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The Old School Maintenance Schedule for our M5s

65K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  Gustav 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
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I wrote Mike Miller, BMW CCA Roundel Magazine Technical Editor, for their old school Maintenance Schedule, used before BMW started their "Free Maintenance."

For those of you who plan on keeping their beasts past warranty, Mike recommends you follow a specific schedule. You can email Mike Miller to get a copy of that schedule, at: auspuf2002@aol.com

I recently asked my S.A. about a 30,000 SMG & differential change. He replied BMW recommends 60,000 for Motorsport cars. Mike replies: "BMW interval for gearbox and differential oil changes is every 60,000 miles. If you plan on keeping the car past the warranty, I would recommend 30,000-mile intervals for both."
 
#2 ·
As a side observation, I was at the dealer yesterday getting MAF sensor changed, and since I am friends with the techs, I hang in the shop with them. There was a 3 series getting its oil changed as per the BMW 15k mile schedule. The tech working on it showed me the inside of the oil cap. There was thick sludge in the cap. He told me that the sludge was a common site for cars that follow the 15k mile oil change interval. Also, he told me that the oil filters get hard and brittle from all the hear cycling and are essentially worthless. For my M5, he confirmed that an oil change every 5k miles was the right thing to do.
 
#3 ·
Question

Good info guys, thanks!

Dylan, did your question to Mike specify SMG?

I've gotten answers all over the map from dealers and independents regarding the right thing to do by the SMG with regards to the manual - (change often) and auto - (don't change until there's a problem) debate.

It seems that since not many are out of warranty yet, people are fairly confused.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Good info guys, thanks!

Dylan, did your question to Mike specify SMG?

I've gotten answers all over the map from dealers and independents regarding the right thing to do by the SMG with regards to the manual - (change often) and auto - (don't change until there's a problem) debate.

It seems that since not many are out of warranty yet, people are fairly confused.
I wrote Mike asking his opinion of my M5's long term durability, as my Beast has the dubious distinction of spending more time in the shop during the first 2.5 years of ownership, than any other owned over 40 years of driving. This includes two (SMG) clutch rebuilds during the first ~16,000 miles. I've previously gotten ~80K out of previous manual clutches and have been told (not by Mike) that the metal alloys used in our SMGs are not up to city driving. If I'm not mistaken, the same clutch is used in both SMG and 6-speed models.

I usually buy new and keep for 8 -10 years, following the "severe use" service schedule, until reliability becomes an issue. Extended warranties are a poor deal for low mileage drivers like me, as most parts wear out from mileage, not age, rubber parts and some fluids the exception. I will be paying for all upkeep after the initial warranty ends.

If you read Mike's column, he shares my extended warranty views. If you'll drive most of the miles covered in BMW's extended warranty, during the coverage period, it might be worth the cost. Otherwise the coverage will expire long before you've gotten your money's worth. As I'm putting ~8,500 miles annually on mine, it makes sense to self insure instead.

If you're still undecided, I'd suggest that you hold off buying the extra coverage until the last year of initial warranty, and calculate the dollar amount of service your beast consumed, multiplying the number of labor hours BMW paid, by your dealership's hourly rate. Part's prices can be obtained through either the dealer's part's dept. or aftermarket sources. This information will be listed on your warranty invoices and should give you an idea of what your Beast will cost to keep running on a yearly basis.

Mike characterized the E60 M5 as "the first extremely complicated and totally electronic BMW, and one with 500 hp." I asked him about clutch and SMG, he replied the clutch will wear out quickly in stop-and-go urban driving.

Concerning gearbox and differential service intervals, Mike said, "Your service adviser is correct that the BMW interval for gearbox and differential oil changes is every 60,000 miles. If you plan on keeping the car past the warranty, I would recommend 30,000-mile intervals for both."

