[The Nash]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The car is a 2006 325i with a manual trans. I ordered it in April 2006 with just the Sport Package, HIDs, and BlueTooth (BMW assist) and it was delivered mid-May 2006. I like a basic car that drives well and don't need all the luxury crap.

Absolutely. This is exactly why you got 200K out of it...More money more problems

Mine is an Manual with 78K and I only have the sports package.

[Spitfire007]

Yep. Because these enthusiast forums are so accurately representative of a car's reliability.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

No. The car knows and BMW engineers know how to program the oil change intervals.
Sometimes you have to trust the guys who designed the cars.
If you track your car, that's a different story altogether.

The engineers didn't set that 15,000 mile number, the actuaries and accountants did to save BMW money on their included maintenance. It's not healthy for the car, thus why they revised it to 10,000 miles now.

[dave4]

That is an amazing write up!! Congrats! Which county do you live in that you have such nice back (mountain) roads?

[Chuta]

Congrats!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by dave4

That is an amazing write up!! Congrats! Which county do you live in that you have such nice back (mountain) roads?

One near Culpeper.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by dwells

The engineers didn't set that 15,000 mile number, the actuaries and accountants did to save BMW money on their included maintenance. It's not healthy for the car, thus why they revised it to 10,000 miles now.

That makes no sense. BMW would just charge more money for the car to cover the cost of the (increased) maintenance. You realize you are just paying for the maintenance up front, which really is just financing the company. You are doing BMW a huge favor, not the other way around.

[youngdoc1]

Originally Posted by dwells

The engineers didn't set that 15,000 mile number, the actuaries and accountants did to save BMW money on their included maintenance. It's not healthy for the car, thus why they revised it to 10,000 miles now.

I believe the revised OCI is for the turbocharged motors, they did not revise the schedule for the NA motors.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

That makes no sense. BMW would just charge more money for the car to cover the cost of the (increased) maintenance. You realize you are just paying for the maintenance up front, which really is just financing the company. You are doing BMW a huge favor, not the other way around.

That's a valid point, but there are more ways of making up costs than just raising prices. In fact, in this competitive market, raising the price would be a last resort. The original point by dwells was a valid one, though I have no idea if it's true or not.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by NGEE

That's a valid point, but there are more ways of making up costs than just raising prices. In fact, in this competitive market, raising the price would be a last resort. The original point by dwells was a valid one, though I have no idea if it's true or not.

So dwells is really just talking about oil changes and driveline fluid changes. Cutting the OCI to 7,500 miles from the average 12,000 miles would add 1 or 2 more oil changes to the price of the car, so $100 (BMW cost) onto the already high MSRP, who would notice that, no one. Auto trans fluid change is called for at 100,000 miles as is coolant change. Most cars have 100,000 mile coolant changes now across the industry. And $150 (BMW cost) for a trans fluid change at 50,000, again, not a huge price increase to the MSRP.

If the insufficient near-post sale maintenance plan ruins the longevity of the car past 100,000 miles (which it doesn't as I can atest too) BMW would be ignoring a huge part of the market share they've enjoyed for decades and where they make a lot of money, which is 2nd and 3rd order ownership of BMW automobiles. What dwells espouses is always the thought around here, but to anyone with a business background, it makes no business sense to ignore the post 1st-order ownership market. What does make business sense is to market "free maintenance" and get paid for it up front, and use that money to capitalize the corporation. That is what BMW is really doing.

[weletourneau08]

My last BMW was a 2001 330i It had 240,000 miles when i Sold it last year... still running with the new owner!

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So dwells is really just talking about oil changes and driveline fluid changes. ... What does make business sense is to market "free maintenance" and get paid for it up front, and use that money to capitalize the corporation. That is what BMW is really doing.

All good points - worthy of discussion but don't want to jack the OPs awesome thread!

[ThereThatGuy]

Congrats on your 200k, I'm at 125k hope to her to over 200k!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by NGEE

All good points - worthy of discussion but don't want to jack the OPs awesome thread!

I'm the OP, so I'm jacking my own thread LOL.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm the OP, so I'm jacking my own thread LOL.

Oh crap, almost fell off the chair laughing

[Johnny777]

My therapist says jacking your own thread is perfectly normal.

[Johnny777]

So after writing about wanting to get to 200,000 my 08' 335xi has a new indicator light go off stating access to full power not available. Take it in to dealership and it is a leak in the air charge pipe. They are trying to get the $700 part covered under existing extended warranty. They gave me a 14' 328i for the last 4 days and all I want is my 08' back in my garage. I don't like the current 3 series and just pray that by the time I can afford a used 335 of the 2020 generation BMW gets back to what made it so enjoyable to drive. ... I now want my 08' to go to 250,000!!

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Johnny777

My therapist says jacking your own thread is perfectly normal.

Could make you go blind though. In regards to your other post, I'm feeling the same way, although I could see myself upgrading to a newer model N55 in the not-too-distant future.

[tman]

That is unbelievable!! Great stuff! Congrats on keeping it running for so long.

[Johnny777]

Originally Posted by NGEE

Could make you go blind though. In regards to your other post, I'm feeling the same way, although I could see myself upgrading to a newer model N55 in the not-too-distant future.

Truth. Part covered under warranty! 200,000 here I come! I just love the feel of my girl so much better than the 14'.

[Avenged328i]

Tell us your secret. How did you make it that long?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Avenged328i

Tell us your secret. How did you make it that long?

I drive it hard and fast every day, and I follow pretty much to the T BMW's recommended maintenance schedule. No secret, just read the owner's manual.