[apc3libras]

Hey everyone. I got a quote from a local indy BMW shop for some maintenance items. I just want to see if the pricing looks online with what any of you have seen. Thanks.

Perform a cooling system flush, parts and labor $129.

Perform a transmission service which includes replace the transmission filter, pan gasket and refill the transmission, parts and labor $535. (I have read some who say not to change the fluid and some say to do it since it\'s not really lifetime fluid. Kinda confused what to do here)

Perform brake fluid flush, parts and labor $122.

Perform differential service, parts and labor $92.

Perform oil change, parts and labor $108.

Replace the spark plugs, parts and labor $332.

I am trying to follow the old maintenance schedule since I plan on keeping my car for a while. I currently have 53k miles. Thanks in advance.

[possible335i2008]

Spark plugs DIY 66 for the plugs 20 for the socket, 30 minutes, save some money there

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by apc3libras

Hey everyone. I got a quote from a local indy BMW shop for some maintenance items. I just want to see if the pricing looks online with what any of you have seen. Thanks.

Perform a cooling system flush, parts and labor $129.

Perform a transmission service which includes replace the transmission filter, pan gasket and refill the transmission, parts and labor $535. (I have read some who say not to change the fluid and some say to do it since it\'s not really lifetime fluid. Kinda confused what to do here)

Perform brake fluid flush, parts and labor $122.

Perform differential service, parts and labor $92.

Perform oil change, parts and labor $108.

Replace the spark plugs, parts and labor $332.

I am trying to follow the old maintenance schedule since I plan on keeping my car for a while. I currently have 53k miles. Thanks in advance.

Coolant flush costs $120 at a BMW dealer in Canada.

Transmission fluid and filter change costs ~$1000 at the same dealer.

Do the spark plugs yourself.. seriously it's very easy. The spark plugs themselves cost about $70.

Finally, don't forget power steering fluid change, which is about $100 at the dealer.

[Glim]

Originally Posted by apc3libras

Perform a cooling system flush, parts and labor $129.

Perform a transmission service which includes replace the transmission filter, pan gasket and refill the transmission, parts and labor $535

Perform brake fluid flush, parts and labor $122.
Perform differential service, parts and labor $92.
Perform oil change, parts and labor $108.
Replace the spark plugs, parts and labor $332.

Price seems high for spark plugs, parts are only $74

Also change your Air Filter while you are at it



Super Simple DIY'S found in the DIY forum:

Tools needed:
3/8" Torque wrench
Socket set with spark plug socket and 8" extension
Turkey baster
Hex set that includes a Hex-45

Prices from www.bimmerspecialist.com

air filter $28
spark plugs $74

power steering fluid - buy chf 11s from audi dealership: $23

[queensfield]

As said before, Spark Plugs are super easy- but maintain very high cleanliness when doing them. You don't want anything dropping into the engine.
I would say, even the coolant flush and power steering are also easy.

Transmission- perform mechantronic sleeve change at the same time.

Should oil filter housing gasket be part of regular maintenance? Other folks might have an opinion on it.

[Glim]

He may not have a jack or ramps, coolant flush is hard to do without them. I was thinking of things he could do without them.

Oil housing gasket is only three bolts, have you changed yours? Mine is still drip free. May order a gasket just in case.

[apc3libras]

Yeah I don't have ramps or jack but I plan on getting at some point. I want to do sone of this but afraid I will mess something up. Maybe the Bentley guide will help with that. Thanks for the recommendations!

[queensfield]

Yes, coolant flush is hard to do without lifting the car up. I somehow found a place in the parking lot where the front lifted up slightly- just enough for me to crawl under.
Oil housing gasket- I haven't changed it yet, but it is on my schedule for fall. At this time, mine looks OK at 56K miles, but it is just one of those things that fall in the category of you never know. Could last for a long time or could go early. Better to have one with you just in case it goes.

[samchoi604]

I wouldn't change the oil filter housing gasket until it leaks, but that's just me. It doesn't look like an easy job.. and I don't think it is a common failure point.

[Pittsburger]

I checked with BMW dealers A&L near Pittsburgh, PA. Here are the prices:

Perform a cooling system flush, parts and labor $130.

