Oil Change

[RedRockin]

Well, cost cutting is an issue in itself. But, when cost cutting results in losing customers, repeat business and/or referrals...

David, forum "give and take" interaction is not what I was getting at. Just monitoring to see a more spherical perspective of product, marketplace reaction and buyers perceptions - even if lurking w/o registering.

I certainly DO like my X5, even if it is the most finicky vehicle I have ever had (at only one month in). I will continue to monitor the "issues" (of which there seems to be new/more almost every week). And, I will continue to monitor my overall "BMW experience(s)": product, overall satisfaction and dealership/svc. As a lessee, and as of now, I am content with my decision but I doubt I would buy. Whether or not I will lease again - only time will tell. No doubt, it IS a unique product/vehicle but as we all know, and clearly evidenced in these forums, the product is only one component of the "BMW experience".

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by RedRockin

David, forum "give and take" interaction is not what I was getting at.

Actually, I wasn't referring to that either. What I noticed in the past is that if someone was having a particularly problematical issue, someone representing BMW would occasionally chime in and offer some assistance, telling the person to call and refer to a case number provided by the BMW NA poster.

From those posts I assumed they were monitoring the forums and the offer of help was just an offshoot of their monitoring. Lately I haven't seen many of these offers of help.

I like my X5 as well, but am still surprised at how BMW NA often misses some of the smaller points which would give them a Home Run, from my perspective, settling instead for a double or triple.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by RedRockin

Well, cost cutting is an issue in itself. But, when cost cutting results in losing customers, repeat business and/or referrals...

David, forum "give and take" interaction is not what I was getting at. Just monitoring to see a more spherical perspective of product, marketplace reaction and buyers perceptions - even if lurking w/o registering.

...

RR, I must have not been clear; I said:
"Yes, I hope they monitor it, but I suspect it is very occasional and, from experience, ineffectual, in terms of the excellent give and take info here."

Meaning, the occasional "Vastek" person on B'fest offers up the annoying canned response of, "call us and we'll help", which many have discovered is of
little solace or help. And, the "give and take", great info posts on this board are the real source of ideas, info, tech help, the BMW labyrinth and their odd
decisions on many issues.

I'm on your/our side; TheSuits are clueless, imo, and so caught up in the "driving experience", image and luckily, producing some great cars to drive.
The "dlr experience" and, for the most part, the usual response out of Woodcliff Lake,NJ/Germany, leaves something to be desired, especially if one is
a new adopter or shit outta luck or, out of warranty.

I have utmost sympathy for you as a new owner of that car and, left to "wonder" and hope.
BR, mD

[BGM]

It's America---do what you want. If you want to change every 6 months do it. If you want to wait for the 12 months do it. Like I mentioned I'm on year 9 on my '01 X5 and have done it every 12 months.

[FSETH]

BMW NA customer relations is signed on as a vendor. Last activity was about two weeks ago.

[sunnystar]

Hello guys, I need your advice regarding my x5's service schedule. Its last service was 23 months ago at 68k, and now has 2 green service lights on at 83k. It had an oil service at 23k, inspection I at 46k and then the oil service at 68k. BTW, it is a diesal, 5 years old and used very lightly.

The stealer said I should bring the car in for an Inspection II when reaching 24 months regardless what the service indicator says, any advice from you guys will be appreciated.

[Noodle555]

You are going to get an array of different opinions here, so here’s mine.

Just get the oil service and wait for your vehicle to tell you when the inspection II is required. Not sure what inspection intervals or on the X5 but I know that they are approximately every 40k on the M3. If that is the case then you may as well get inspection II done at the same time.

[ard]

Don't get caught up with the BS BMW labels on their service... "Inspection I", "II", etc. The important thing is the underlying fluid changes.

Have you ever had the coolant flushed? It is good for 4 years.

Brake fluid? Every two years.

Oil? Every year or 7500-10k miles. I do not believe in the stupidly long BMW intervals of 15k+ miles. You are at 15k on that oil, and it is two years old. I am sure it is barely adequate.

How about tranny fluid? Your mains dealer prolly says 'never'. I say every 30-40k miles. Unless you are cool with replacing the tranny every 125k miles.

GL

A