Do these service intervals sound OK to you?

[sallyjc]

Hi

I bought a 2005 X5 3.0d last month from a BMW dealership and have only just looked at the service booklet. It wasn't available when I first looked at the car and by the time I collected it I had forgotten all about it. I may be worrying about nothing but I thought there might be more service stamps in the book. So here are the details and I would appreciate some advice!

The car was registered in Dec 2005. I bought it last month with 50200 miles on the clock. On collection the car had, and still has 3 green lights on the service level indicator.

On page 13 of the service booklet, 'Confirmation of time-based maintenance', there is only one stamp dated 28-04-08 with distance reading 26595 and the comment 'next due 04/10'.

On page 16 of the service booklet, 'Confirmation of use-based maintenance', there are three entries.
1. Pre-delivery check, dated 30/12/2005
2. Oil Service box ticked, distance reading 26595, dated 28/04/08
3. Oil Service box ticked, distance reading 39926, date is missing

Does this sound OK? Should the service at 39926 have been an Inspection I or II? Should I ring the garage and ask them for the date?

I thought services were every 2years and if so should the car have been serviced in April 2012 and why are there still green bars still showing?

Help and thanks!

Sally

[X5Sport]

That doesn't sound too far off the mark.  Apart from the lack of a fluid change record - which is in a different part of the book I think - and should have been done around Dec 2007, and again in Dec 2009, and again in Dec 2011.

Certainly need the date(s), but that will depend upon it being a BMW Dealership.  If it was then the BMW GB Systems should have it logged.  I thought the second one would have been an Insp 1. Mine was on a 5 year service pack so I never saw any bills.

The green lights are determined by fuel consumption mainly, and run approx every 3,000 miles give or take.  Driving style and oil condition is involved somehow too.  The two year check is for brake fluid, but can also be an Oil and filters change.  That one triggers the orange 'clock in a box' symbol.

Mine had its first service at around 21k if memory serves, then again at about 41k, and then I had it done 2 years later, which would have been about 53k.  It still had three greens on at sale which was around 57k, and it wasn't doing much mileage per year so the lights were dropping more frequently.

My X6 was serviced at two years as that is now time based overriding condition based.  No service lights on the newer cars, date/mileage come up when you start the car.  Shows 18,000/Oct 2014 straight after being serviced.

[sallyjc]

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately the service at 39926 was not done by BMW or a BMW specialist. That is a shame as when I sell it I won't be able to say "Full BMW Service History". Anyway the fact that it is a BMW AUC should help. I do have their telephone number though so will contact them to see of they have the date.

So what should I do know? Should I contact the dealership where I bought it from and ask whether the brake fluid should have been changed before I bought the car? I thought (wrongly?) that if you bought a car from a dealership then they would take care of these outstanding items.

Also I do very few miles. At this rate it could be years before those three green lights go out. When should I get it serviced again?

Thanks again,

Sally

[Raj]

Hmmm, tbh I always thought that dealerships only ever sold vehicles that had full BMW service history on them, and all else would just be moved on. One reason for thinking this is that BMW will not put a warranty on to a vehicle without full service history???

[X5Sport]

.......and every two years will be about right.  I personally think the oil will be getting a bit 'stale' by then, and with lower use you can get other things creeping up on you!  They'll reset the service lights at the same time..

[Turks]

[quote="Raj"]
Hmmm, tbh I always thought that dealerships only ever sold vehicles that had full BMW service history on them, and all else would just be moved on. One reason for thinking this is that BMW will not put a warranty on to a vehicle without full service history???
[/quote]

That was my understanding too Raj - Any BMW without the full BMW Service History would be sold to a trader and not be sold on a BMW forecourt.


Turks.

[Raj]

Sally I would consider questioning the dealer regarding the service history. If not satisfied I would raise it with BMW GB.

[Riggie]

[quote="Raj"]
Sally I would consider questioning the dealer regarding the service history. If not satisfied I would raise it with BMW GB.
[/quote]

BMW GB will make all the right noises and ultimately do absolutely nothing, in my experience.

[X5Sport]

[quote="Riggie"]
[quote="Raj"]
Sally I would consider questioning the dealer regarding the service history. If not satisfied I would raise it with BMW GB.
[/quote]

BMW GB will make all the right noises and ultimately do absolutely nothing, in my experience.
[/quote]
Indeed.  They'll just send you back to the Dealer.