[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by DBU

I also do an "in-between oil service" myself, i.e. 5k miles, while the car is under BMW's maintenance program. The question I have is whether those of us that do that should reset the oil change service. I have done it both ways in the past, but with this new X4 MC, I think I will refrain from resetting the oil service. Otherwise, I may loose out on free oil changes at the dealership.

Do not reset oil service as you will mess up the CBS counter for tied services like spark plugs, air filter, microfilter.

[Mscarn2014]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

You must be driving the car pretty hard & really enjoying it to need all those new fluids so early. That still seems a touch too soon to require all those new items. But these cars are fairly advanced in the way they self diagnose things. Did you track the car & are you the original owner... ?

I've had the car for 3k miles. Bought it, I'm assuming maybe it was tracked? Since the brake pads are close to being done, which I thought was par for the course but maybe not?

[JB20DGM]

Originally Posted by Mscarn2014

I'm only at 22k, but the car is telling me that with my next oil change, I am also overdue for brake fluid, diff fluid, and trans fluid replacement? Ill do new brake fluid as I do new pads, but wasn't expecting diff and trans flush this early?

Not entirely sure on the transmission fluid for the maint schedule, hopefully BMW didn't make it "lifetime" fluid...

The brake fluid is usually scheduled to be changed every 2 years (I don't recall a mileage limit on that one). This also is what the CBS monitors in iDrive says.

I think the diff fluid is more regular than you would think, from the service or reference doc posted up in one of the stickies for the F97/98, "The rear differential fluid is currently replaced at 2000 km (1200 mile running-in check) and every 3rd
engine oil change." For the front the doc says to reference the BMW service information system and information related to the G05 chassis can be used. But I don't know if this has been updated since it was published.

[Cletus]

Originally Posted by JB20DGM

Not entirely sure on the transmission fluid for the maint schedule, hopefully BMW didn't make it "lifetime" fluid...

The brake fluid is usually scheduled to be changed every 2 years (I don't recall a mileage limit on that one). This also is what the CBS monitors in iDrive says.

I think the diff fluid is more regular than you would think, from the service or reference doc posted up in one of the stickies for the F97/98, "The rear differential fluid is currently replaced at 2000 km (1200 mile running-in check) and every 3rd
engine oil change." For the front the doc says to reference the BMW service information system and information related to the G05 chassis can be used. But I don't know if this has been updated since it was published.

I believe the tranny has a lifetime oil. Within the full vehicle service manual it states:

Lifetime oil filling
At present, as is the case with the F85/F86 and F90 with automatic transmission, a transmission oil change at 2000 km (1200 mile running-in check) and at every 3rd engine oil change is not required for the F96/F97 with M automatic transmission.

[JB20DGM]

Originally Posted by Cletus

I believe the tranny has a lifetime oil. Within the full vehicle service manual it states:

Lifetime oil filling
At present, as is the case with the F85/F86 and F90 with automatic transmission, a transmission oil change at 2000 km (1200 mile running-in check) and at every 3rd engine oil change is not required for the F96/F97 with M automatic transmission.

Must have missed that while searching through it, thanks. That being said, I'll probably have a filter change done and refill with fresh fluid at 50k miles at most. I don't really trust, or believe, in a lifetime fluid...I thought ZF themselves say 50-75k miles or 8 years? At least our filter isn't integrated into the pan like the ZF boxes with the plastic pan.

[dmanb2b]

Originally Posted by JB20DGM

Must have missed that while searching through it, thanks. That being said, I'll probably have a filter change done and refill with fresh fluid at 50k miles at most. I don't really trust, or believe, in a lifetime fluid...I thought ZF themselves say 50-75k miles or 8 years? At least our filter isn't integrated into the pan like the ZF boxes with the plastic pan.

This is the way. I have always serviced my ZFs at around the 50k mile mark. FCP lifetime warranty on fluids makes this a no brainer.

[spta97]

I think my low mileage (5.5k on my 2020) will mean I forgo some free services....

That said my brake fluid is due in Dec I think (2 years).

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by spta97

I think my low mileage (5.5k on my 2020) will mean I forgo some free services....

That said my brake fluid is due in Dec I think (2 years).

That's a great tradeoff... Low mileage is always King!
"It's not the years, it's the miles" for the true age of a car.

Never a big fan of the time due on services...
Feel it's a dealer money grab/reason to find something wrong with your car.
My 95 Stealth TT has done just fine without the date code driven services, and it's almost 28 years old (only 39k miles)

[spta97]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

That's a great tradeoff... Low mileage is always King!
"It's not the years, it's the miles" for the true age of a car.

Never a big fan of the time due on services...
Feel it's a dealer money grab/reason to find something wrong with your car.
My 95 Stealth TT has done just fine without the date code driven services, and it's almost 28 years old (only 39k miles)

Good point. I think BMW bases most services on gallons of fuel consumed so it accounts for driving normal or like a nut; not just mileage.

Some services, like brake fluid, are time based as the fluid is hydroscopic and collects moisture over time. 2 years is a pretty standard interval.

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by spta97

Good point. I think BMW bases most services on gallons of fuel consumed so it accounts for driving normal or like a nut; not just mileage.

Some services, like brake fluid, are time based as the fluid is hydroscopic and collects moisture over time. 2 years is a pretty standard interval.

I've kept to the BMW service schedule for my 2012 M3 Convertible. It's just under 180,000 miles now. And other than a broken strut and two motor mounts (due to 23 HPDE's), it's had no significant repairs needed.

Maybe it's a unicorn, but it's been driven like it should. So I sort-of believe in their prescribed maintenance schedule and will adhere to it with my 2022 X3MC.

Now, the mystery magic potion in the DCT seems to defy physics and makes me a bit nervous. Never been changed/flushed/topped-off. I don't want them to open that Pandora's box of hydroscopicness!