XSeries-forum

I have an E46 M3 which I've always worked on myself as I enjoy it and know it's done properly.

DIY is not an option on the X5 as I want to maintain the full BMW history but knowing I can get the parts for £80 and easily do it myself in 20 minutes, I'm struggling to justify paying BMW almost £200 more just for a stamp!

Don't get me wrong, I'm aware of and used to high running costs on a premium car like an M3 or an X5 but what BMW are charging (£265) seems a bit extreme for any car, just to do an oil service.

I guess the point of my post is to ask what most people do? Do you just suck it up and use BMW? Or use someone like kwik fit who would be much cheaper?

Also, my car is on 80k miles and will certainly be over 100k by the time I sell it. At that point, is full BMW history really that important? Using kwik fit would still maintain full history, it just wouldn't be full BMW.

I always do mine (no bmw warranty on my 2).
What i do is i keep a folder with the receipt for every thing i buy for the car.
When i do the job i write the date and the millage on the receipt.
Done this for many many years 40+ and when i have sold a car the buyer has been impressed more with my records than the service book stamps from the first owners. 

I get mine done at my local BMW indie. [I still get the book stamped, so its recorded],,,,NOT kwik fit,, i personally wouldnt trust kwikfit  with anything other that tyres...
I also do an interim oil change, [myself],,,at 10k miles. and dont leave it till the aprox 20k mile recomended interval....

[quote="Alan Gunn"]
I always do mine (no bmw warranty on my 2).
What i do is i keep a folder with the receipt for every thing i buy for the car.
When i do the job i write the date and the millage on the receipt.
Done this for many many years 40+ and when i have sold a car the buyer has been impressed more with my records than the service book stamps from the first owners.
[/quote]

That is exactly what I do with my M3, but it had long lost it's full BMW history by the time I bought it so it was a simple decision. With my X5, I've got a chance to maintain the full BMW history which is where the dilemma is.

I have an aftermarket warranty which stipulates the car must be maintained in accordance with BMW schedule, it doesn't have to be done at BMW though. So i guess due to the warranty, it rules out doing it myself.

[quote="Nine468"]
I get mine done at my local BMW indie. [I still get the book stamped, so its recorded],,,,NOT kwik fit,, i personally wouldnt trust kwikfit  with anything other that tyres...
I also do an interim oil change, [myself],,,at 10k miles. and dont leave it till the aprox 20k mile recomended interval....
[/quote]

Having done oil changes every 5/6k miles on the M3, I was a bit shocked to see a 20k interval on the X5, it just seems way too long?

Having said that, it must be ok for this car due to the fact they have gone with the longer intervals even though it makes them less money (as less oil changes needed).

I might do what you do and get it done 'properly' every 20k miles in order to keep the service history full, and also keep my warranty valid. But in between at 10k, do an 'off the book' oil change myself.

E46 - diy and has been for 5 years now.

E71 - under warranty so BMW, though I might do a change in between depending upon annual mileage.

Use a good BMW Specialist - don't use kwik fit!

The only reason I mentioned kwik fit is because my local one is actually pretty competent, the manager is an ex bmw mechanic so knows BMW’s very well.

Generally though I agree, if I was paying for the work I would rather take my car to a specialist then a chain or even bmw themselves.

...same as Allan, I do mine myself, had an E53 before and kept a good record etc and just brought an E70 shadow with 106k and fbmwsh and will also be doing 50k ish in this one servicing it myself on the way.
The major service was a 4 hr job on the E53 due to removal of the under tray to get to the post tank diesel filter and the airbox was a faff too. Not done this one as yet as there is 10k miles left but I will do it long before that for piece of mind.