X5 BMW Service Recommendation Changes?

[MRV99]

This is a pretty simple topic.

1) Master BMW mechanics which do tech talks in major BMW publications state all fluid intervals are way to long based on the way Americans commute and push their engines/components. Sludge will build up based on typical low rpm and high moisture buildup, stop and go, abusive driving on parts which are build just enough to satisfy the accounts. Let just see how many modern cars are praised like there old school counterparts are now.

2) If you purchase a BMW because of the Zero maintenance policy then you drank the coolaid and my not be able to afford the car.... people now a days don't feel that they pay for anything... everything should be free. No need to keep anything because the next best thing will come out and I will buy that. Why would you need to maintain anything when you are going to throw it away in x years. Nobody keeps anything like they used to unless they think it is going to make them money. Most people cannot afford the standards at which people live now.... Imagine spending 50-75k on a 5 year loan and actually pay 1k a year just to maintain the car... BMW would never sell the cars they do today.

3) The faster that you burn your car up the quicker you purchase a new car. Stock holders no longer care about anything except "Growth". there is no long term only short term. How can I profit now. How do you obtain growth..... new markets or sell more product to existing customers at shorter intervals. A personal quote from a CEO of a company which manufactured home appliances ...... His brother makes cheese: "Why build something which can last 20 years when you can build something that will last half as much and pay the same price"... you just doubled your sales in the same time frame.... not to mention if it fails quicker.
3) Does anybody own insurance? Insurance is for suckers unless you have to use it. BMW can view long maintenance intervals the same way. The longest interval on warranty is 100k. Mathematics dictates this...

never mind... I can rant on forever but I am going to bed.

[Penguin]

Want to know how great the BMW CBS works?

My 2010 X5 diesel showed 1,800 miles to the next oil change one Morning when there was 9,000 total mileage in the odometer. I drove it 50 miles that day ans the next time I started it it said I was 50 miles overdue for an oil change.

My guess is that the oil condition sensor is not really integrated into the CBS countdown system, but that if the oil condition sensor hits some particular reading limit, it overrides the rest of the system and calls for an immediate oil change.

My X5 now has 20,000 miles on it and the CBS called for the first oil change at about 9,000 miles, and the second oil change at about 17,700 miles.

After the second oil change it shows 10,000 miles to the next oil change, and 8,000 miles to the next "Vehicle Service." I have no idea what this means, as I have never seen the oil change interval not match other service intervals; however, I am guessing that the 8K is for a fuel filter change.

In any case, for the first two oil changes, the CBS interval is averaging less than 9,000 miles between oil changes.

My X5 is used almost exclusively on the highway, with minimal in-town stop-and-go driving, e.g., it is beginning to look like the CBS thinks high-speed highway driving is harder on the diesel oil than in-town stop-and-go driving.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Penguin

My X5 is used almost exclusively on the highway, with minimal in-town stop-and-go driving, e.g., it is beginning to look like the CBS thinks high-speed highway driving is harder on the diesel oil than in-town stop-and-go driving.

How are you comparing highway driving service intervals to in-town driving service intervals in your example? Are you comparing the 9000 mile interval to previous experience with a gasoline engine?

It seems to me more like the CBS thinks the diesel engine needs oil changes more frequently than the gasoline engine models. If so, and given the high mileage diesel owners outside North America seem to get between oil changes, it may be related to North American diesel fuel quality.

Let us know if you find out what the vehicle service light trigger is, as my 535 is also calling for a vehicle service at other than oil change intervals.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

How are you comparing highway driving service intervals to in-town driving service intervals in your example? Are you comparing the 9000 mile interval to previous experience with a gasoline engine?

No, I am comparing it to what other people have been reporting on this message board. Since my in-town driving is almost zero, I am assuming most other people have more in-town driving than I do. By average of an oil change in less than 9,000 miles on average also seems to place my vehicle at or near the bottom of oil change intervals. Hence my comment "it is beginning to look like the CBS thinks high-speed highway driving is harder on the diesel oil than in-town stop-and-go driving," which is quite a distance from being a definitive claim or conclusion.

[XXX555]

Got my 8000 mile/annual service today. Noticed that the telephone number calling display is different since they programmed it (8:30 to 10:30am for oil/filter, def (?4 gallons) and wipers then 10:30 to 4pm for programming "upgrades" and two campaigns...)

Did not notice any difference other than the telephone display on the iDrive (improved) and that the brakes were better. Perhaps brakes just better than the X3 loaner (2010 MY) . All my contacts and destinations were preserved, fyi.