[John 070]

I think it's everything we've suspected. It's not designed for people who own their cars. I changed my cabin microfilter and I have two dealership service invoices which state it was not changed with oil. The old filter was black with all kinds of things stuck in it, pretty bad. It took all of 6 min. and $22 for a MANN filter to replace, yet BMW doesn't change it in my case for 2 1/2 yrs. under the free maintenance, I take it to save them $$$.

for those who would consider extending the maintenance, why pay more for the same lousy maintenance that you got the first 4 years of ownership?

[blacknbean]

the cabin filter is changed per CBS, so whatever CBS says they do. nothing more, nothing less. and yes its a lot easier and cheaper to do most stuff yourself.

[JayKay335i]

I asked them to change mine and they did.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by blacknbean

the cabin filter is changed per CBS, so whatever CBS says they do. nothing more, nothing less. and yes its a lot easier and cheaper to do most stuff yourself.

I suppose the only thing affected is what goes into your cabin, whereas it would be foolish to not change your furnace filter and then get a new compressor (those Puron units with the 16 SEER 5 ton are not cheap, don't ask how I know). What I saw defied common sense--black with all kinds of stuff trapped in it.

But BMW has a lease/extended maintenance/extended warranty business model.

Anyone who buys into the DIY or pay for an interval oil change, take the 6 min. and $22 it costs to buy a replacement MANN and just do it imho. Even if you lease, you're breathing that in. They also didn't do the "intake silencer" aka air filter. I put in a Mahle whose numbers match what came out--hopefully my mpg's are restored even though BMW thinks it's fine as it is.

[Coolieman1220]

They didn't change my air filter cause the CBS didn't say to. i was like wtf? u serious?

[ErvGotti]

Hmmm I wonder if it's different dealer to dealer? They replaced mine and the brake fluid. What they used on the invoice was:

1. Customer states air conditioner would not cool...Replaced cabin air filter.

2. Customer states brakes feel soft...Drained and flushed brake fluid.

I did not state any of this, they told me it was part of routine maintanance and I guess this is what they wrote it up as to get BMW to replace it. I'm not bitching and am glad they did it this way because I'm getting the service that I paid for before BMW decided to change their maintance schedule.

[M340i Pride]

when i asked my SA, he changed the cabin filter when i went in for brake fluid change.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by John 070

for those who would consider extending the maintenance, why pay more for the same lousy maintenance that you got the first 4 years of ownership?

Give this man a beer and a cigar.

[ceb]

Originally Posted by tibra1

Give this man a beer and a cigar.

It depends on how many miles you drive and what you paid for the extended maintenance.

The maintenance always includes what is in the owner's manual, so there are time based items (brake fluid for example) or CBS based stuff (oil or filters)

The ext maintenance is 6 years or 100k miles. Accordingly, if you drive those miles) you'll get at least one set of brakes, one brake flush and about three oil changes - about $2200 - $2400 at the dealer not including tax. You don't pay tax on the extended warranty so that is a savings as well.

I think most people paid about $1750 or so for the ext maintenance. For a high mileage driver who wants no DIY or hassles from finding an indy then the plan may be worthwhile.

[brio]

I purchased the ext. maint. pkg for $2100 when I bought my '06 330i in '08 w/38k mls. I do mostly highway miles(abt 70mls/day) and now have 90k mls. I've only had wiper inserts, 2 brake fluid flushes and 3 oil changes so far. No brake pads replaced, nor spark plugs and it expires in 9/2011. Acording to the in car Service Req., I won't need brakes or plugs until sometime in Dec. 2011 or early next year. So, IMO, if you get a CPO car, like I did and you do mostly highway, it's not worth getting the ext. maint. pkg.

[David1]

On my X5 I have used plenty of the free maintenance. in 2 1/2 years and 46k miles I have had the oil changes, wiper blades every year, cabin filter, brake fluid change, pads and rotors all around. My last free service will be oil change and an engine air filter. Now on my 335 I hardly drive it so I won't get much, but in 5k miles it has had 3 oil changes, brake fluid change and a cabin filter since the CBS said to change it based on time. the car is only 2 years old.

[brio]

Originally Posted by David1

On my X5 I have used plenty of the free maintenance. in 2 1/2 years and 46k miles I have had the oil changes, wiper blades every year, cabin filter, brake fluid change, pads and rotors all around. My last free service will be oil change and an engine air filter. Now on my 335 I hardly drive it so I won't get much, but in 5k miles it has had 3 oil changes, brake fluid change and a cabin filter since the CBS said to change it based on time. the car is only 2 years old.

It really depends on the vehicle type and driving characteristics.

[Eights-n-Aces]

Oh...shock...OP is insinuating that that free maintenance program is a sham and simply a marketing ploy...what to do...what to do?