[eyehategod]

Hey All,

Looking for some advice here. I bought a 2012 E92 335i xdrive back in December with 39k miles on it. I'm coming up on 44k a few months later. Since I bought the car, I've done -> oil change + filter, brake rotors + pads, coil packs and spark plugs, swaybar endlinks, control arm replacement, KW coilovers, new wheels and tires. The car feels incredible now, and it's not posting any codes. I do get some weird fluctuations in the RPM sometimes when I start the car, which always settles down and never seems to have any impact once I start driving.

Basically after all this time and $ put into the car's suspension and whatnot, I feel excited to MHD tune + some bolt ons and an xHP flash. But then I decided to look up the recommended maintenance schedule, and with me at 44k miles I'm seeing pretty much every oil and fluid in the car needs to be flushed and changed:

brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid, rear + front differential fluids, xdrive transfer case fluid, transmission fluid. Plus a walnut blast?

I'm all for maintaining this car, I'm just wondering if I'm overdoing it or if I really should get all of this taken care of before any kind of tune. I want to do this stuff because I plan to drive it up to around 100k miles, but it's my first summer with it and I'm anxious to eek some more power out of it and go driving.

[Rajneil Sharma]

Walnut blasting is like a night and day difference for responsiveness and power depending on how much carbon build up is gunked up on your intake valves. I believe BMW recommends walnut blasting every 30,000-50,000KM!

[robthewrench]

What document or manual are you using for the maintenance recommendations?

While some of the ones you list are correct, others are not. For example, I don't believe I've ever seen a schedule with the transmission fluid at 44K miles.

I'd recommend you look in the owner's manual or pelican parts, etc...

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by eyehategod

...
brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid, rear + front differential fluids, xdrive transfer case fluid, transmission fluid. Plus a walnut blast?

Brake fluid is an every 2 year (F3x is 3 year) change.
PS isn't required at any specific interval. It's not a lot anyway, but unnecessary.
Diffs, xfer case, are not mentioned at all. Do it before 100K miles.
Tranny is no longer lifetime, and my 2010 booklet calls for it at 100K. I think 60K is safer.

If you're looking at Mike Miller's recs, remember he's more than a bit obsessive.

[eyehategod]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Brake fluid is an every 2 year (F3x is 3 year) change.
PS isn't required at any specific interval. It's not a lot anyway, but unnecessary.
Diffs, xfer case, are not mentioned at all. Do it before 100K miles.
Tranny is no longer lifetime, and my 2010 booklet calls for it at 100K. I think 60K is safer.

If you're looking at Mike Miller's recs, remember he's more than a bit obsessive.

Thanks bud, I was pulling all of this from Mike Miller's recs. It looks like I can hold off on some of this stuff, which is good news. The whole reason I spent a few extra thousand on the car was because it was lower mileage. I was a little bothered thinking I needed all these fluids already, because in that case I may have well just saved $5k on the car and bought one with 80k miles rather than 39k.

Originally Posted by robthewrench

What document or manual are you using for the maintenance recommendations?

While some of the ones you list are correct, others are not. For example, I don't believe I've ever seen a schedule with the transmission fluid at 44K miles.

I'd recommend you look in the owner's manual or pelican parts, etc...

Thanks, before I bought the car I asked on here for a maintenance schedule and I was directed to Mike Miller's guide, so that's where I pulled all of this from.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by eyehategod

Hey All,

Looking for some advice here. I bought a 2012 E92 335i xdrive back in December with 39k miles on it. I'm coming up on 44k a few months later. Since I bought the car, I've done -> oil change + filter, brake rotors + pads, coil packs and spark plugs, swaybar endlinks, control arm replacement, KW coilovers, new wheels and tires. The car feels incredible now, and it's not posting any codes. I do get some weird fluctuations in the RPM sometimes when I start the car, which always settles down and never seems to have any impact once I start driving.

