[tmarshall57]

Hi there,

I've been lurking for a few weeks and pick my car up on Thursday. It was registered in March 07 and has done around 5K miles.

I asked the dealer today whether he would be changing the oil before I pick up. He consulted service manager and said that oil is good for two years.

I said I thought the oil should be changed every year for low mileage cars and then e-mailed him the text below:

Can anyone confirm whether I am correct or not or is it just our US friends who get all these extra services? DOes it say anything in the car manual about annual oil changes.

I have done a search in the UK forum but nothing relevant that I can see. Lots though in the US forums

Thanks

Regards

Tony





SI B11 08 98
Engine June 2006
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes S.I. 11 08 98 dated October 2005.

(New) designates changes to this revision

SUBJECT
BMW Engine Oils


MODEL
All E-Series from MY 1999 to present.


SITUATION
Starting with the introduction of the 1999 3 Series (E46), BMW introduced an extended oil change interval of approximately 15,000 miles depending on engine operating conditions.

The engine oil change interval of approximately 15,000 miles has been carried over to all 2001 BMW models. However, engine oil should be changed at least once a year. This revision (annual oil change) is retroactive to earlier model years and is included in the BMW Maintenance Plan.

To coincide with the increased oil change interval, BMW also introduced "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil" SAE 5W-30.

SI B 00 01 07
Maintenance and General Hints February 2008
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B00 01 07 dated December 2007.

designates changes to this revision

SUBJECT
New Vehicle Preparation and Maintenance Requirements
.
.
.
All Referenced Models: Engine oil should be changed at least once per year. The BMW Maintenance Program allows for this operation if a vehicle does not travel enough to have a BMW Engine Oil Service performed. This detail is listed in the respective Service/Warranty booklet. Please make customers aware of this important fact when you review an upcoming Service Appointment.

SI B01 02 03
Warranty September 2003
Warranty

This Service Information Bulletin supersedes S.I. B01 02 03 dated February 2003.

SUBJECT
BMW Maintenance Program 4 Years - 50,000 Miles
.
.
.
MAINTENANCE PLAN DEFECT CODES
1ST Engine Oil Service
85 99 00 89 MP

2nd Engine Oil Service
85 99 00 91 MP

(1) Annual Low Mileage Oil Service
85 99 00 87 MP

[Serjames]

If they won't do it for you...

Which I doubt

go to Opie oils, get yourself 7 litres of 0w 30 or 0w 40 LL04 oil (it guides you by car make and model) and Pay Kevin Bird, or your local friendly car shop and let them do it for the price of a filter and 30 Quid.

BMW would charge you over 100 quid for the service and Oil on top !

SJ

[tmarshall57]

Hi Serjames,

My claim is that they should do this free of charge as it is a BMW Approved Used Car which will only be sold with all service records up to date etc etc.

Tony

[jingle68]

My 330d SE is 12 months old with 9000 miles on it, i purchased a 3 year 36000 mile maintenance plan at the time when i ordered the car. (£400).
I tried to book it in for an annuall oil service this week & was told i would have to pay £180 because the maintenance plan only covered services as indicated by the countdown on the dash!!
Its currently telling me my first service is due in march 2009 ....what a waste of £400
beware if you are a low mileage driver!!!

[dxb335d]

Welcome Marshal, i too agree that a oil service should do done as its been sat in the sump for over a year!


Carlos

EDIT: Wosrt come to worst go to another dealer and say can you do an Oil service please as a year has lapsed and its due, be polite and i doubt they will even question it!

[tmarshall57]

Thanks guys,

I suspect it is our US colleagues who get treated like royalty - free services, half price cars, better spec. Ah well I knew what I was letting myself in for. You can always get away with paying!

Tony

[ShereKhan]

I agree but the only one good thing we get is that we get Le Mans Blue - Something our friends over the pond don't get.

I also understand that they miss out on the M Sport models and have to stick with SE's

[tmarshall57]

I'll give the dealer some credit. I arrived to pick the car up this afternoon and the first thing the sales guy said was "we have done your oil change although BMW policy is as per service indicator or 2 years".

I can't complain at all so the dealer is Cotswold BMW of Hereford and the Sales guy is Glenn Challis.

Tony

[dxb335d]

did you actually check they changed the oil though?

take the dipper out and check its fresh oil....

[3_toed_tree_sloth]

probably read the negative attention on E90post.com and thought "s**t better change it"

[tmarshall57]

Hi DXB

Been busy driving. Yes I did check the oil and it was clean. I have a suspicious mind too.

Tony

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by tmarshall57

Hi DXB

Been busy driving. Yes I did check the oil and it was clean. I have a suspicious mind too.

Tony

Good, glad its all sorted mate!!!



Carlos

[M3-FAST]

The main point to note, yet again unfortunately, that the dealer has caused a customer some 'grief' by simply not doing as asked.

If you are paying good money for a car, there should be plenty of profit in it to chuck in 50 squids worth of oil. Would only take about 15 mins tops probably!

BMW dealers seem to be letting themselves down with there persistant lack of customer 'support' - I have had 12 months of it now and am getting seriously pee'd off!

If they listened a bit more and said 'yes of course Sir' instead of coming up with excuses why they are under-performing, we would be a happier bunch!