[Porscha!]

I'm sure you are all getting fed up of my questions now, sorry about this I just want to make sure I get the right car!

Servicing on an E90 320d

What is done on the different services? Is there a running in period and running in service?

How do I get the car serviced to stay within my warranty? Does it have to be done at BMW or can someone I know (a Classic MG Specialist) carry out servicing so long as genuine parts are used? Or do they need to be looked at by someone who has knowledge of diagnostics and relevant systems?

When are the servicing intervals for a 320d?

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

I'm sure you are all getting fed up of my questions now, sorry about this I just want to make sure I get the right car!

Servicing on an E90 320d

What is done on the different services? Is there a running in period and running in service?

How do I get the car serviced to stay within my warranty? Does it have to be done at BMW or can someone I know (a Classic MG Specialist) carry out servicing so long as genuine parts are used? Or do they need to be looked at by someone who has knowledge of diagnostics and relevant systems?

When are the servicing intervals for a 320d?

My first sevice was at 22k miles dictated by the car. The service intervals are set by the car and driving style. Someone here could probably give us a full run down of what and when. At 45,000 miles I had two oil changes and a 'car check' paid for by my lease company so no idea of costs.

BMW sell 3 and 5 year service and maintenance deals with the car eg. 3yrs/36,000 miles from £415 to £900. 5 yrs/60,000 miles from £635 to £1,455.

Details at the back of the pricelist

Another negotiating tool.

[Porscha!]

Rightie-o, I now want nice back lights (do they have a name? sounds a bit stupid saying that!), carbon rear spoiler, I love that really finishes the car off and a 3 year service pack! Plus a discount

Not really wanting BMW to carry out the services after they dented my E46 Coupe, they "repaired" it though I could still tell were it had been done, their responce was more or less "it's a 6 year old car, get over it!"

[AlanQS]

I was going to buy the 36k, 3 year service pack for £415 until I did my sums. If the first service was round about the 21k mark and the next service interval was about the same, you'd only ever get one service and you would have paid £415 up front for one oil change service which would normally cost around £200! Some bargain! Can anyone spell C-O-N ?

I was assured by my stealer that BMW will usually authorise the 2nd service - a customer recently got his 2nd service even though the car said 5,000 miles until next service (when the car had done 36k) so he told me I shouldn't worry about it. I asked him to put it in writing - naw, of course not.

It's a rip-off - at least for 2 litre diesel engines anyway.

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

I was going to buy the 36k, 3 year service pack for £415 until I did my sums. If the first service was round about the 21k mark and the next service interval was about the same, you'd only ever get one service and you would have paid £415 up front for one oil change service which would normally cost around £200! Some bargain! Can anyone spell C-O-N ?

I was assured by my stealer that BMW will usually authorise the 2nd service - a customer recently got his 2nd service even though the car said 5,000 miles until next service (when the car had done 36k) so he told me I shouldn't worry about it. I asked him to put it in writing - naw, of course not.

It's a rip-off - at least for 2 litre diesel engines anyway.

Good point. My lease includes full maintenance so unaware of costs

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

I'm sure you are all getting fed up of my questions now, sorry about this I just want to make sure I get the right car!

Servicing on an E90 320d

What is done on the different services? Is there a running in period and running in service?

How do I get the car serviced to stay within my warranty? Does it have to be done at BMW or can someone I know (a Classic MG Specialist) carry out servicing so long as genuine parts are used? Or do they need to be looked at by someone who has knowledge of diagnostics and relevant systems?

When are the servicing intervals for a 320d?

As the others have said, the service interval is quite large and variable according to driving style.

You will really need to go with BMW or with an independant who has the latest BMW kit.

The rear lights are called blacklines and you can get them on EBAY.

[xenon]

From a point of view of maintaining the warranty you are under no obligation to have the car serviced at a franchised dealers as long as approved oils and genuine parts are used. The extended service intervals are a marketing ploy aimed at big fleets where servicing is a big expense, to the detriment of future owners. Running a car (especially a turbocharged one) for 20000 miles on the same oil as the engine had in from new is madness. Mine will receive at least one interim oil change which I shall do myself.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by xenon

The extended service intervals are a marketing ploy aimed at big fleets where servicing is a big expense, to the detriment of future owners. Running a car (especially a turbocharged one) for 20000 miles on the same oil as the engine had in from new is madness.

I actually think the extended servicing is as much about convenience for the driver. If you are racking up 40K miles a year the last thing you want to do is go to the dealers every 10K miles for a service.

As to the a 20K service interval, I honestly don't see a problem. I've had a couple of 320d coupes in the past and I ran one of them up to 80K miles with no problem at all and 20-25K service intervals. The key is that the modern synthetic oils used today are simply longer lasting.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by NFS

The key is that the modern synthetic oils used today are simply longer lasting.

Indeed they are - but I wouldn't run oil for that long.

[booforty]

Porscha! Quick question - if you hadn't come along to UK5 and met us all do you think you would still be purchasing an E90? How much of an influence has the forum been to your decision?

