Aggressive maintenance schedule -does it make sense? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

RickM5X3 · 19th June 2007, 21:59

I've got 42,000 miles on my 2002 M5 and plan on keeping it for its full lifecycle. I'm planning on having my dealer (who has a relatively reasonable service fee rate) complete the following tomorrow:

plugs (never done previously)
diff fluid (done at initial 1,200 miles)
gearbox oil (never done previously)
brake fluid (done 2 years ago)

Keeping in mind my long term goal, am I being too aggressive on any of these items? Anything else I should complete or keep an eye on for long term ownership? Coolant was done two years ago and I complete the oil service approximately every 5K. Thanks.

Rick

2002 Bluewater/Caramel

Fuddy · 19th June 2007, 22:15

I think that's just right

while you're at it, might as well do the coolant also

gobuffs · 19th June 2007, 22:24

Per BMW:
brakes every 2 years
coolant every 3 years
plugs 100k miles
diff lifetime
tranny lifetime
oil 15k miles

I'll agree withe the brakes and coolant, but really disagree with the plugs and fluids. I'll go up to 10k on a good synthetic oil. Probablt 30k on the tranny and diff fluids. I have a set of plugs to go in but haven't done it yet (36k miles). I also recently replaced my fuel filter, MAFs, air and cabin filters, and all 4 O2 sensors.

Kin Mak · 19th June 2007, 23:23

MAFs will be on it's way out and you might as well get the O2 sensors done as they are cheap.

Getting bushes replaced will transform the handling as well.

exigtis4m5(?) · 19th June 2007, 23:59

I thought Inspection II had Diff and tranny fluid replacment as part of it? no?

DRM · 20th June 2007, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by exigtis4m5(?)

I thought Inspection II had Diff and tranny fluid replacment as part of it? no?

No. BMW says they're good for "lifetime". What a joke.

M5CCIE · 20th June 2007, 07:29

Diff and tranny fluids are good for 30,000 miles in my book if you plan to keep your beast.

RickM5X3 · 21st June 2007, 02:50

Thanks for the advice. In the process of checking things over, the dealer has started a Puma case on the catalytic converters and kept the car.

I have a 335 loaner and it seems significantly stronger than my M5 has ever run. Maybe that analysis would change at triple digit speeds, but I am shocked at how ridiculously strong that bi-turbo is here at altitude.

2002 Bluewater/Caramel

M5CCIE · 21st June 2007, 03:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickM5X3

Thanks for the advice. In the process of checking things over, the dealer has started a Puma case on the catalytic converters and kept the car.

I have a 335 loaner and it seems significantly stronger than my M5 has ever run. Maybe that analysis would change at triple digit speeds, but I am shocked at how ridiculously strong that bi-turbo is here at altitude.

2002 Bluewater/Caramel

That's funny. I have my M5 into Murray for a few things and they gave me a 335 loaner as well. That car is sick fast. TC cars are immune to altitude...our NA engines take a 20-25% hit in performance.

BTW, if interested...:

Gustav US Tour - Denver, CO [Aug 5/6]

mottati · 21st June 2007, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobuffs

Per BMW:
brakes every 2 years
coolant every 3 years
plugs 100k miles
diff lifetime
tranny lifetime
oil 15k miles

I'll agree withe the brakes and coolant, but really disagree with the plugs and fluids. I'll go up to 10k on a good synthetic oil. Probablt 30k on the tranny and diff fluids. I have a set of plugs to go in but haven't done it yet (36k miles). I also recently replaced my fuel filter, MAFs, air and cabin filters, and all 4 O2 sensors.

on the M5 plugs are part of inspection 2, on a normal bmw plugs are 100k items. I felt quite a difference when i replaced my plugs at 57k miles for the first time, i felt no difference when i replaced them recently with 16k on them, so somewhere in between is a good interval for me! I'm thinking every 30-40k for plugs.
Diff and gear box every 30k would probably be good. Personally, for the past 3 years, i'd had the diff and box lube changed yearly, just at the beginning of winter, and must say it makes for a much nicer shifting gearbox in my car.