[Chiggy]

I bought my car from T&C but got it serviced at BMW Toronto as it was closer. My sales guy told me that I will get an oil change every 20k or 1 yr (whichever came first). Another year has passed and I figure it's time for me to book another annual oil change with BMW Toronto. They told me the oil change is not covered unless the service light comes on. My mileage is pathetically low for a 2 yr car (approx 7500 km) as I don't drive it that often. They say the annual oil change (regardless of mileage) was incorrectly communicated to a lot of people.

At this rate I will never get another oil change from them under their maintenance program. Anyone else have this problem? or know a better dealer I can bring it to? This is ridiculous considering I just bought an X5 from them a month ago.

Anyone have better luck in the GTA?

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by Chiggy

I bought my car from T&C but got it serviced at BMW Toronto as it was closer. My sales guy told me that I will get an oil change every 20k or 1 yr (whichever came first). Another year has passed and I figure it's time for me to book another annual oil change with BMW Toronto. They told me the oil change is not covered unless the service light comes on. My mileage is pathetically low for a 2 yr car (approx 7500 km) as I don't drive it that often. They say the annual oil change (regardless of mileage) was incorrectly communicated to a lot of people.

At this rate I will never get another oil change from them under their maintenance program. Anyone else have this problem? or know a better dealer I can bring it to? This is ridiculous considering I just bought an X5 from them a month ago.

Some dealers will do it annually, others don't. May want to call around to check.

[M3 Montreal]

Originally Posted by Chiggy

I bought my car from T&C but got it serviced at BMW Toronto as it was closer. My sales guy told me that I will get an oil change every 20k or 1 yr (whichever came first). Another year has passed and I figure it's time for me to book another annual oil change with BMW Toronto. They told me the oil change is not covered unless the service light comes on. My mileage is pathetically low for a 2 yr car (approx 7500 km) as I don't drive it that often. They say the annual oil change (regardless of mileage) was incorrectly communicated to a lot of people.

At this rate I will never get another oil change from them under their maintenance program. Anyone else have this problem? or know a better dealer I can bring it to? This is ridiculous considering I just bought an X5 from them a month ago.

Hmmm ... I could have swore it's either 1 year or X amount of Miles/Kilometres... In fact my dealer told me that my next scheduled oil change is in late march/early april which is on time for 1 year but nowhere near the klicks needed if they were using kilometres.

[MechUT]

From BMW.ca

"From model year 2006 on, BMW vehicles purchased from an authorized BMW Retailer in Canada are covered by No-charge Scheduled Maintenance for 4 years or 80,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. Coverage begins on the date of first retail sale or the date the vehicle is first placed in service as a demonstrator or company vehicle, whichever is earlier.

This Standard Scheduled Maintenance will cover many of your regular servicing needs. However, to supplement this coverage, worry-free maintenance upgrades are also available for your convenience."

Obviously not just milage related, but I don't think the car, according to BMW, "needs" an oil change every year.

[MX5ToE9?]

I'm in a similar situation, low mileage driver. I called up dealer and they said bring it in, 1 oil change per year. Also before I called I found this on another forum in case i needed it.

Annual Oil Change Recommendation /
Bulletin

BMW issued SI 00 04 01 on October 25, 2001 to
clarify the oil change situation for low annual mileage owners.


“A limited number of BMW owners accumulate very
low mileage on their BMWs annually, in some situations insufficient for the
Service Interval Indicator System to call for an Oil Service or Inspection.
However, all BMWs should have an engine oil change at a minimum of once a year, regardless of whether synthetic or petroleum-based oil is used.”

[Chiggy]

Originally Posted by MX5ToE9?

I'm in a similar situation, low mileage driver. I called up dealer and they said bring it in, 1 oil change per year. Also before I called I found this on another forum in case i needed it.

Annual Oil Change Recommendation /
Bulletin

BMW issued SI 00 04 01 on October 25, 2001 to
clarify the oil change situation for low annual mileage owners.


“A limited number of BMW owners accumulate very
low mileage on their BMWs annually, in some situations insufficient for the
Service Interval Indicator System to call for an Oil Service or Inspection.
However, all BMWs should have an engine oil change at a minimum of once a year, regardless of whether synthetic or petroleum-based oil is used.”

They mentioned that the once a yr thing was for older BMWs and some how this assumption carried to the "newer" models when it doesn't need to. They said the car will tell you when it needs one based on sensors, etc. I mean this sounds plausible but I have also seen ppl change their oil a lot sooner and it is quite dirty so not sure what the parameters are for the sensors to deem it dirty. I presume they will set it higher so they will have to do less maintenance, and once the four year warranty runs out its your problem rather than theirs.

[Asclepius]

Let us know what dealership allows you to get the anual oil change as I will be in the same boat as you once my car comes out of storage in March.

