DEF and BMW free maintenance?
 

My local dealer told me today, my service ticket was kicked back. BMW is telling them it's not part of the free maintenance program. Mine was flushed and filled along with my yearly oil change. I looked in my manual and it's not excluded. BMW told them they would pay for it this time, but they're not paying for any more flush and fills even when it's a condition based service. I called my selling dealer and they said BMW is wrong. Has Anyone else have this happen?

DEF= diesel exhaust fluid

BMW is trying to weasel out of paying for anything. This is BS...

Craig

It shows in the literature and maintenance contract that came with my BMW that DEF is INCLUDED and it specifically mentions Diesel Exhaust Fluid by name.

They can't weasel out of it. It's a contract. It's not voidable or modifiable to any degree by multiple state laws, and a hell of a lot of federal ones too.

There is Zero (0) chance that any attorney representing them would even attempt to suggest to BMWNA that they not pay for DEF fluid.

It's much more likely that your local dealer is trying to pull a fast one, and whomever you spoke to at BMWNA is brand new to their job.

Read through the manuals and what is covered by the maintenance program that came with your BMW. It's clearly stated that DEF fluid is included.

READ YOUR MANUALS !!!! Have no fear, if I got this from BMW, I'll be the first to take them to court. I'd draft the motion the moment I got home and have it filed the next day, and seek class status. I'm sure 100% of this forum would join the suit.

Many have had their DEF fluid replaced, in fact dozens upon dozens here have had their DEF fluid replaced with little issue whatsoever.

Sounds like your dealer must have done something abnormal or entered in a wrong code, gone above the call of duty, or replaced something that you're not mentioning that was not a maintenance item.

This truly is a non-issue, in my opinion, and if you have continued trouble keep this thread going and we'll file suit, without a doubt.

Now there maybe true motivation $ to develop a defeat for the sensor and people will pay for it.

I cannot imagine that BMW won't include "free maintaince" for the DEF, its just too new and some dealers are too ignorant. What does the Roundel crowd have to say about this? All these trials and tribulations would make for a good story...

You might want to print out this link and show it to your dealer:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/press...tem=node__2230

"The active tank is connected to a second reservoir, referred to as the passive tank. With its additional capacity of approximately 4.5 gallons, this passive tank offers a plentiful supply of the DEF. The average range provided with this supply capacity is generally sufficient to have the tank system replenished only when the driver needs to change the engine oil. Hence, the large amount of DEF stored in the reservoir enables the customer to enjoy continuous driving, without having to change his/her service intervals. The driver therefore benefits from the advantages of this environmentally friendly emission technology throughout the entire running life of the vehicle typically without any additional service or visits to a BMW Center. Since all BMWs sold in the US benefit from The BMW Maintenance Program, the refilling of the DEF tanks will be a no-charge service for the first 4 years or 50,000 miles."

(A press release from BMW dated January 1, 2010)

This is straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak... although in the case of BMW NA, it might be the other end.


P.S. The confusion, in this case, might be the "annual" oil change. I suspect that BMW is really telling the dealer that DEF flush and fill is only when the "Condition based" oil change is indicated, not when there is a time-based annual oil change, i.e., while BMW will give an annual oil change, perhaps the DEF flush and fill is only with the "miles based" oil change, and does not have an "annual" exception. The traditional BMW NA lack of clarity may again be at work here...

Had my first CBS a couple months ago, no issues with BMW (or at dealer) covering flush and fill.

We'll find out fairly quickly (about no cost DEF fill), as the DEF has an expiration interval of 1 year, so either all of it is used in less than a year, or whatever is left at at end of the year period is drained, system flushed and refilled. Either way, it seems the DEF fluid will either be added or flushed and drained on at least a yearly basis.

I have a pdf of the BMW Maintenance and Warranty Book, but it is 4 Mb. it is most certainly covered with the CBS visit. (Does the system tell you to come in at one year even if the miles driven (or fuel used, or however they calculate CBS) has not reached the 'trip point'?

If the car says "come in for service" it astounds me that a dealer/BMW would not cover it. Any chance they are just shaking you down at the dealer level?

Anyone have a technical document from BMW that says "expiration is one year"? Not an article, but an official BMW guidance....

A

Thanks, I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm getting tired of being jacked around by BMW. I diidn't ask for the service, the service advisor told me it was tirme for a oild change and to have the DEF flushed and filled. He put my key into their computer and that's what told him it was time for the service. They were replacing my heated fuel filter when I came in for service.

Craig

Thanks for the link, I printed it out to fax over to the dealer.

Craig

Let us know what the dealer's response is.

Okay, I'm going over there on Monday. I printed your link and highlighted
the part that says it's included in the maintenance warranty.

Thanks again,

Craig