[Budgie]

Funny you say this ....i found this forum and was reading and got far more info about the 3 series than any other way or form.I was actually gonna buy a E90 335d but then the boss capped vehicles by the co2 and then buy the amount of mpg as we buy the car and he supplies the juice.

In the end i decided through this forum to buy a E92 coupe instead but have a smaller engine thus conforming to HRH mpg and co2 plan....but i can honestly say that the forum and its choice,views and picture/video gallery made my mind up.

[gr4z]

I bought my E92 Coupe on BMW Finance and the dealer has insisted I get it serviced by BMW to guarantee the future value. Are they allowed to do this? Isnt this illegal now? Thanks

[xenon]

It is illegal for them to invalidate the warranty if you have it serviced elsewhere (European anti-trust law). It says as much in the warranty & servicing handbook. As far as finance is concerned, BMW could put a condition in the terms & conditions of the finance which says the future guaranteed resale value is dependant on franchised dealer servicing, a condition that you have accepted.

In practice I think it would be difficult to enforce for exactly the same reasons as the warranty issue.

[3_toed_tree_sloth]

Nothing wrong with recommending it but "insisting" is deliberately misrepresenting the situation. Again, a dealer undermining the BMW marque and it's perceived position as a premium and quality brand.

[gr4z]

Mmmm, I guess the dealer can make up an excuse in 2 or 3 years time if I didnt get it serviced by them they can reduce the future value price they give me for it.

[Porscha!]

Originally Posted by booforty

Porscha! Quick question - if you hadn't come along to UK5 and met us all do you think you would still be purchasing an E90? How much of an influence has the forum been to your decision?

Honestly not much at all.

The complusory requirements are new and diesel.

My requirements are RWD and erm looks nice lol!

So I couldn't have bought another Boxster and paid the extra myself, I couldn't have a Z4 or a new Caterham due to the diesel restriction sports cars are out.

For the budget it left me with - BMW 123d Coupe (too small ) BMW 320d , BMW 520d (perhaps too big and a little slow? Though I am still thinking about that one as it's cheaper than the three believe it or not) or a Mercedes C Class and I'm more of a BMW fan than a Mercedes one, actually I've had a few BMWs and like them.

Had I not known about this forum, I would have bought an E92 320d in White with Coral leather a sunroof and no other options.

Due to this forum and certain members I have been persuaded that Bluetooth and SatNav are good options to have therefor am going for the E90 Edition in Carbon Black with Lemon Leather, I think!

[booforty]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

Due to this forum and certain members I have been persuaded that Bluetooth and SatNav are good options to have therefor am going for the E90 Edition in Carbon Black with Lemon Leather, I think!

Good choice!

[mgarvey]

Be wary with condition based servicing that you could end up having some fairly close together services if your mileage and car's age don't 'match'.

For example, I do 18k-20k miles per year, and both last year and now this year I'm in a position where the mileage dictates a service in May/June and I have a time-based service (for brake fluid I think) in August.

Will they do both services at once so I don't have to have services 6-8 weeks apart and come back twice? Will they heck - 'computer says it doesn't need it yet sir'. Very annoying and possibly the most irritating thing about BMW's aftersales service so far.

[3_toed_tree_sloth]

Originally Posted by mgarvey

Be wary with condition based servicing that you could end up having some fairly close together services if your mileage and car's age don't 'match'.

For example, I do 18k-20k miles per year, and both last year and now this year I'm in a position where the mileage dictates a service in May/June and I have a time-based service (for brake fluid I think) in August.

Will they do both services at once so I don't have to have services 6-8 weeks apart and come back twice? Will they heck - 'computer says it doesn't need it yet sir'. Very annoying and possibly the most irritating thing about BMW's aftersales service so far.

Then you instruct them to change it earlier, you are the customer, they do it to your convenience, not theirs.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by mgarvey

Be wary with condition based servicing that you could end up having some fairly close together services if your mileage and car's age don't 'match'.

For example, I do 18k-20k miles per year, and both last year and now this year I'm in a position where the mileage dictates a service in May/June and I have a time-based service (for brake fluid I think) in August.

Will they do both services at once so I don't have to have services 6-8 weeks apart and come back twice? Will they heck - 'computer says it doesn't need it yet sir'. Very annoying and possibly the most irritating thing about BMW's aftersales service so far.

I had two services come up, the oil change (mileage based) and the micro filter (timed). When I had the oil change performed the SA had the filter done as well even though it had another 5 weeks.

[steve-p]

Originally Posted by gr4z

I bought my E92 Coupe on BMW Finance and the dealer has insisted I get it serviced by BMW to guarantee the future value. Are they allowed to do this? Isnt this illegal now? Thanks

If the finance is based on an estimated future value then that will be affected if the car does not have a full main dealer service history. I expect it's it's in the small print of the agreement which was signed, and entirely legal. Perhaps they would have agreed to foregoing main dealer service history if you had agreed to a higher monthly payment to compensate for the loss of future value. I doubt it though. Who would buy a two or three year old car without main dealer history?