Basically after all this time and $ put into the car's suspension and whatnot, I feel excited to MHD tune + some bolt ons and an xHP flash. But then I decided to look up the recommended maintenance schedule, and with me at 44k miles I'm seeing pretty much every oil and fluid in the car needs to be flushed and changed:

brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid, rear + front differential fluids, xdrive transfer case fluid, transmission fluid. Plus a walnut blast?

I'm all for maintaining this car, I'm just wondering if I'm overdoing it or if I really should get all of this taken care of before any kind of tune. I want to do this stuff because I plan to drive it up to around 100k miles, but it's my first summer with it and I'm anxious to eek some more power out of it and go driving.

Attachment 1809097

At 44k, you need :

Walnut blast (do every other year)
Get a catch can & RB PCV valve & cap
Buy your own walnut blast kit for around $200.00

Power steering fluid at 50k

Transmission fluid - 100k
Differential - 100k
Coolant - 100k
Transaxle - 100k

If you wanted to change thinks out at 75k. Vs 100k, due to the fact that you are tuning the car, it couldn't hurt.

To do all of this now, is complete overkill.

[eyehategod]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

At 44k, you need :

Walnut blast (do every other year)
Get a catch can & RB PCV valve & cap
Buy your own walnut blast kit for around $200.00

Power steering fluid at 50k

Transmission fluid - 100k
Differential - 100k
Coolant - 100k
Transaxle - 100k

If you wanted to change thinks out at 75k. Vs 100k, due to the fact that you are tuning the car, it couldn't hurt.

To do all of this now, is complete overkill.

Thanks for writing this up for me, really appreciate it! Can you point me in the direction of a DIY + parts (I usually use FCP Euro) for the "RB PCV valve and cap" on an N55? I'm finding stuff for N54, as per usual not finding much about the N55.

I did find this from another post, "The N55 PCV system is permanently integrated/sealed into the valve cover and is generally non-serviceable"
Soooo, this doesn't apply to me?

I'm running xHP Stage 3 and MHD Stage 1+ on stock parts right now, but I've got an intercooler and a charge pipe on the way. I'm thinking adding an oil catch can to that order might be a good idea. I also did new front rotors + pads, and I've got new rear rotors on the way as well. Would you recommend brake fluid at the same time or can I hold off?

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

At 44k, you need :

Walnut blast (do every other year)
Get a catch can & RB PCV valve & cap
Buy your own walnut blast kit for around $200.00

While many people advocate this, CBU very much seems to be related to driving styles. My son's 2007 335i didn't need it in 130K miles, and my 335d is at 130K and has never needed it. YMMV, but I prefer monitoring this problem and doing it when necessary only.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by eyehategod

...

Would you recommend brake fluid at the same time or can I hold off?

If you're tracking it, you should be changing the brake fluid at least after every track day. Some prefer changing to a track high performance fluid before tracking, and going back to street afterwards.

Otherwise, every two years is generally more than enough.

[Delta0311]

A lot of guys here are posting in regards to the N54. The N55 DOES not need walnut blasting at 40k miles. It is not prone to carbon build up like the N54. At your mileage the only think you should do is plugs, brake fluid, and coolant.

Tranny, differentials, and transfer case (if xdrive) dont have to be done till around 50-60k miles.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by eyehategod

Thanks for writing this up for me, really appreciate it! Can you point me in the direction of a DIY + parts (I usually use FCP Euro) for the "RB PCV valve and cap" on an N55? I'm finding stuff for N54, as per usual not finding much about the N55.

I did find this from another post, "The N55 PCV system is permanently integrated/sealed into the valve cover and is generally non-serviceable"
Soooo, this doesn't apply to me?

I'm running xHP Stage 3 and MHD Stage 1+ on stock parts right now, but I've got an intercooler and a charge pipe on the way. I'm thinking adding an oil catch can to that order might be a good idea. I also did new front rotors + pads, and I've got new rear rotors on the way as well. Would you recommend brake fluid at the same time or can I hold off?

You have to ask Rob Beck (RB) about the PCV system for an N55.

http://rbturbo.com

As far as brake fluid, I'd go ahead and do a brake flush. Your gonna have to bleed it anyway. When you bleed it, you'll go through 20oz of fluid, if you do it right. To do a brake flush, you need 30 to 40oz.