Transmission Fluids / Filter: 350 (Dealer did not recommend doing)
Transfer Case Fluid (x drive): 95

Perform brake fluid flush, parts and labor $115
Perform differential service, parts and labor $75
Perform oil change, parts and labor: Did not ask (DIY ~$60)
Replace the spark plugs, parts and labor - Forgot to ask

Power Steering Fluid: $115 (Dealer did not recommend doing)

Dealer kept on mentioning "lifetime fluids" and not replacing unless there was a problem.

Also, I agree that oil housing gasket should not be replaced pre-emptively. If consequences are small and indicates apparent, why bother doing pre-emptively. (In contrast, water pump should be replaced pre-emptively)

[apc3libras]

Thanks for the info everyone. The pricing helps. Also it helps to know which items would be good to change now and which to wait on. Seems the pricing is the same from indy to dealer.

[Glim]

Originally Posted by Pittsburger

Dealer kept on mentioning "lifetime fluids" and not replacing unless there was a problem.

Ugh

I wonder if in Germany the stickers they put on their transmission pans translates into something like 'long life' and someone decided to change that into 'lifetime' for their English customers. . Now our dealers are warning us against a fluid changes.

The manual states a transmission fluid change at 100k.

I can sense another class action lawsuit coming as our cars age; this time around for transmission failures.

[jimk]

Has anyone asked the dealer if their cooling system flush is done using distilled water or tap water? If the later, I won't bother.

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by jimk

Has anyone asked the dealer if their cooling system flush is done using distilled water or tap water? If the later, I won't bother.

I didn't ask, but I assume it's common sense to use distilled water.. but of course that won't stop some dealer from using tap water I suppose.

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

I didn't ask, but I assume it's common sense to use distilled water.. but of course that won't stop some dealer from using tap water I suppose.

There's a recommendation that I heard about on NPR's Cartalk that suggests that tap water with minerals dissolved in it is safer to use than distilled water. The theory is that distilled water is considered "hungry", meaning it has a higher probability of eating away at the inside of the coolant passages in the engine because it can hold more "stuff" in solution, thereby leeching minerals out of the engine block, head and anything metal.

I have absolutely *NO* idea if this is even a valid argument. I think the distilled route is probably the safer way to go, especially considering how hard my tap water is.

[Pittsburger]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

There's a recommendation that I heard about on NPR's Cartalk that suggests that tap water with minerals dissolved in it is safer to use than distilled water. The theory is that distilled water is considered "hungry", meaning it has a higher probability of eating away at the inside of the coolant passages in the engine because it can hold more "stuff" in solution, thereby leeching minerals out of the engine block, head and anything metal.

I have absolutely *NO* idea if this is even a valid argument. I think the distilled route is probably the safer way to go, especially considering how hard my tap water is.

From chemistry class, that can make sense. The solvent h2o has a limit to the amount of solute it can hold (solubility) Once you exceed that limit, it cannot be dissolved and will remain as a solid.

I'm not a mechanic, but an engineer, FYI. Theory is sound and if these guys are experienced, I'd trust them.

[chromisdesigns]

Only thing I see that raises an eyebrow is spark plug replacement -- that seems pretty high considering parts price and how long it takes...others are in line with what people around here charge (not dealers).

[whenasked]

can we diy brake fluid flush? or do we need power flush?

[Pittsburger]

Crap - I made a copy/past error - edited the price out. I didn't ask about spark plugs at dealer. DYI looks okay to do by myself.

[Samuel L Jackson]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

There's a recommendation that I heard about on NPR's Cartalk that suggests that tap water with minerals dissolved in it is safer to use than distilled water. The theory is that distilled water is considered "hungry", meaning it has a higher probability of eating away at the inside of the coolant passages in the engine because it can hold more "stuff" in solution, thereby leeching minerals out of the engine block, head and anything metal.

I have absolutely *NO* idea if this is even a valid argument. I think the distilled route is probably the safer way to go, especially considering how hard my tap water is.

I would use distilled water because the mineral content and other crap in tap water can vary significantly. Second of all, ever look at sinks or showers with limescale on it? Do you want that in your engine?

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by Samuel L Jackson

I would use distilled water because the mineral content and other crap in tap water can vary significantly. Second of all, ever look at sinks or showers with limescale on it? Do you want that in your engine?

Exactly. We're not talking about mineral bottled water here... tap water can contain acidic substances or whatever Joe Blow dumped into the river that day.