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      11-07-2014, 07:02 PM   #1
JJS
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Long Term Preventative Maintenance

I would like to keep my 335i for a long time; notionally for at least 10 years or 250,000km, maybe more. I'm reasonably fastidious (no, actually I'm extremely fussy) and have no qualms about paying for or performing proper preventative maintenance myself. The trouble is, other than the normal service items like spark plugs, brake pads and fluids/oils, the owner's manual is silent on the longer-term items.

My other car is a Subaru Legacy that has done 180,000km and is now the family hack. I've recently learnt that fuel/ratio and oxygen sensors don't last forever. They had been deteriorating over the last few years, but not quite faulty until the heater circuit failed and the CEL lit up. I was very surprised how much better the Subaru ran with new sensors.

So, I can expect my BMW to age and get tired with time. Can I please ask forum members to share their experience with me about what tends to need replacing and over what time or distance intervals to ensure optimal running. I'm thinking I'll need to set aside some cash over the life of the car for things like:

- shock absorbers (I have DHP)
- suspension bushings
- various sensors (it'd be good to know what they are)
- gearbox oils / filters
- flexible hoses
- exhaust system
- turbocharger
- various mechanical linkages
- wheel bearings / shaft bearings

I'll also make a note of items that tend to fail prematurely, but I'd consider those to be faults rather than wear and tear items. I'm also presuming that an engine such as the N55 will not need replacement timing chains or reciprocal parts inside it if the oil changes and servicing requirements are met. But I'm happy to be advised otherwise.

My factory warranty is good for 3 years, unlimited mileage but I'll have the option to pay for another two years making it 5-years if my mileage is under 100,000km. But that is less than half the distance I'm expecting to cover in twice the time. Depreciation here is stupidly high, so the 335i will also be worth more to me than to the market; and trading in for a new BMW in 3-5 years won't make economic sense for me.

Your thoughts and contributions are welcome
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      11-15-2014, 10:31 PM   #2
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Wow, 190 views and not a single comment. I must be one of very few buying a new BMW and keeping it for a while.
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      11-16-2014, 04:33 AM   #3
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most of us will try to get an M-car in few years , M-cars
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      11-16-2014, 06:48 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JJS View Post
Wow, 190 views and not a single comment. I must be one of very few buying a new BMW and keeping it for a while.
This topic has been beaten do death, in every BMW forum. Go to E90POST and look in the main and maintenance forums for similar ones. Nothing has changed.
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      11-16-2014, 10:21 PM   #5
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Long Term Preventative Maintenance "Bible"

Quote:
Originally Posted by JJS View Post
Wow, 190 views and not a single comment. I must be one of very few buying a new BMW and keeping it for a while.
Here's the info you need from another of the "very few" (a.k.a. very weird)!
What you need is the 20+ page "Lifetime Maintenance Schedule" written by Mike Miller, the Technical Editor of "Roundel" magazine, the monthly publication of the BMW Car Club of America.

His contact is "techtalk@roundel.org". You may have to provide postage, etc., since you're a wee bit out of USPS range, but he's always been responsive in my experience. Be advised, a lot of folks think his advice is "gross overkill". I don't and the rest is up to you!


Good luck.

Last edited by sirdrebin; 11-16-2014 at 10:29 PM.. Reason: to correct a couple of typos
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      11-18-2014, 02:58 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sirdrebin View Post
Here's the info you need from another of the "very few" (a.k.a. very weird)!
What you need is the 20+ page "Lifetime Maintenance Schedule" written by Mike Miller, the Technical Editor of "Roundel" magazine, the monthly publication of the BMW Car Club of America.

His contact is "techtalk@roundel.org". You may have to provide postage, etc., since you're a wee bit out of USPS range, but he's always been responsive in my experience. Be advised, a lot of folks think his advice is "gross overkill". I don't and the rest is up to you!


Good luck.
Thanks, this is helpful. Overkill might at least inform me on the upper limit of total cost of maintenance for the conceivable life of the car.
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      11-19-2014, 06:23 AM   #7
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Signing in to the "Very few"-club, great post! Please share your findings here if you come across any good links.
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      11-30-2014, 02:58 AM   #8
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You can find pdf copies of the old school maintenance schedule very easily online, just google it.
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      01-04-2015, 08:57 AM   #9
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JJS,

Am planning to keep mine until my daughter turns 18, as her first car.

When everyone will be riding electric self driving cars, she will have to row herself through the gears... How cool will my girl be???

I have 17 years to keep the car in good shape for her...
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      01-05-2015, 02:06 AM   #10
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That would be super cool. I taught my daughter to row gears when she was a learner driver a few years ago. She's justifiably proud to be one of very few of her peers who know how to drive an MT car, even in this age. I can see no reason why our 335i won't last at least a couple of decades with care and deliberate maintenance.
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