Mike added, as an owner of a 2006 model, BMW's warranty has insulated me from paying for 1st year production teething pains and he's thinking the car will be pretty well sorted out by the time it falls off warranty. "That is not to say, though, that it's going to be an inexpensive ownership experience; no BMW is after the warranty, and that's doubly true for M cars."

I asked him about the possibility of service manual becoming available after the E60 line ceases production. He replied, " don't expect a publicly-available factory BMW shop manual for any model ever again. We are very lucky if we get a Bentley manual at some point, but I really wouldn't expect one to cover the E60 M5. You can access the factory BMW service manuals for a fee at BMW TIS EPA but BMW has almost zero technical service information that is specific to the M engines or the M drivetrain. There are no diagnostics. Technicians are left to figure M engines out by themselves. Even if there were diagnostics, you wouldn't get anywhere without the BMW diagnostic computer. The computer is actually required to perform a full engine oil change on the S85 V10, because all the oil pumps have to be cycled to achieve a complete drain." (Emphasis added.)

Our M5s are wonderful cars to drive, but like any halo car, not cheap to maintain.

P.S. The 10W-60 Castrol in my beast is changed every 7,500 miles, regardless of who pays. Because the system holds ~9.3 liters, it will hold more contaminants in suspension, the relatively small oil filter is the limiting factor.

If the oil change comes out of your pocket, have the dealership NOT reset the oil mileage sensor system. It will continue monitoring and the next change will be on BMW's dime. Over ~22,500 miles, I've paid for one change and BMW the rest.
 
#12 ·
I'd never let the oil changes go to 15000+ miles, I think 6-8000 miles is best comp. I understand oil quilty/ tech has advanced greatly but I believe its more do with lease companys bills and stats than anything else. Lower tech, non sport/performance based designs will be fine for these long/extended services.

Any engine with high lift cams, chains, gears, short scirt slipper pistons, high rev's and heat all destroy the long chain polmers used to make these oils and give them there excellent lubricating properties, any of the above ring a bell with our M engines?

Jay
 
#15 ·
I have the dealer do all my work. Let me know when a small shop "good wills" you anything if they screw up. The 1st thing they do when you have a issue with your car is lookup your service history, if you do all your work at a small shop they will tell you to take it back to them and good luck getting them to say they screwed up and cover it.
 
#17 ·
I don't know how I missed this thread...but I'll drag it up again...my stealer has done 2 oil changes (1500 and 15,000) miles and I have done 4 oil changes...I watched them do theirs and do mine the same (except I don't uncover the 2nd drain plug for .2 L of oil)...the car was not hooked up to the GT-1...
 
#18 ·
Dylan, thanks so much for posting such great information and bringing up the topic in general.

I'd like to comment on the issue about the cycling of the oil pumps to remove the remaining oil. Since I do my own oil changes at 5K intervals between the free changes I get from BMW at 15K intervals, I can't see how leaving in a few ounces really matters at all. BMW says it's actually OK to go 15K with the same oil. I might leave in a few pints with each 5K change, let's assume I get 95% of the oil out and do that twice between full BMW oil changes, that leaves the following in the oil pan at the next 15K BMW oil change:

about .75 ounces of 15K mile oil and
about 14 ounces of 10K mile oil

15 ounces is about half a quart. Not much at all so there is no way I am running the engine for even a second with the main oil pan void of oil and risking unnecessary engine wear. The risks far out weigh the benefits. I'll happily leave a few ounces of "old" oil in after each 5K change and wait for the next 15K BMW service and let them cycle the pumps with the BMW Diagnostic Computer.

We all get to choose how and when to service our beasts. That's why it's so great to have input from knowledgable people like you, Mike and Clyde so we can make our own informed decisions.

Thanks again for the great information.
 
#19 · (Edited)


You all will think I'm crazy...but I do trans, rear end every other oil change and I do my oil every 6k miles.... there are only 21k miles on the car... I do it myself, Cheap and easy....Oh, and I polish the under side every oil change...ouichouich


Oh, and imagine nobody wanted to buy it when it was for sale...


 
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