Help: Inherited 2008 328i and need maintenance advice

[kcmitch]

ey everyone,


First time posting on here and was hoping the knowledgable community here could help me out. I inherited a 2008 BMW 328 from a deceased relative (no need for condo lances but thank you). It was bought july 2007 and only has 11,000 miles on it. It wasn't driven for 3 months at a time on several occasions. I took it in to the dealership and they gave there usual jargon about follow the maintenance schedule. I don't claim to know a lot but the consensus seems that if you want the car for the long haul you gotta go outside their recommendations. I was wondering what you guys would recommend I have done to the car now to make sure its running as well as could be. Thanks a lot!

[PwrdbyM]

Well you have about a year of the maintenance plan left. If you plan to keep the car past 100k you should change the oil every year or 7,500 miles. The dealer won't want to do the service until the car "asks" for it. They will however change the oil once a year. They should be able to look up when it was serviced last. The BMW maintenance program is basically marketing garbage. Most folks on here change their oil once in between the factory intervals.
Additional maintenance would be tranny, differential, and brake fluids every 2 years or 30k miles. They will change out the brake fluid under the maintenance plan (since it is every two years you should be able to get it done right before the warranty is up) however the dealer will tell you that the tranny and diff fluids are "lifetime". What lifetime means to BMW is that it is good for the life of the warranty. To run the car well north of 100k they need to be changed.
You may want to consider a spark plug change every 40-50k or so and ensure that the air filter is changed at a reasonable interval. Other than that you should be good.

[phazedkid]

pretty much what PwrdbyM said.
I'd also suggest you check out e90post.com for any specific questions. there's plenty of info over there if you can dig/search

[spitpilot]

Plugs are supposed to be 100K mile parts...I'd change 'em @ 50K...doesn't cost all that much and can really improve performance/mpg...I agree with all the fluid change reccomendations..only one I'd add is power steering flush at 50K...ez to do..just suck fluid outa the tank with turkey baster..pour in new fluid..drive car with lots of turning for a few blocks..I run fig 8's in my intersection..then repeat the fluid removal/replacement routine...drive again...fluid replace again..your done..driving will work out all air in the system..no "bleeding" needed like brakes. Last BMW I had (89 535I) I replaced all fluids @ 50K...kept car for 125K..no issues! Fluids are cheap..repairs aren't..so change 'em all!:)

[BMWs4Ever]

The car hasn't been drivin for 3 months...Big deal I put my car away for the winter at the end of Nov and don't drive it until the end of march. I just change the oil I before I put it away for the winter and have never had an issue.

[mryakan]

I had my e36 for 10 years and followed the manufacturer recommended maintenance intervals by the book, no less no more. Sold it after 130k miles and it was still running great, no powertrain issues whatsoever. Make of it what you wish. Good luck.