Does anyone know what the service schedule is in the UK?

I know that servicing is CBS that roughly equates to every 2 years or 18k miles for oil and microfilter. Vehicle check every 2 years after year 3 so every service if you do low miles and service every 2 years. Brake fluid year 3 and then every 2 years (crafty way to get you into the service shop every year as it doesn't line up with 2 year servicing).

Only other service item appears to be spark plugs and air filter but I can't find a recommended interval for these. As these appear to add nearly £300 to the cost of a service, I think I will do these myself

dangerous_al wrote

Does anyone know what the service schedule is in the UK?

I know that servicing is CBS that roughly equates to every 2 years or 18k miles for oil and microfilter. Vehicle check every 2 years after year 3 so every service if you do low miles and service every 2 years. Brake fluid year 3 and then every 2 years (crafty way to get you into the service shop every year as it doesn't line up with 2 year servicing).

Only other service item appears to be spark plugs and air filter but I can't find a recommended interval for these. As these appear to add nearly £300 to the cost of a service, I think I will do these myself

It's either time limited to 2 years which starts from date of manufacture, or condition based, which will vary depending on usage etc. The My BMW App shows my car due a service at two years or 13k miles.

I have the Emac service plan which includes "seasonal checks" to get you in to the dealership even more frequently LOL but I don't bother with these. The plan worked out cheaper for servicing needed during my 4 year PCP as it covers all scheduled servicing, including MOT.

Other consumables include fluids, so in my case that's also Adblue filled up at each service.

On previous BMW performance petrol cars I've had the spark plug change was 60k miles, but that was covered in the service plan at the time.

My car goes in on Monday for AGR system repair and will get its first official minor service at the same time. It’s done 17,000 miles. I also have an Emac service plan.

I think the engine air filter is at 30,000 miles and plugs at 60,000 miles.

Thanks, I seem to remember my E90 was plugs at 60k, but I couldn't find anything about plugs on the M40i.

My 4 year service is due in January, and it will probably be around £400 for oil, microfilter and vehicle check. There are lots of complaints about cost of servicing on BMWs but if you are a low mileage driver like me it is no more costly than my wifes 1l Ford Fiesta. Most manufacturers are still on 12 month service plans so in 2 years, that's one service for my BMW and 2 services for the Ford and the cost is about the same.

As Avi66 says there's no 'set' schedule as such, it's either condition-based (if you do a lot of miles) or time-limited for lower mileage drivers. 1st oil service is 2 years/30,000 km, then brake fluid Y3/Y5/Y7 etc, major oil/plugs at 4 years/60,000km.

I had an oil service at 2 years/7000 miles in 2021 (blame the pandemic), then a brake fluid service last year, and the year 4 major oil/plugs/microfilter service this year - cost me £640 at a main dealer in Glasgow.

I have the extended warranty so decided a BMWSH was worth paying a bit more for. Best indy quote I could get at the time was £590 so not stupidly more expensive, though in fairness BMW quoted me something like £790 to start with - when I'd stopped laughing and pointed out that (a) other dealerships/BMW online were quoting significantly less and (b) the indy price, they very quickly changed their tune.... feckers

dangerous_al wrote

Thanks, I seem to remember my E90 was plugs at 60k, but I couldn't find anything about plugs on the M40i.

My 4 year service is due in January, and it will probably be around £400 for oil, microfilter and vehicle check. There are lots of complaints about cost of servicing on BMWs but if you are a low mileage driver like me it is no more costly than my wifes 1l Ford Fiesta. Most manufacturers are still on 12 month service plans so in 2 years, that's one service for my BMW and 2 services for the Ford and the cost is about the same.

I agree about relative service costs. My kids Ford is around £200-£300 per year at a main dealer depending on the service.

Looking at the My BMW app service costs at a local BMW dealer, these are the current adhoc prices shown-

Engine oil services with microfilter £359
Engine oil services with micro, air and fuel filter £622
Vehicle check service £105
Brake fluid service £81
MOT £54

The prices vary by dealer.

avi66 wrote

I agree about relative service costs. My kids Ford is around £200-£300 per year at a main dealer depending on the service.

Looking at the My BMW app service costs at a local BMW dealer, these are the current adhoc prices shown-

Engine oil services with microfilter £359
Engine oil services with micro, air and fuel filter £622
Vehicle check service £105
Brake fluid service £81
MOT £54

The prices vary by dealer.

Just had a look at service prices using the online booking system with my local dealer. There is money off at the moment, don't know if that is Black Friday or because it is over 3 years old. 20% off services and 10% off vehicle check and brake fluid.

Engine oil services with microfilter £314.42 (incl disposal and standard scope charges)
Engine oil services with micro, air filter and spark plugs £577.15
Vehicle check service £81
Brake fluid service £62.47
MOT £54.85

dangerous_al wrote

Just had a look at service prices using the online booking system with my local dealer. There is money off at the moment, don't know if that is Black Friday or because it is over 3 years old. 20% off services and 10% off vehicle check and brake fluid.

Engine oil services with microfilter £314.42 (incl disposal and standard scope charges)
Engine oil services with micro, air filter and spark plugs £577.15
Vehicle check service £81
Brake fluid service £62.47
MOT £54.85

I know my local dealership does different pricing for 3 year old plus cars, it’s called service plus.

