Hey guys,
Quick query. The service indicator on the 530d has just gone to one amber bar, and it now says 'Oil Service' when you start the car.
This is the fun thing about variable servicing, it's not possible to think 'It will need a service in 1000 miles, best get that fitted into the schedule'.
I am due to take the car on a trip this weekend of about 400 miles, and there is no time to take it to the dealer for its service before then.
How flexible are these indicators? Does the indicator mean QUICK! DRIVE TO THE DEALER RIGHT NOW! or does it mean 'Service due within x,000 miles'? The car is under BMW warranty and voiding it would be most undesireable.
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The indicators are use dependent, which means that a 400 mile motorway journey will not cause it to get to the red as quick as 400 miles of city driving.
I would say you are fine for your trip.
If there is no mileage countdown, then how is the dealer to know when it went on red?, assuming it gets to red before you bring it in.
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It only takes 30 mins for an oil service.
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My local dealer has just confirmed this and says I've got approx 1000 miles which should be fine.
What was more amusing though was the cost... just over £200! For an oil change taking under an hour!
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Simple - don't take it to the dealer. A good independent garage can do this.
£200 - lol
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Better still, learn to do it yourself. Using Mobil 1 full synthetic oil and a BMW filter you can have the oil changed for less than £50 and 15 mins of your time.
Use the £150 you saved to get the engine re-mapped. 8-)
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Wouldn't if we didn't have to, a local specialist has quoted £79.95 for the same job but the car is under BMW warranty.
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.>> Wouldn't if we didn't have to, a local specialist has quoted£79.95 for the same job but the car is under BMW warranty.
I thought that this was no longer the case, you're not restricted to using the manufacturers dealers any more are you?
Might be different for a premium car like a Beemer, so you can have the all important FBMWSH in the ad when you come to sell though
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It only takes 30 mins for an oil service.
How long it takes, and how long the dealer keeps you hanging around are two different subjects. I took my car to the Audi dealers for a recall check which took 10-15 mins, but I still spent 2.5 hours waiting for the service reception to faff around with the internal paperwork etc etc, I had deliberately got there at 0800 hoping to be in and out quickly, so based on this an oil change has be an all-day job with overtime !
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amber is fine, its just advising you with the next couple of months or 1000 mile its good to get it sorted. i agree bmw prices are expensive, as it only takes 20 minutes to do. but youve got to weigh up the quality and the cost and the full dealer service history.
expect a phone call, telling you that your brakes are low, your brake fluid is overdue, and possibly coolant
brake fulid : every 2 years
coolant : every 4 years
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They did the brake fluid last month so we'll be miffed if they phone and say it needs doing :)
Will get it booked in for next week. I guess with it being an hours job they expect you to wait around rather than giving you a loan car. Perhaps they'll let us test drive something interesting.
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Michael
No need to get caught out. You'll find that if your driving pattern is reasonably consistent, the lights go out quite predictably. Divide the mileage from the last service when the indicator was reset to when the last green went out by 5, and you have a 'miles per green light' figure. When the car drops to one green light, then that's about how many miles you have to go before the amber comes on, and you can plan the service.
JS
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i didnt know it was done last month.. im an apprentice at a bmw dealer and i do alot of servicing!
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These things can go 18-20k before the indicator says it needs a service. We had one. Oil service at main dealers is a rip off. I would deffinately not leave the car untill the indicator said it needed a service. Service the the car more regularly, the turbos fail on these. The oil in ours thickend up considerably but according to the indicator all was well. It wasnt. I think the indicator works mainly on fuel consumption. Change every 9 months or 10k using top quality synthetic oil would be my advice- much cheaper than a new turbo etc!
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to be fair the turbos on those engine are very reliable , compared to others in the range... E46 320d's<< crap.
the oil change also has very little effect on the turbo and the lights are only a round guide for when u jump in and turn the ignition on. more infomation is in the owners handbook if you bother reading.
the indicators do go on fuel consumption, so the harder you drive the more it needs servicing... it does make sense really! and like i said above yes its expensive at a main dealer but it depends if your willing to lose your full dealer service history.
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