If you do your own maintenance

[rufusdedog]

One of my complaints about the E70 owners manual is that there's no section explaining the maintenance requirements of the vehicle, i.e., when do you change the trans fluid, or the fuel filter. Well, Bavarian Auto has a pull out in their new Winter 2008 newsletter. It lists most BMW's including the E70 and gives all the maintenance requirements (cabin microfilter 1 year, engine air filter 1 year/15 k miles). On the other side are the instructions for resetting the maintenance interval screen. I would scan this but I don't have a scanner (sorry) and this issue hasn't been posted on the Bavarian auto site (bavauto.com) yet. The chart lists two sets of recommendations: BMW's and Bavarians and has a disclaimer that roughly states BMW's recommendations are designed to reduce costs to them, while Bavarian's recommendations are to keep the vehicle in top condition. If someone has the newsletter and a scanner, it would be a good sticky for the forum or just go to the site and ask for a copy of the free newsletter.

[Denalio]

I would like to see that!

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by Denalio

I would like to see that!

I'm sure BMW AG would too given the insane claims that the service requirements are aimed at minimising BMW's costs rather than keeping the vehicle in tip top condition. More likely that it's designed to max the dealer's profits.

[brian5]

Originally Posted by Denalio

I would like to see that!

Click here for maintenance schedule on Bavarian Autosport website. It covers all BMW models and is definitely worth looking at.

You can find their newsletter on www.bavauto.com/newsletter

[rufusdedog]

Originally Posted by brian5

Click here for maintenance schedule on Bavarian Autosport website. It covers all BMW models and is definitely worth looking at.

You can find their newsletter on www.bavauto.com/newsletter

That's it! Didn't see the Winter newsletter earlier. Great info from Bavarian as always!

[JCL]

Bavarian Auto is certainly entitled to their opinion, as are other posters. There is a good summary of things to check on that chart. However, the information on the chart isn't all logical or reasonable IMO.

1) Changing the oil at 3000 miles (when using BMW oil) is overkill, and is designed to help BA sell more oil and filters. They do list 7000 miles when using their recommended oil, which doesn't meet any stricter specs than BMW oil AFAIK. Also, interesting that the 1970 BMW gets the same oil change interval as a 2008 E70. Guess they don't see the value of cleaner burning modern engines in keeping the oil clean of combustion byproducts.

2) The recommendation to change oil when it is opaque is absurd. You can't tell anything about oil from appearance.

3) Brake fluid flush every year seems a little over the top.

4) Engine air filter every year seems over the top (unless you are running offroad in dusty conditions)

5) Maybe Bavarian Auto could explain to me where the points, condensor, rotor, and distributor cap are located on my current model BMW.

6) No mention of the PCV/Crankcase Ventilation Valve/Oil Separator, or associated hoses?

7) Why do models from the '60s and '70s get the same mileage intervals for service as 2008 models?

Not a bad list, but the above points illustrate that it should be taken with a grain of salt. For all those that believe BMW is stretching their intervals to reduce their own maintenance costs (thus maximizing profits) just remember that Bavarian Auto is in the business of selling maintenance parts.

[motordavid]

, with JCL's post above.
Excellent points, as per his usual; that maintenance "list",
while admirable in its extreme, is composed to sell parts
and products, imo.
BR,mD

[rufusdedog]

Of course it's designed to sell parts, they're a business. But then again, BMW's schedule is designed to take maintenance to the opposite extreme, because they're a business.

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by rufusdedog

Of course it's designed to sell parts, they're a business. But then again, BMW's schedule is designed to take maintenance to the opposite extreme, because they're a business.

Remember that the free maintenance regime is only available in a few of the world markets. Despite this, the maintenance schedule worldwide is identical.

[rufusdedog]

Originally Posted by Fastbuck

Remember that the free maintenance regime is only available in a few of the world markets. Despite this, the maintenance schedule worldwide is identical.

You're right, of course. But I think I'll follow a little closer to the Bavarian recommendations than the BMW recommendations. Brake Fluid I'd change every 2 years as my other BMW, but oil, plugs, air filter and other inexpensive, but critical items will get changed sooner than BMW recommends. Cheap insurance and I enjoy working on cars.