I have an Amsoil membership that gives me 25% off. You can purchase as many years as possible. You can build up points that transfers into $$ and use those $$ on purchases once you have built up a few $$ in your account.

I use Amsoil Dot 4 racing brake fluid.

http://www.syntheticsusa.com/rjwoil/

Amsoil makes every fluid for your car expect the transaxle, which is proprietary by BMW.


If you are gonna tune the car, you will go through oil and twice the rate of someone who isn't tuned. In fact, Tuning cuts the life of spark plugs, coils, and injectors, in half.

Catch can - look into Mishimoto or BMS

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

While many people advocate this, CBU very much seems to be related to driving styles. My son's 2007 335i didn't need it in 130K miles, and my 335d is at 130K and has never needed it. YMMV, but I prefer monitoring this problem and doing it when necessary only.

A diesel wouldn't need walnut blasting.

[Blueeyesredpanda]

Did my transfer case fluid @ 60000km it was already black,
Transmission changed @ 73000km, it was dark red so it was the right time

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

A diesel wouldn't need walnut blasting.

You are (unfortunately for all 10,000 335d owners, and all the X5d owners) completely wrong. If you don't believe me, go to the diesel subforum (N47/M57) and search for CBU.

Remember, diesels are the ORIGINAL direct injection engines.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

You are (unfortunately for all 10,000 335d owners, and all the X5d owners) completely wrong. If you don't believe me, go to the diesel subforum (N47/M57) and search for CBU.

Remember, diesels are the ORIGINAL direct injection engines.

Well, take off the intake cover of the 07 335i and take a picture of it, and prove that it never needed a walnut blast the entire 114,000 miles. Therefore, your theory of how you drive it is correct. It's s little ludicrously think that after 114,000 miles the intake valves on an n54 motor still look relatively good and carbon free given the very nature of how direct injection works.

[biz77]

Originally Posted by eyehategod

Hey All,

I'm seeing pretty much every oil and fluid in the car needs to be flushed and changed:

brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid, rear + front differential fluids, xdrive transfer case fluid, transmission fluid. Plus a walnut blast?

I'm all for maintaining this car, I'm just wondering if I'm overdoing it or if I really should get all of this taken care of before any kind of tune. I want to do this stuff because I plan to drive it up to around 100k miles, but it's my first summer with it and I'm anxious to eek some more power out of it and go driving.

I would do all of the fluids you listed except the transmission. I would personally do that around 60,000 miles. Walnut blast won't be needed on a N55 until well past 80,000. Valvetronic and the PCV system on the 2nd generation BMW GDI motors has really helped with the carbon deposit issue you see on the first generation engines. The downside, as you mentioned, is the PCV is built into the valve cover and will probably need to be replaced before the 100K mark.

[GB-335xiCoupe]

Originally Posted by biz77

I would do all of the fluids you listed except the transmission. I would personally do that around 60,000 miles. Walnut blast won't be needed on a N55 until well past 80,000. Valvetronic and the PCV system on the 2nd generation BMW GDI motors has really helped with the carbon deposit issue you see on the first generation engines. The downside, as you mentioned, is the PCV is built into the valve cover and will probably need to be replaced before the 100K mark.

I'm at 206,000 miles on my N55 (2011 e92). I've changed transmission fluid once at 100k, and am about to do it again next week. No problems yet with transmission, I just figure it is time. Same with transfer case fluid. Might as well do that since I'll be under the car anyway.
BTW AutoZone will take all these used ATF and Transfer case fluids and recycle them for free!

Had walnut blast at 101k, and it really didn't even need it. I opened the intake manifold up at 200k and it looked the same as when I had it blasted at 101k. So I just closed it back up.

Just make sure you change the engine oil and filter regularly. I suggest LiquiMoly 5W-40 every 8-10k miles. Really, other than the water pump at about 90k, I've had a very reliable experience with my car. Maybe just lucky in that respect.