BMW servicing

[Zed Chimp]

So I'm no expert on car servicing but recently sent my Z4 into my local dealer for a minor service, brake fluid replacement and MOT.
When I picked it up they said they had replaced the brake fluid, done the MOT but didn't service it because the car told them it hadn't done quite enough miles (would have been nice if they had called me to discuss). So my issue is this, I can't get my head round the fact that they are telling me the car only needs servicing every 2 years or 20k miles. Call me old fashioned but I intend to keep this car long term, this as far as I know is the last of the Z4s BMW won't be making another incarnation so I think an annual or 12k miles service is the best way to get longevity out of this car.
Any views, feel free to tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Jam03]

I guess some customers (or actually, fleet managers) would complain if they did more work than the service schedule prescribed, but I think most people who care about the car long term would be doing at least annual oil services.

 

[t-tony]

Mine gets at the very least an oil and filter change once a year regardless of mileage. Brakes were renewed all round last year. Air filter and fuel filter this year.

Tony.

 

[Guinn]

I have mine given a "once over" every year, by a local mechanic I trust, and my late dear wife trained me to have oil changes every 3000 miles or close to it. As I have no place to do them myself ( one day I'll organize my shop) I have it done locally. They keep telling me I can go longer with these synthetic oils. but I keep hearing my wife's voice in my ear. Being a former aviation crew chief, I do daily inspection walk arounds and check fluids 2-3 times a week. It might be a tad unnecessary, but it makes me feel better.

 

[AleNod]

A previous Diesel (Vauxhall/Opel Zafira) had a 20,000 mile service interval and never seemed to have an issue. A BMW Specialist told me with my mileage I only needed a service every 2 years. There are people more qualified than me on the forum for a proper answer, all I would say is, an annual oil change isn't going to hurt . . .

 

[mmm-five]

Not on my Z4MC, but on my F31 3-series (I do annual or 10,000 mile servicing on it)...

Dropped it off as the computer said it needed a brake fluid and coolant refresh...but when I booked it in online I'd added an oil service, cabin filter, air filter, fuel filter as well as it was only £200 more and the car would already be in the garage and it would save me making multiple trips.

The lady on service reception double-checked the extras I'd added as their computer (based on the key reading) was saying I only needed the brake fluid & coolant.

They then they called me up a couple of hours later to tell me the computer says I only need the brake fluid and coolant doing, and I repeated what I'd booked, what I'd confirmed when I dropped it off!!!

After all this, it took them 3 months to get all the services I had carried out put onto the iDrive record - and they all show as late

 

[the Nefyn cat]

May well be time to buy a few spanners and sockets, at least you'll get done what you wanted done. Back when I was doing mechanicing for a living we tended to do what the customer wanted, not what some witless fool in front of a computer decided.

Sweet old fashioned type that I am.

 

[Duncodin]

Not on my Z4MC, but on my F31 3-series (I do annual or 10,000 mile servicing on it)...

Dropped it off as the computer said it needed a brake fluid and coolant refresh...but when I booked it in online I'd added an oil service, cabin filter, air filter, fuel filter as well as it was only £200 more and the car would already be in the garage and it would save me making multiple trips.

The lady on service reception double-checked the extras I'd added as their computer (based on the key reading) was saying I only needed the brake fluid & coolant.

They then they called me up a couple of hours later to tell me the computer says I only need the brake fluid and coolant doing, and I repeated what I'd booked, what I'd confirmed when I dropped it off!!!

After all this, it took them 3 months to get all the services I had carried out put onto the iDrive record - and they all show as late

It's the sign of the times. People don't make a personal decision anymore - more than their jobs worth to actually think - They do exactly what the computer tells them to do and then they know they ain't going to get in trouble.

It's the same with today's car mechanics. They can't diagnose a fault using their ears or by feel. They just plug it in and do what the computer tells them to do.

if you roll up at their workshop and try to tell them what the problem is they roll their eyes and tell you to 'leave it to the experts'.

 

[Chad66Wick]

May well be time to buy a few spanners and sockets, at least you'll get done what you wanted done. Back when I was doing mechanicing for a living we tended to do what the customer wanted, not what some witless fool in front of a computer decided.

Sweet old fashioned type that I am.

And the bright side is you save yourself £160 (plus VAT) per hour in the process ---- my man maths says that'll pay for enough fuel to take a long road trip to the south of France!!!!!!!!

 

[t-tony]

And the moral of the story is, take it to your local Zed Shed and meet other like minded nutters and get your hands dirty.

Tony.

 

[Duncodin]

And the moral of the story is, take it to your local Zed Shed and meet other like minded nutters and get your hands dirty.

Tony.

Maybe one of the wisest things ever said on this forum

 

[Nodzed]

12 months or 5k for mine