Based on that above pricing, it’s almost £200 more than the service plan pricing.

Those are absolutely stupid prices…if you are unable to do simple servicing yourself, particularly oil and various filters…

This is my service schedule for routine maint…

I do oil every 10k(Km) - Self
Engine Air filter - when its starting to show contamination but never fouled- Self
Under hood cabin and glove box filters every 2 years - Self
Spark plugs 100k (Km) (Non M) - Coils - 150k (Km) - Self

Coolant every 3 years
Brake fluid - every 2 to 3 years

Brake pads - when at 5mm, two sets of pads to one set of rotors - Self
Rotors when second set of pads have worn - Self

Cost of ownership - Obviously saves a massive amount, and my indy lets me bring parts…

I’m a Brit but brit servicing (minor and full service) is a massive con….The YouTube university is your friend.

Bilbofraggins wrote

Those are absolutely stupid prices…if you are unable to do simple servicing yourself, particularly oil and various filters…

This is my service schedule for routine maint…

I do oil every 10k(Km) - Self
Engine Air filter - when its starting to show contamination but never fouled- Self
Under hood cabin and glove box filters every 2 years - Self
Spark plugs 100k (Km) (Non M) - Coils - 150k (Km) - Self

Coolant every 3 years
Brake fluid - every 2 to 3 years

Brake pads - when at 5mm, two sets of pads to one set of rotors - Self
Rotors when second set of pads have worn - Self

Cost of ownership - Obviously saves a massive amount, and my indy lets me bring parts…

I’m a Brit but brit servicing (minor and full service) is a massive con….The YouTube university is your friend.

I service my own bike but I leave the car to the dealer simply because I don't have a garage it would fit in and I am too old to be crawling about under a car

dangerous_al wrote

I service my own bike but I leave the car to the dealer simply because I don't have a garage it would fit in and I am too old to be crawling about under a car

Lol with you on that.

avi66 wrote

I know my local dealership does different pricing for 3 year old plus cars, it’s called service plus.

Based on that above pricing, it’s almost £200 more than the service plan pricing.

Just shows that they are milking you if you have a newer car. What's the age of your car got to do with a discount on the price of parts? They aren't doing it out of the good of their heart.

Here in the US, first 3 years of service are free, and you would think they'd stretch out the intervals. But they don't. We have mileage based oil changes (I think it is 12,000) but also calendar based. In New York there is an annual safety inspection and if my miles arent 12,000 since the last change and it was a year or so ago, the dealer changes the oil anyhow. When I had a '19 that was past the free period, the oil changes were way less expensive than the UK prices. Very low mileage but I did changes every year. Brake fluid gets changed at 3 years and has been included in my free maintenance also.

Sounds like you UK guys are getting screwed.

The.bands wrote

Just shows that they are milking you if you have a newer car. What's the age of your car go to do with a discount on the price of parts? They aren't doing it out of the good of their heart.

It’s an LCI so still we’ll under 3 years.

AlteBMW wrote

Here in the US, first 3 years of service are free, and you would think they'd stretch out the intervals. But they don't. We have mileage based oil changes (I think it is 12,000) but also calendar based. In New York there is an annual safety inspection and if my miles arent 12,000 since the last change and it was a year or so ago, the dealer changes the oil anyhow. When I had a '19 that was past the free period, the oil changes were way less expensive than the UK prices. Very low mileage but I did changes every year. Brake fluid gets changed at 3 years and has been included in my free maintenance also.

Sounds like you UK guys are getting screwed.

We get screwed for everything over here in the UK, no matter what the circumstances are!

AlteBMW wrote

Here in the US, first 3 years of service are free, and you would think they'd stretch out the intervals. But they don't. We have mileage based oil changes (I think it is 12,000) but also calendar based. In New York there is an annual safety inspection and if my miles arent 12,000 since the last change and it was a year or so ago, the dealer changes the oil anyhow. When I had a '19 that was past the free period, the oil changes were way less expensive than the UK prices. Very low mileage but I did changes every year. Brake fluid gets changed at 3 years and has been included in my free maintenance also.

Sounds like you UK guys are getting screwed.

Yup, 20% of that service cost is tax, plus materials are massively inflated.

Recently looked at services parts for my sons Ford. The Ford dealership was asking £130 for Ford Castro oil, oil, air, and fuel filters. The Ford sales channel on eBay will deliver the same genuine Ford parts for less than £75.

Is there a recommended 'schedule' for replacing things like water pump, thermostat, ancilliary belt/s, rubber hoses?

e.g. I remember on the N54, it was recommended that the water pump+thermostat were replaced around 75,000km (mine in fact died at almost exactly that mileage!)

satz wrote

Is there a recommended 'schedule' for replacing things like water pump, thermostat, ancilliary belt/s, rubber hoses?

e.g. I remember on the N54, it was recommended that the water pump+thermostat were replaced around 75,000km (mine in fact died at almost exactly that mileage!)

Nothing that I’ve seen at a consumer level, but the most I’ve run a BMW is 70k miles (112km), and defo no pump and thermostat change recommended by the dealership on that car.

BMW seem to do a lot of “for life” type stuff, but i know that will just be a red flag for many to replace every couple of miles, because back in the day……..