Mass confusion over X5 Service Intervals.

[kanewesley]

Why oh why is there such mass confusion over the service intervals of a BMW X5 ??

I have a 30.D Sport X5, 2006 Facelift model which has now 160k on the clock.

My green lights have counted down and I now have a RED and an ORANGE light on with the words OIL SERVICE boldly displayed.

The History in my service book is as follows.:-

MIleage 20470      11/09/07      Oil Service
Mileage 66793        05/11/09      Inspection I,    Air Cleaner,  Pollen Filter
Mileage  100453    28/11/11      Inspection II,  Air cleaner,    Pollen Filter
Mileage 135697      09/03/15      Inspection II,  Air Cleaner,  Pollen Filter

(I bought the car in April 2016 with 147k on the clock and plenty of green lights)

All the past MOT's seem to tally.

It's now got 160K mileage, with one orange and one red light, and Oil Service showing.

Very confused as to the complete lack of oil changes noted in the book, and with only 4 x services in 9 years, (now will be the 5th after 12 years).

The types of services don't follow any regular pattern.

I read oil has to be changes every 10k miles as of paramount importance on a diesel engine so it's a wonder mine is still running.

I cannot find anywhere, including on this site what the service regime should be.

If there has been a total lack of oil changes, what is the best advice you can give to me please.

I have owned the car for 23 months.

Can anyone help me and answer my questions please.

[X5Sport]

Oil changes and services are mileage driven, usually every 19,000 to 23,000 depending upon how you drive.  It uses a total fuel used algorithm to drive the lights (roughly 1 green per 3,000).

Condition Based Servicing drives those lights.  As long as you use the right oil there is no need to change every 10k miles (other than arguably it is good engineering).  The correct oil is 100% synthetic and compliant with BMW LL04.  OEM used to be Castrol Edge FST Professional 0w30 or 5w30.

Every second year there used to be a fluids change for brakes and coolant, though I believe it is brake fluid only now.

That is Time Based Servicing and drives the little clock symbol.

You should have had an oil change at each service but it isn’t listed separately.

[Horizon]

Testament to the 3.0d lump, still going strong at 160 K with 40 K oil change intervals

[kanewesley]

Well thanks for replies from you both but even further confused now after what I just read...

X5Sport, I just came across the following posted by yourself in reply to someone else's question

Quote:
No 'inspection 2' carried out on the diesels.....so no need to worry about that one.

If you have not already had it done though, it's worth getting the vortex oil breather changed if it's the foam bog-roll version.  An '06 it should have the updated 'vortex type' version fitted, but a number of Owners have found that they still have the earlier version which clogs and can cause engine issues.  Next time the air filter is being done, add that job to the list.

Richard


Is there not an INSPECTION II for my E53 2006 3.9D facelift model and if not why is it ticked in the service book ????

...and Horizon what you mean by "If only the transmission wasn't as hardy"??

Thanks.

[kanewesley]

Sorry 3.0D 

[X5Sport]

Different dealers seem to have done Inspection 2 where it should have been an Inspection 1.  It’s not unusual.

I think Horizon meant that is should be as hardy.  E53s are known for auto gearbox failures.

[kanewesley]

Oh dear ! even the facelift model?....thought they were sealed for life?

[kanewesley]

Thanks horizon, all new to me , didn't realise tyres had a bearing on things either .

[sleepyfolk]

Looking at your service history I would conclude that the X was used for fairly long journeys in its early life and consequently the oil services were done at 2 years as opposed to taking note of the mileage, and the dash took longer to go down to the Amber/red.
Later in its life as often happens, someone didn’t bother servicing it - maybe reset the service lights themselves and sold it on, or just serviced it themselves and didn’t stamp the book.

Lots of people still stick with 10000 miles or annual oil changes and take no notice of the lights on the dash, it is easy to reset the service interval lights and brake fluid change indicator when it comes up - no special equipment/code reader etc is required, you just use the knobs on the dash.

My advice would be to service it yourself, change the diff and transfer box oils, reset the lights and then you decide whether to trust the lights, wait for 2 years, or just do it annually, for the price of oil and filter I can’t see the point of skimping.

This extract below is how the X5 drivers manual explains it:

The BMW Maintenance System
Service Interval Display

The BMW Maintenance System has been designed as a reliable means of providing maximum driving and oper- ating safety – and as cost-effectively as possible for you.
From the point of view of maintenance, 62,000 miles/100,000 km accumulated in short-distance urban driving are not the equivalent of the same distance covered at moderate speeds in long- distance highway travel.

Conventional systems rely solely on distance traveled to determine when service is due. The BMW Maintenance System, on the other hand, began many years ago to take the actual conditions under which the vehicle is driven into consideration. After all, different drivers can accumulate mileage in very different ways.

The BMW Maintenance System includes the Engine Oil Service and Inspections I and II
Determining the maintenance intervals according to the actual loads on the vehicle covers every kind of operating situation. However, even those who drive only short distances – significantly less than 6,000 miles/10,000 km annually – should have the engine oil changed at least every 2 years since oil deteriorates over time, regardless of use.

[X5Sport]

[quote="kanewesley"]
Oh dear ! even the facelift model?....thought they were sealed for life?
[/quote]

Life means BMW Warranty life - 3 years.  Recommended transmission oil change interval (not that BMW will tell you) is every 60,000 miles.