[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

As of last May, I have experienced two free services at the one year and two year mark. The first service seemed ok - oil change, filter, wash job, etc.

The second free service last month was not impressive. Yeah, they changed the oil, but the overall experience left me with the strong impression that my car was a rush job. Industry-wide, it is not uncommon for service providers of just about anything to rush a bit. After all, few manufacturers pay their servicing dealers their going labor rates.

Even the manner in which I was treated at the counter was below what would expect from BMW. They seemed to barely have time for me.

Meanwhile, my Mercedes Benz dealer/servicer down the street treats me and my GLK350 like kings. Truly 5-star from beginning to end.

Hopefully that type of service won't happen to me. I've known the SA for over 16 years. She worked for Saab and now BMW. At some point,I'll go in for my free car wash and see what happens.

[JP Medina]

I´ve had my car for a year and a half, our (mexican-euro spec) cars basic oil change is set at 24000 km (about 15000 miles)- nonsense in a 100 degree city for half a year- wich I have not reached.
So, in the 3 (we get 3 not 4) year free maintenance period, I may visit the dealer once for an oil change.
I could not agree more with you, OP.... BS
Just wait for this free period to be over..... Your car will beg for dealer visits.

[Ramos]

The conclusion for me is that I will only lease and not worry about it!

I do want to own an M2 though and keep it longer term.. Just have to be prepared to follow the old school maintenance out of pocket..

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by Ramos

You make good points, I am not blaming the dealer and certainly wasn't expecting to get work done just because I'm asking for it.

I'm frustrated with BMW intervals which to me seem way too long .. Maybe I'm wrong about the plugs lasting 50k, but I drive hard and track my car occasionally. My expectation of a 30k interval was based on a bad experience with the N54 plugs

Now not replacing an intake air filter for 50k is something I will never be ok with and I have already paid for that out of pocket.

If you are leasing, the who cares (unless you plan on keeping the car). Do their intervals, and let them replace things as they fail. If you buy the car, I would definitely supplement the maintenance.

Air filter/etc.

With 2017, they went one step further and made the maintenance plan even more useless I guess. Now you gotta pay for brakes, wiper inserts etc. So its really just oil changes I think. Kind of not worth it anymore really. I am sure they offer the other services for prepay now. At least the nice aspect with that stuff still is you can most likely negotiate it into the price if you really wanted to.

But its just an extra pain to deal with.

[Ramos]

That's exactly my point, the maintenance plan is really only worth $400 now, 3 oil changes.
It's not a selling point or any extra value compared to the other luxury brands.

But the other point is that with things like filters and plugs, even if you don't plan to keep the car beyond a lease term or 50k miles, there will be diminished performance long before there is a failure. I like you keep my cars performing at their best the entire time I have them.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Ramos

That's exactly my point, the maintenance plan is really only worth $400 now, 3 oil changes.
It's not a selling point or any extra value compared to the other luxury brands.

But the other point is that with things like filters and plugs, even if you don't plan to keep the car beyond a lease term or 50k miles, there will be diminished performance long before there is a failure. I like you keep my cars performing at their best the entire time I have them.

3 oil changes are $270 here

[thb229]

As far as maintenance cost goes, I agree with BMWZ4 in that my wife's Lexus cost to service is every bit as high as BMW. Her car was 10 years old and cost over 50k new then. No "free" services. Go in for oil change minor service for $300.00. I'll stick with my 2016 M235i xDrive and risk only tires for 4 years/50k. My wife got her 2016 X3 a few months ago, trading in her Lexus. BMW had extra 2k back on the car from the factory. The warranty was a big part of her decision. The X3 28i xDrive drives and rides incredible and she loves it. 2017 BMW's now are just 3years/36k with just oil changes. She opted for the 2016-no Apple CarPlay but she doesn't care. I do. lol

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by Ramos

That's exactly my point, the maintenance plan is really only worth $400 now, 3 oil changes.
It's not a selling point or any extra value compared to the other luxury brands.

But the other point is that with things like filters and plugs, even if you don't plan to keep the car beyond a lease term or 50k miles, there will be diminished performance long before there is a failure. I like you keep my cars performing at their best the entire time I have them.

With a 2014 you should have more included. I am pretty certain brakes are part of our service interval, you could always complain of reduced performance I suppose, and they will check out some of the issues. It unfortunately comes down to relationship with your dealer in the end.

If you have a good relationship, they will typically help you out in a lot of ways, if not, then you tend to be out of luck.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

With a 2014 you should have more included. I am pretty certain brakes are part of our service interval, you could always complain of reduced performance I suppose, and they will check out some of the issues. It unfortunately comes down to relationship with your dealer in the end.

If you have a good relationship, they will typically help you out in a lot of ways, if not, then you tend to be out of luck.

