[kosmokratur]

Hi all - I am considering taking my 55K M550i (2018) to a US dealer for some Mike Miller-style old school maintenance. I want this done at a dealer at this relatively low mileage, to try to preserve some BMW NA good will. Any idea of what I might expect to pay?

Change brake fluid

- Change ATF (and filter if applicable) s

- Change power steering fluid (filter?)

- Replace fuel filter

- Change transfer case fluid

- Change differential fluid

- Change serpentine belt/tensioner

Thanks for any input!!!

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

Hi all - I am considering taking my 55K M550i (2018) to a US dealer for some Mike Miller-style old school maintenance. I want this done at a dealer at this relatively low mileage, to try to preserve some BMW NA good will. Any idea of what I might expect to pay?

Change brake fluid

- Change ATF (and filter if applicable) s

- Change power steering fluid (filter?)

- Replace fuel filter

- Change transfer case fluid

- Change differential fluid

- Change serpentine belt/tensioner

Thanks for any input!!!

Drivetrain fluid (ATF Transfer Case and if AWD both differential fluids) at 50-60k

Tensioner and belt if there doesn't seem to be wear, I'd let it be.

There's no power steering on the G30s

Fuel filter? That's a thing?

[kosmokratur]

PS fluid - oops, of course not. I feel stupid.

There has to be some sort of fuel filtration element. Is it just a screen in the tank?

[kosmokratur]

So I went to the dealer today. I was surprised when they said they would be willing to change any fluids I requested. Then they priced them out: ATF: $1196. Transfer case fluid: $457. Diff fluid (both): $896. Belt & tensioner: $782. 8 spark plugs: $729.

They found that the flex disk was bad and quoted $934. Cabin air filters are $275, engine air filters are $262. I decided to wait on all this stuff (except for the flex disk) until I actually hit 60K miles.

Does anyone have a sense of whether these are reasonable prices? He explained that the ATF costs about $100/liter (Pelican seems to have it in the factory bottle for $53 so I guess it might be $100 with dealer mark-up).

[kosmokratur]

... or am I crazy not to jump on the chance to have a dealer do this stuff, before thy change their mind?

[cna90]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

... or am I crazy not to jump on the chance to have a dealer do this stuff, before thy change their mind?

As for dealer pricing they're reasonable. Only spark plugs seems maybe $100 more. You can get them done somewhere else cheaper for sure. Specially if you go OE vs OEM.

I don't see any reason why they'd change their mind. They would do it anytime you'd ask them to. They're getting paid right!

[kosmokratur]

It is just that, in my previous experience, nobody has ever wanted to touch transmission fluid.

[srybicki]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

So I went to the dealer today. I was surprised when they said they would be willing to change any fluids I requested. Then they priced them out: ATF: $1196. Transfer case fluid: $457. Diff fluid (both): $896. Belt & tensioner: $782. 8 spark plugs: $729.

They found that the flex disk was bad and quoted $934. Cabin air filters are $275, engine air filters are $262. I decided to wait on all this stuff (except for the flex disk) until I actually hit 60K miles.

Does anyone have a sense of whether these are reasonable prices? He explained that the ATF costs about $100/liter (Pelican seems to have it in the factory bottle for $53 so I guess it might be $100 with dealer mark-up).

That's just crazy

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

So I went to the dealer today. I was surprised when they said they would be willing to change any fluids I requested. Then they priced them out: ATF: $1196. Transfer case fluid: $457. Diff fluid (both): $896. Belt & tensioner: $782. 8 spark plugs: $729.

They found that the flex disk was bad and quoted $934. Cabin air filters are $275, engine air filters are $262. I decided to wait on all this stuff (except for the flex disk) until I actually hit 60K miles.

Does anyone have a sense of whether these are reasonable prices? He explained that the ATF costs about $100/liter (Pelican seems to have it in the factory bottle for $53 so I guess it might be $100 with dealer mark-up).

$729 to change spark plugs??? Check this out: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ch-12120047946
$72 DIY.

$275 for cabin air filters wtf. Check this out https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...hr-64115a1bdb6.
$75~ DIY

$262 for engine air filter? Mannnnn. Check this out https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-13718699811

[kosmokratur]

the air filters and spark plugs.
I am considering getting a tune once my CPO runs out, so that will affect my plug choice. I can just install the plugs of my choice, and the air filters, myself.
I lack a lift so I did let them do the fluids. The actual cost of the trans fluid change came in around $500, which I think is a reasonable cost for knowing a dealer technician did it. They were great about it - they gave me box with all the extra fluid and even the old drain plugs. It seems like 99% of owners don't do this maintenance.

[kosmokratur]

... also, I have a couple months of CPO left. If the fluid change causes a transmission failure, I at least have an argument.

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

So I went to the dealer today. I was surprised when they said they would be willing to change any fluids I requested. Then they priced them out: ATF: $1196. Transfer case fluid: $457. Diff fluid (both): $896. Belt & tensioner: $782. 8 spark plugs: $729.

