for diesel engine .

[bylin2000]

Item 6:

How to reset service intervals was previously posted here:

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...ts-bmw-x5.html

[bylin2000]

there's other maintenance items posted in this thread, which could be useful for inspection II and others routine maintenance...

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...nce-guide.html

[xriderob]

This is an excellent idea. Can't wait to see it come together and will look for any items that are needed

[JCL]

There are a lot of guides and documents posted in the Online References tab, above. One of them is the BMW Service Guide, which lists all of the items to be checked in Inspection II (and Inspection I, and at oil services). You have discounted the checks (your item 5) as being simply a way of the dealer selling you parts that you may not need, but in fact if you catch things before they fail it is usually much cheaper for the owner. Examples would be CV boots (replace them when they split so you don't need axles later on), leaks (get them before the respective fluid compartment gets low and causes consequential damage), control arm bushings (get them early before you get excessive tire wear), and so on.

There are a lot for guides and information on this site (which you may not see if you are not a paying member, ie a Premium Member) so suggest you look at them before reinventing the wheel.

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/mi...20Schedule.pdf

(PS, lol at knowing what a rachet is. You mean ratchet, right?)

[ekimv65]

Oil and inspection while changing oil. I am about to have the oil changed and curious how much the dealer is going to chagre me? If anyone would be willing to share, it would be appreciated.

THX