just to add to the statistics in this thread - at 9000+ miles with nothing but normal driving and I got the dreaded "No Start in 992 miles" message 1400 miles before my first service. I'm thinking of buying a gallon or two of adblue and will try to get by with that. I wonder if I if I can get an early service - that might be worth a try.

Tim

Mine went off a week ago. The oil service is asking to happen at 11K and the DEF says is will run out at 11.3K (pretty close!)

The DEF warning won't shut up. Even lights up when I unlock the car.

I think adding a gal or two of DEF yourself is the most practical thing to do in these cases.

FWIW Since some dealers seem to be willing to top up the DEF for 'free' and others want to charge an arm and a leg. If my DEF warning goes off before my first oil service, I'll use that opportunity to find out which kind of dealer I am doing business with, by asking them what they recommend I do in this case.

If my dealer says they would charge me for the DEF top up between condition based oil services, I would have a sharpish chat with both the service manager and the sales manger expressing my extreme displeasure at their DEF service policy. And if they say that not topping up DEF 'under warranty' between oil services is BMW's policy not theirs. I'll point out that whether or not BMW has a policy not to reimburse them for this service, I'm pretty sure that BMW does NOT have policy that does not allow them to provide superior service to a valued customer at their own expense. OBTW I'll be looking for such a dealer, who provides superior service, when I purchase my next vehicle. And since I take those 'won't start' warnings very seriously, I will be taking my time reading the manual and topping up the active DEF tank in the parking lot just in front of sales with a bottle of DEF I purchased at their parts department, that just happens to have the sales price written on it in large black letters -- every single time I need to top up the DEF myself while my 35d is supposedly under warranty. :D

Funf Dreisig

I decided to stop at a VW dealer yesterday that I happened to be driving by (they are not exactly all over the place) and bought 2 x 1 gallon bottles of DEF at $8 each. They had the special tip that threads on to the filler neck and it was easier than adding oil. The add DEF warning disappeared after a couple miles of driving. For those who are following, if you put the "should this be covered" argument aside, it's not a big deal at all - I'm filing DEF maintenance in the "life with a diesel" category. I pulled my boat for the first time last weekend and am 100% in love with this motor, there's no way I would want anything else.

Tim

First Oil / DEF service update....
 

I picked up our 35d today after it's first warranty Oil/DEF service at 11,000 miles.

Despite the DEF angst in this and other threads, we have never had a single problem with DEF. No DEF warnings, no need to add DEF prior to a conditions based oil service, NOTHING.

If I didn't know so much about the reported DEF issues, I might have been curious about the service ticket entry...

"3 83-19-0-440-158 DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID WARRANTY"

which anyone who has read this thread now knows means that 3 - 2.5 gal containers of DEF were 'used' to fill the two DEF tanks which together hold about 6.5 gals. of DEF -- under Warranty.

People this is how it is supposed to work. Your 35d emails your dealer that it needs an Oil Service. And your dealer changes the Oil/Filter etc. and fills the DEF tanks with enough DEF to last till your next oil change, all under warranty. Meanwhile you enjoy driving your 35d and don't worry your pretty little head about the details of owning a diesel :)

Funf Dreisig

http://johnfelker.com/335is/448.JPG



http://johnfelker.com/335is/446.JPG

Previous service was at ~7000.. 4 months ago..

What did your service receipt say 4000 miles ago? Did they only fill the smaller of the two tanks?

Look folks. This is stunningly simple. If the paper work for ANY 35d 'warranty' Oil Service does NOT include the line..

"3 83-19-0-440-158 DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID WARRANTY"

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING until it does!

Once you sign and drive your 35d off the lot, your dealer has lots of wiggle room when that dreaded warning appears prior to your next 'free' oil service. Your dealer does not get paid by BMW unless you sign off. So this is the only time you have leverage to get the job done right.

Funf Dreisig

p.s. If you've already screwed up, just go to a VW dealer, buy some DEF and install it yourself.

The First oil service was at 7714miles.. Took here in for a rear rattle, service guy looked and said.. "you are about due an oil service, we do that too"... ("3000" on the start up count down).. and did the oil and Urea... now 9000 miles later.. the urea is low and 2500 on the start up count down

Goes in tomorrow



From the Service 4 months ago

http://www.johnfelker.com/335is/X5fluid.jpg

Well that explains the early Oil Service at under 8,000 miles and probably explains the current DEF warning too. Two 2.5 gallon bottles of 83-19-440-158 will NOT fill both tanks (assuming they did a full flush and fill). 5 gals is only a Little more than it takes to fill just the larger 'passive' tank.

I'd carry that paper work with me and point out that they 'owe' you at least one gallon of DEF to complete the previous DEF replenishment. IIRC your X5 sends your dealer a message at about 1K to go. So a gallon of DEF will probably get you to within the window for your next conditions based oil service. If they want to charge you. Go to a VW dealer and get a gallon in the fancy no spill bottle for $6 and top it up yourself.

Funf Dreisig