Auto Repair Encyclopedia

BMW Oil Service

The maintenance intervals of motor vehicles has been traditionally dictated by the vehicle mileage. The BMW Maintenance System has changed this by computing maintenance intervals based upon the specific manner in which each individual vehicle is driven.

The advanced technologies at BMW have led to the development of the unique BMW service interval indicator which computes the actual optimum maintenance requirements based not only upon the accumulated mileage, but taking into account important factors such as engine coolant temperatures, high or low engine speeds, short or long trip driving, and number of vehicle starts. The maintenance interval may therefore be maximized with considerable savings to owners of vehicles subjected to light duty. The service interval indicator consists of a mileage reading, and the inscriptions “OIL SERVICE” and “INSPECTION”.

Whenever the ignition is switched on, the display shows the next scheduled type of service and the remaining distance until the service should be performed. The distance is based on your driving style.

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About this Repair: Oil Service

Recommendations
  • Replacing the engine oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, even if the manufacturer recommends it less frequently, can greatly extend the useful life of the engine.

  • We recommend using a high-quality engine oil filter. Cheap filters wear more quickly and may not properly keep contaminants out of the engine.

  • We recommend always replacing the drain plug gasket along with the oil and oil filter.

Why this happens
  • Using high-quality, fully synthetic oil can dramatically extend the life of the engine as well as increase fuel efficiency.

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