Extended maintenance

[dunit]

I will soon be taking delivery of my 328i. I'm considering the extended maintenance policy, but I'm not sure if it is worth the $1327.45 for two additional years of maintenance.
What is the maintenance schedule for the 328i in the fifth and sixth year?
Will enough maintenance be required to be worth the cost.
Another consideration is I only drive about 7k per year.

[Jhunter]

I would not pay $1,324.45 now for something that you will use in four years. It is really costing you over $1,600 if you put the cost now in a savings account at 5% for four years. What happens if the car is stolen/totaled/sold in the next four years? At 7,000 miles a year you will have 28,000 after four years and 42,000 after six. Probably one oil service/inspection during that 14,000 miles. I think you would be wasting your money.

[gmessori]

I agree, at 7K a year it would be a waste of money. For me it is a no brainer, our main car now gets over 35k a year on it, mostly canyon miles so brakes are ate up in under 20K. Thats 1400 equals 4 front brake jobs, 2 rear plus the 100K service and the other services inbetween.

[jmonier]

I would not pay $1,324.45 now for something that you will use in four years. It is really costing you over $1,600 if you put the cost now in a savings account at 5% for four years. What happens if the car is stolen/totaled/sold in the next four years? At 7,000 miles a year you will have 28,000 after four years and 42,000 after six. Probably one oil service/inspection during that 14,000 miles. I think you would be wasting your money.

Some additional points:

Maintenance includes one oil service inspection a year regardless of mileage so it would add 2 of them for sure.

Based on my E46 experience (@ 6000 mi/yr) front brakes will come up every 20000 miles and rears at 30000 or so. That would mean one front and one rear (@ $600+ per each) within the extended period.

If these numbers apply (and there are a LOT of variables) then it would seem to make sense.

[Jhunter]

Based on my E46 experience (@ 6000 mi/yr) front brakes will come up every 20000 miles and rears at 30000 or so.

What are you doing to your brakes? I have had two E46s the first got to 39,900 miles on the original pads when turned in on the lease. My second is at 36,001 miles on the original pads (gets turned in tomorrow when I pick up my 335i coupe :buttrock ), there is visable thickness still on the pads. My driving is mixed city and freeway plus I will use the brakes hard in the twisties.

[jmonier]

The great majority of my driving is stop and go city driving. Lots of brake applications per mile. I would guess that's what does it. As I said, these things vary greatly. Note that another poster also said he gets 20K on brakes.

Many years ago when I enjoyed driving a series of sports cars (Alfa Romeo, Lotus Elan, etc) on back roads (and when traffic was a lot less) the guy who serviced these cars said I was the easiest on brakes that he'd ever seen.

[Jhunter]

I am not doubting you. It is no wonder that the pads wear fast given the amount of brake dust produced!