Vehicle check on iDrive, only every 2 years? When to do Coolant/PS fluid change?

[autoque]

I've had my '08 X5 3.0si serviced for 'Vehicle Check' alerted on iDrive this past May. Fiddling with the iDrive today I see the next 'Vehicle Check' is May of 2014, exactly two years from the last 'Vehicle Check'.
Ok, but does this mean I only need to care about engine oil/brake fluid changes and brake wear during those two years? During the 4 years and 3 months of ownership, I've only had one 'Vehicle Check', which the dealer said is just a visual inspection, two engine oil and brake oil changes. Yes, I drive very little(but with lots of short trips and spirited driving) but it seems like a German premium vehicle needs a little more maintenance than this.
When is the engine coolant and power steering fluid change going to happen? Is it the next Vehicle Check, two years from now? It seems like the 'Vehicle Check' schedule is spaced a year too far apart. Advice on maintenance will be greatly appreciated.

[autoque]

I'm also wondering about the 4wd differential fluid change as well.

[rh71]

All during the warranty period of 4 years it was set for 1 year and they did it every year, but the 4th and final oil change before the warranty/maintenance was out, it said 2 years later it was due but I verified with the SA and people here and they said it's once a year and I did it. After I got the car back the idrive said another 2 years it's due. I don't know - everyone says 1 year, and I mean everyone. Even if you only do little mileage - I've got 30k miles after 4.5 years.

[autoque]

I see. The dealer I go to is pretty strict on following what the iDrive tells. So if it says two years, then two years later it'll be. But what's funny is 'Vehicle Check' lit up only once, at the end of four year period of ownership, which was a few months ago.
So I did some research on this and I found out the vehicle check is purely a visual inspection. But then things like spark plugs and drive belt aren't listed on the idrive maintenance lists. I'd prefer BMW privdes a detailed maintenance guide on these parts. All iDrive tells is brakes, fluids and vague 'Vehicle Check'. Maybe I should rely on pre-iDrive maintenance guide used a decade ago.

[ard]

^^good idea

BMW decided to shroud the maintenance process in mystery- initially with their "inspection 1 & 2" stuff, and now CBS. Personally I think this was done to create uncertainty and mystery in the mind of the consumer which would cause them to rely more on the dealer network. In the old days, there were specific tasks listed with specific frequencies- an owner could then make sure there were done. By themselves or an indy or the dealer. Now even the dealers dont know WTF they should be doing- many fail to service fluids if they are not on the CBS display. (for example Brake fluid every two years, coolant every three was always my job to tell the dealer on my E39 when it had free maintenance.)

Anyway, MOST of the tasks these days are "inspections", which are - in terms of dealer execution- very cursory. If you really boil it down, you've got fluid changes, filter changes. Thats it. Check for leaks and wear, bulbs, Lube friction points. And, as has be discussed, ignore the transmission and jsut plan on replacing it after 100k.

There is another interesting aspect- we dont yet know what OTHER items will become part of 'maintenance'... with many cars, it is only after 5, 10 years we begin to see patterns of common failures and identify parts (coils, sensors, etc). In future years we will find the parts that one will need to replace to keep these cars running trouble free.

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