[MCL_24]

Hoping you guys could point me to the service schedule for my 2019 540xi. I've been searching around but haven't been able to find it for some reason.

I purchased my car CPO 11 months ago with 26,500 miles. Today it has 31,800 and I recently got a message on the dash about needing an oil change. I come from the camp of usually changing oil a bit sooner than necessary... but idk I wasn't expecting the on board system to recommend it until 7.5 or 10k after the last change (which was right around 26.5k mi when the dealer CPO'd the car). It has been just about a year so maybe it was due to time.. which is another reason I wanted to get it changed.

Anyway - I went to my indy mechanic and they changed it today. Cost was $160 which I wasn't too sure how to feel about. Didn't realize the engine takes 7qts of oil though and the breakdown was $130 for oil/filter and $30 for labor... so I was ok with it.

They told me that since the car has 30k mi now - BMW recommends brake fluid being changed, but they said it could most likely go longer since it was Dot4. I actually just checked service records and it looks like it was flushed/changed by the previous owner at 22k mi so I should be good there.

The next thing the said was BMW recommends the spark plugs get changed every 30k miles so I was due for that. I trust them, but it seemed like a very short interval to me.. so wanted to check the official service schedule.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

[ezaircon4jc]

All that info should be in the owners manual. You can also go here:

https://www.bmwusa.com/owners-manuals.html

My dealer charges $99.99 for an oil change. The interval is 1 year or 10K miles. The brake fluid is every (IIRC) two years, regardless of mileage (brake fluid is hydroscopic) and the plug interval is definitely longer than 30K miles. Seems like your indy isn't so trustworthy.

[MCL_24]

Agree this info should be in the owners manual. I started my search on page 333 ‘Maintenance’ and then it brought me to page 146 ‘Service Requirements’ but doesn’t actually give any specifics besides checking the onboard computer of the car. Guess I’ll check there but imagine there has to be a written service schedule somewhere online.

What have you seen in regards to spark plug intervals?

[srybicki]

Oil 1 year 10k
Plugs 60 to 100k
Brake fluid 2 years
Airfilter 30k

All other fluids 60k

[RonronEG]

My BMW dealer offered the spark service at 45k. I did it myself in about 15 min (ridiculously easy on the 540) but had a tune incoming and wanted fresh plugs. They looked like they could've gone another 45k when I pulled them FWIW.

Tested my brake fluid and it was at 2% water content (it's hygroscopic not hydroscopic, btw). Bought a meter of Amazon for $12. Had the dealer do the flush cause $190 was more than fair versus spending my time. Was at about 28mo since last change.

Oil changes- bought the $199/3yr plan from dealer. Was doing an additional out of pocket oil change at the 5k mark and having the dealer not reset the computer between the covered changes. Last 2 changes I let it go the full 8.5k. The plan is a good value if your car qualifies.

[MCL_24]

Thanks a lot for all the info. The intervals you guys are mentioning sound reasonable. Just curious if you’ve found them written out somewhere or just through discussions with the service advisers?

I recently saw a 3yr oil change deal for $225 which is still a good value imo… but yeah I’m not sure my car qualifies. Not sure exactly why it wouldn’t but it asked me to enter the VIN and then said something along the lines of No Value Service plans available.

[RonronEG]

The value oil service plan is available to cars 60months old or h with more than 60,000 miles.

I had a PDF with the service recommendations but can't find it. It was from here though so a search would probably turn it up.

[srybicki]

Sign up for the 3 year deal.
You can find it on most dealers websites

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by srybicki

Sign up for the 3 year deal.
You can find it on most dealers websites

Did for my F10. Can't turn down a "free" oil change!

[BrandonBurke]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

All that info should be in the owners manual. You can also go here:

https://www.bmwusa.com/owners-manuals.html

My dealer charges $99.99 for an oil change. The interval is 1 year or 10K miles. The brake fluid is every (IIRC) two years, regardless of mileage (brake fluid is hydroscopic) and the plug interval is definitely longer than 30K miles. Seems like your indy isn't so trustworthy.

Thank you for the link, you saved my day

[admranger]

The 3 year oil change deal is priced right, but dang it is such a PITA to go to the dealer for me. They'll keep the car overnight if I drop it off and I'll wait 2 hours or more if I am a "waiter". Plus, I just don't trust the young techs as much as doing it myself at my buddy's shop.