[Chiggy]

Originally Posted by M3 Montreal

Hmmm ... I could have swore it's either 1 year or X amount of Miles/Kilometres... In fact my dealer told me that my next scheduled oil change is in late march/early april which is on time for 1 year but nowhere near the klicks needed if they were using kilometres.

That's what my sales guy at T&C said as well but he's no longer there. Too bad you're in montreal otherwise I'd go to your dealer.

[Slke46]

That sounds about right, once every year. I've had three so far, but I thought it was every 20k?

[Chiggy]

From my discussions with my sales guy, since the maintenance is 4 yrs 80k, the rule of thumb is 1 yr or 20k for each oil change. It is not costing them anymore, it is built into the cost of the vehicle already.

[ARA5HE90]

call open road bmw they did my oil change when i had low kms.. as long as it reach the year your good.. but i wouldnt wait for the 20000 mark to be changing oil.. every 3500 - 5000 you should do an oil change..

[M3 Montreal]

I wanted to store my car with fresh oil and did an unschedlued oilchange that ended up costing me almost $600 !

LOL

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by M3 Montreal

I wanted to store my car with fresh oil and did an unschedlued oilchange that ended up costing me almost $600 !

LOL

I don't get it

[Xtype0]

T&C should do this too.

[Chiggy]

Originally Posted by Xtype0

T&C should do this too.

Do the annual oil change? or deny it?

[Xtype0]

Originally Posted by Chiggy

Do the annual oil change? or deny it?

Do the annual change. I had mine done for the 330 a few days after the 1 year mark, car was bought from T&C as well. Just call your SA and schedule in advance. No grief or trouble whatsoever about the 1 year oil change.

[9PointStar]

Were you pouring liquid gold into the engine?!?

Originally Posted by M3 Montreal

I wanted to store my car with fresh oil and did an unschedlued oilchange that ended up costing me almost $600 !

LOL

[M3 Montreal]

Originally Posted by 9PointStar

Were you pouring liquid gold into the engine?!?

Ok I overstated by about $200 because I also bought a cargo net for the trunk that day from the parts department and it cost me $180.

Heres a copy and paste of my actual oil change charge for the M3 that day.

Oct 01, 2008 CANBEC AUTOMOBILE INC MONTREAL $393.93

Pretty expensive Oil change and I had originally been quoted about $130ish on the phone by the girl when I booked the appointment . I told her the model of my car but she assumed it was the same price for the M3 as a regular 3 series. My service rep apologised for her error but that was after the fact when I got my bill to pay.

I have always been the type of guy to store a car with fresh oil so thats why I did the unscheduled change . At $400 I think I'll skip it next year.

[MechUT]

Originally Posted by M3 Montreal

Heres a copy and paste of my actual oil change charge for the M3 that day.

Oct 01, 2008 CANBEC AUTOMOBILE INC MONTREAL $393.93

....

I have always been the type of guy to store a car with fresh oil so thats why I did the unscheduled change . At $400 I think I'll skip it next year.

Factor that into M3 ownership cost... Wow!

[M3 Montreal]

Originally Posted by MechUT

Factor that into M3 ownership cost... Wow!

Dont forget it is only once per year on the M3 . Im not sure how often it is on other BMW's and the fun of the M3 does make it worthwhile even when the paid servicing is finished.

[OTK_KART]

Originally Posted by Chiggy

I bought my car from T&C but got it serviced at BMW Toronto as it was closer. My sales guy told me that I will get an oil change every 20k or 1 yr (whichever came first). Another year has passed and I figure it's time for me to book another annual oil change with BMW Toronto. They told me the oil change is not covered unless the service light comes on. My mileage is pathetically low for a 2 yr car (approx 7500 km) as I don't drive it that often. They say the annual oil change (regardless of mileage) was incorrectly communicated to a lot of people.

At this rate I will never get another oil change from them under their maintenance program. Anyone else have this problem? or know a better dealer I can bring it to? This is ridiculous considering I just bought an X5 from them a month ago.

Anyone have better luck in the GTA?

My local dealer also deny my one year free oil change after I dropped off my car. I ended up calling BMW Canada and I was told I am entitle to an annual oil change regardless of the mileage. He even told me his name so my SA could call him to verify. My SA called me to apologize and did the oil change after.

[m-technik]

Originally Posted by joech

My local dealer also deny my one year free oil change after I dropped off my car. I ended up calling BMW Canada and I was told I am entitle to an annual oil change regardless of the mileage. He even told me his name so my SA could call him to verify. My SA called me to apologize and did the oil change after.

I tried all kinds of things to get the free annual oil change, but even Bmw Canada told me that they specifically go by the dashboard light on whether or not to do the oil change, so I coughed up the cash and had it done. Unfortunately for me, my oil change light turned on about 1 month after!

What confuses me here is that it seems that even Bmw Canada is giving its customers conflicting information on whether or not we are covered for the 1 year oil change....hmmmm.. The Bmw Canada rep I spoke to was also a total douche-bag on the line and acted like I was a nut job for even asking for a free oil change before the dashboard light was on.