They will not replace your brakes if you complain on reduced performance. Brakes are replaced when they wear out. With somewhat heavy street brake use you might kill them before the maintenance is out around 45k miles

[RidingAgin]

Interesting reading all the comments on maintenance. I have about 1100 miles on my M235xi and will be changing the oil this next week as it arrived via UPS today. I like cleaning out the assembly residue with a quick oil change. All the new cars I have had new always had oil early changes. Cheap insurance. One of my first jobs was reliability manager for an electric motor mfr. Bearing life was triple with Mobil 1 vs Dino oils, and that was 40 years ago. Syn oil craps out if it gets dirty. I'll change the plugs per mfr unless performance is suffering. 50K seems reasonable for a car. My old 99 truck goes 100K, but motorcycles are 12 or 16K as the plugs are out for valve checks. I've done most of my work on autos the last 40+ years, by do it it yourself you know what has been done. Changing the V8 spark plugs is a real PIA on a F150 5.4l but I know they were all changed and torqued correctly. An oil change on a 50K $ auto is the best insurance I can think.

[five3three]

I've definitely gotten a lot out of free maintenance. So far for me at 30,000 miles I've had:

Front brake pads replaced twice (at 10k and 30k)
Rear brake pads replaced once (at 30k)
Three oil changes
Three sets of wipers

I think I had the air filters done too but can't recall at the current moment. I did pay out of pocket for brake fluid change b/c I didn't want to wait until next year for that.

For my next BMW, I would pay the 700 or whatever to upgrade the maintenance plan as I am one that definitely gets the value out of it.

[keylime503]

If you're leasing then who cares? If the car breaks down during your lease due to their negligent maintenance, it's on them to fix it not you.

[dalrx]

I don't see what the issue is. with two bmw now all I got was conditional oil.changes and filter replacements when the car said it was due. that is all bmw would ever do and no issues. breaks wipers clutch spark plugs were all on my dime... why should you get any better treatment when rest of world has this already....welcome to the real world now.

[Kolyan2k]

Been watching a foreign YouTube channel, every mechanic there recommended changing all lifetime fluids in car. Also said they have crazy amount of BMWs coming in with dead engines due to oil changes at 10-15k intervals. Said even 10k interval is only good for ideal conditions with ideal grade oil and gasoline. They have BMWs coming in with less then 50k miles and needing new engines due to poor dirty oil circulation

[Rayscott]

My mechanic who specializes in German cars says not to wait for the factory specified oil changes on my 228ix. He said to go somewhere in between. BMW calls for oil change at 15K.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

My mechanic who specializes in German cars says not to wait for the factory specified oil changes on my 228ix. He said to go somewhere in between. BMW calls for oil change at 15K.

10k now

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Ramos

That's exactly my point, the maintenance plan is really only worth $400 now, 3 oil changes.
It's not a selling point or any extra value compared to the other luxury brands.

But the other point is that with things like filters and plugs, even if you don't plan to keep the car beyond a lease term or 50k miles, there will be diminished performance long before there is a failure. I like you keep my cars performing at their best the entire time I have them.

This prediction is completely contrary to my experience with recommended/paid maintenance schedules.

[raleedy]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

My mechanic who specializes in German cars says not to wait for the factory specified oil changes on my 228ix. He said to go somewhere in between. BMW calls for oil change at 15K.

On my 228i the interval is 10K miles, more or less (depending on computer-based indicators).

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

The value of the free maintenance has certainly diminished over the years. Some minor value add still left in it, particularly for those that are leasing, free oil changes for the duration you own it is something.

I no longer see the maintenance plan as being much of a factor in the decision process, if any.

Keep in mind, whenever I go to the dealer for "free" maintenance, I always get a loaner car. This makes it really convenient to get simple stuff done like oil changes. Not being a loser "waiter" at the dealership is priceless.

[Fugly M3]

I remember my NA 987.2 base cayman had spark plugs every 40k miles...though it was common knowledge they weren't needed that soon...I would think a forced induction direct injection engine would need plugs sooner than 50k...BMWs thoughts are likely: "most people lease, so who cares?"

[Anthony235]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Care to comment why BMW introduced 15k oil intervals and then switched back to 10k? Maybe you believe in lifetime fluids too?

What about carbon buildup in almost all DI engines? Do you even know that N54 has to be taken apart and intake valves have to be cleaned like every 40k or so because of the bad engine design?

Where does all this nonsense come from? 2000 Honda plugs last 100k miles, 2013 or whatever BMW with N54 engine calls for plugs every 45k per BMW

This isn't a Honda Civic forum with old school port injection engines that make 140hp, BMW and others develop new technologies in order to make more power, use less fuel, and spend less money doing it. That why you have turbo DI motors that are relatively new and require much more maintenance then Civic and obviously break more often

Are you comparing a Civic engine to a s2k engine?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Anthony235

Are you comparing a Civic engine to a s2k engine?

Comparing port injected Japanese engines to direct injected Germans. Night and day difference in reliability and maintenance