They found that the flex disk was bad and quoted $934. Cabin air filters are $275, engine air filters are $262. I decided to wait on all this stuff (except for the flex disk) until I actually hit 60K miles.

Does anyone have a sense of whether these are reasonable prices? He explained that the ATF costs about $100/liter (Pelican seems to have it in the factory bottle for $53 so I guess it might be $100 with dealer mark-up).

I agree with your approach to maintenance, as I am of the same mindset. For example, I have a 2008 QX56 bought new, and have done complete fluid replacements at 40k and 60k miles (now have about 71k miles on it). At Nissan dealerships I have paid roughly $1k for flushes of two differentials, one transmission, one transfer case, PS, brakes, oil, and coolant.

When it comes to our BMWs, I maintain them in a similar fashion, just not at the dealership. I have a great independent shop in South FL that while not cheap, is still way cheaper than a dealer. When I do a similar fluid flush on any of my RWD BMWs, I usually spend in the neighborhood of $1k. So, close to the cost of the Infiniti but with fewer components that need fluids. Still, that is way cheaper than what you were quoted. At my last visit to BMW in Delray Beach, the shop rate was $285 per hour! My independent is about $100 per hour cheaper.

(BTW, I think the Delray shop manager was actually disappointed when he could find no leaks in my high mileage e91).

Regarding spark plugs, FCP Euro sells a plug & coil kit for most six cylinder BMW motors at around $250. In other words, $250 for six plugs and six coils, with a lifetime warranty. Last time I bought a single coil at BMW it was about $150. So, I do my own plug and coil swaps at around 60k miles for turbo motors, 100k miles for non-turbo. Takes about an hour, including putting tools away and washing my hands.

FCP has cabin and engine air filters for less than $50, so I do those myself for every car in December.

[Mosaud1998]

I've been following Mike Millers' maintenance book since my E90. So, once I hit 50k-60k miles, I'll be doing spark plugs/coils myself. I'll have my indy shop do the transmission fluid, transfer case, and both differential.

I'm not sure if I should have the oil changed at BMW since I am still under warranty or do it myself with BMW-approved 5W-30 LL-01. But, oil changes every 6 months or 5k miles. BMW dealers use I think 0w-20 or 0w-30 which to me seems too thin. Plus, I can care less about fuel economy. I'd rather have better oil film strength. So, LL-01>LL-01 FE

Coolant flush/change I'll just have my indy do it every 2 years. It's like $90~. I did the rear differential on my E90 myself. Didn't need a jack. I just crawled underneath.

I don't think I'll have the time nor patience this time round to do it in the 540.

[kosmokratur]

I couple weeks ago, I took the jalopy to my favorite dealer for some fluid changes, and promptly sent samples to Blackstone. My 2018 M550 had about 56000 miles at the time.

To simplify, they advised me that the LL-01FE with 8500 miles (yes, I pushed it) was fine and that I could try extending it to 11,000 (which is what the service computer says, too). I don't think I will actually do that since I intend to keep the vehicle in perpetuity.

They said that the transmission fluid and rear diff fluid were good, and recommended changing both of them after another 70-75K miles. (((That rang a bell - the diff in my 1997 540/6 received its Royal Purple nearly 200,000 miles ago. Oops.)))

The front diff fluid was another story- they were concerned and said I should "sample" (change) it after 20K more.

The transfer case fluid got lost in the shuffle but I will be doing that in a few days.
Everything else seems so happy - I wonder what's up with that front diff? Guessing they are not cheap to replace... but I'm guessing it won't actually go TU for a few more years.
Anyway, I hope my experience is helpful to others...

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

I couple weeks ago, I took the jalopy to my favorite dealer for some fluid changes, and promptly sent samples to Blackstone. My 2018 M550 had about 56000 miles at the time.

To simplify, they advised me that the LL-01FE with 8500 miles (yes, I pushed it) was fine and that I could try extending it to 11,000 (which is what the service computer says, too). I don't think I will actually do that since I intend to keep the vehicle in perpetuity.

They said that the transmission fluid and rear diff fluid were good, and recommended changing both of them after another 70-75K miles. (((That rang a bell - the diff in my 1997 540/6 received its Royal Purple nearly 200,000 miles ago. Oops.)))

The front diff fluid was another story- they were concerned and said I should "sample" (change) it after 20K more.

The transfer case fluid got lost in the shuffle but I will be doing that in a few days.
Everything else seems so happy - I wonder what's up with that front diff? Guessing they are not cheap to replace... but I'm guessing it won't actually go TU for a few more years.
Anyway, I hope my experience is helpful to others...

LL-01 FE 0W-20 was okay?

[kosmokratur]

Yes, they said it was well within spec at 8500 miles and thought I could push it to 11K (which I won't).
I don't commute in traffic and I'm in chilly W. NY. FWIW.