[Christine22]

Hi all,

I have a 2014 428i (F32) that I love. I bought it pre-owned almost two years ago with 42K miles on it, and I'm now about to hit 92K. It's my daily driver, and my round trip to work each day is 104 miles, which equates to about 30K miles per year.

I'm lucky to have an experienced BMW mechanic not too far from me, and his prices on average are about 1/3 of what the dealership charges, so I'm in good hands there. I'm close to coming up due for front brake pads and rotors, and he's in the $400 range while the dealership wants $1200+ for the same work.

The only problem I've had with the car since I've had it wasn't the car's fault at all - I took some debris (a wheel weight from a big truck) through the radiator last year, and had to have that replaced. The offending weight lodged itself guiltily inside the front bumper, waiting to be found and blamed for the incident. Otherwise, clear sailing.

Aside from the expected stuff like brakes, tires, wheel alignment, and oil changes every 10K miles (like clockwork!), is there anything else I should be watching for as the miles continue to pile up? Can I reasonably expect this car to go 150K+ reliably? What do I have to worry about in the coming years?

Thanks!!

[328iX]

I'd honestly cut that oil change interval in half if it was my car, but it all comes down to maintenance, change your brake fluid, your coolant, your differential fluid, all that extends their service life.

[Stopsign32v]

10k mile oil change for a turbo car?! YIKES! Stuff like this makes me nervous for buying a used F30.

[cfm56d7b]

Did your mechanic mention ..

- Timing chain replacement
- Transmission fluid change at 100K miles

Since you drive so much, retrofitting radiator guards and replacing rubber brake hoses with stainless steel ones would be of interest as well.

[adhrp]

OP, I am at 87k with my 2012 328i. I think the maintenance you have been doing is just fine. The 10k OCIs are also fine. Assuming most of your driving is on the highway, the transmission should be fine too. I am planning to keep my car for a few more years and up to 130-150k miles and will not be doing a transmission fluid change that is about $700 at my local indy. You might want to be on the lookout for coolant-related repairs/replacements coming up soon. Also worth changing your spark plugs if you haven't already (ideally change them every 60k miles).

[Fredo]

My 2012 F30 335i sits at 84k miles. These 2 repairs were done after CPO coverage ended last year:

AC compressor at 82k miles
Valve cover at 84k miles

Other than the above, the car has been good to me.

[Christine22]

The 10k mile oil change interval is what BMW recommends for my vehicle, and also what the car "asks for" on the service screen. Why is that wrong? 10k miles is about every 4 months for me, and 95% of my driving is freeway.

I forgot to mention I just had a brake fluid flush/replace done a couple of months ago. I'll look at the other fluids as well.

I do appreciate everyone's responses, keep 'em coming.

[Christine22]

Originally Posted by Stopsign32v

10k mile oil change for a turbo car?! YIKES! Stuff like this makes me nervous for buying a used F30.

I'm following BMW's recommendation, but to each his own...I promise I won't sell you my car.

[humbertob]

In your place and at that mileage I would start changing the oil every 5K, that's what I do on every one of my BMWs nowadays, if you are planning to keep the car until 150K is the best advice, and start replacing components like the electric water pump, all the coolant hoses, the serpentine belt and may be the tensioner for the belt are screaming to be replaced preventively. The auto trans fluid need to be replaced as well as the trans oil filter that's integrated into the trans pan. With all those components replaced preventively, you must be ok and would get 200K or may be more from that N20 for sure !

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by humbertob

In your place and at that mileage I would start changing the oil every 5K, that's what I do on every one of my BMWs nowadays, if you are planning to keep the car until 150K is the best advice, and start replacing components like the electric water pump, all the coolant hoses, the serpentine belt and may be the tensioner for the belt are screaming to be replaced preventively. The auto trans fluid need to be replaced as well as the trans oil filter that's integrated into the trans pan. With all those components replaced preventively, you must be ok and would get 200K or may be more from that N20 for sure !

With the maintenance procedures as described, 200K miles is very achievable.

[PChem]

Christine, this article says your style of driving bodes well for long periods between oil changes or at least following BMW's recommendations for your car.

https://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/...ng-engine-oil/

[328iX]

Originally Posted by PChem

Christine, this article says your style of driving bodes well for long periods between oil changes or at least following BMW's recommendations for your car.

https://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/...ng-engine-oil/

agreed, vehicles last the longest when doing purely highway driving, you're at a set engine speed, with minimal load, you're ideally in one gear most of the time and nothing is stressed. so i retract my comment on oil changes every 5k, because with 90% or more highway i probably would do 10k also

[Wgosma]

$25- send an oil sample to Blackstone labs for analysis at next change. Get some hard data on that 10K interval.

~ 100K mike mark: PM as already stated- water pump, thermostat, drive belt, idler pulley(s), tranny fluid, coolant, main radiator hoses.

Good luck/Bill

[Gamb1t]

Disable ASS, reduce OCI and give it a redline or two per week. Car will be happy.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Christine22

The 10k mile oil change interval is what BMW recommends for my vehicle, and also what the car "asks for" on the service screen. Why is that wrong?

It's not. More frequent changes haven't been beneficial since the days of mineral oil, assuming normal driving habits. I change mine every 4,000 miles, but only because for me that's a yearly interval. I do mine in the spring, as nasty stuff can accumulate in the oil in the colder winter months when the oil doesn't get hot enough long enough.

OP, your main concern is the timing chain. Read one of the many threads about N20/N26 timing chain failures and listen for the telltale whine.

[Christine22]

Originally Posted by humbertob

In your place and at that mileage I would start changing the oil every 5K, that's what I do on every one of my BMWs nowadays, if you are planning to keep the car until 150K is the best advice, and start replacing components like the electric water pump, all the coolant hoses, the serpentine belt and may be the tensioner for the belt are screaming to be replaced preventively. The auto trans fluid need to be replaced as well as the trans oil filter that's integrated into the trans pan. With all those components replaced preventively, you must be ok and would get 200K or may be more from that N20 for sure !

Thanks so much! It's actually an N26 (SULEV), but from what I read, there's not much difference. I appreciate your detailed response!

[natesi]

The only thing I'd be freaked out about is the timing chain -- but that will cost a small fortune. Everything else is maintenance. Don't forget plugs and maybe some coil packs -- don't think I saw those mentioned.

[sspade]

I would recommend lowering your oil change interval to at least 7k if not 5k miles.

Also, your due for a fresh set of plugs.

Other than that, normal maintenance items.

Air filter, cabin filter.

Make sure you are running only top tier fuel and maybe mix a bottle of techron in every oil change.

Also- hopefully you have not been using ASS all these miles. Thought to be a contributor to timing chain failure along with extended oil change intervals! If you have, Id stop immediately.

[WallySlash]

Glad you started this thread. My 2014 F32 N26 is just under 50k miles. A lot of miles behind you however in terms of age have you been advised to replace the battery? Or have you already replaced?

Recently went to the dealer for an alignment and was advised that I should consider replacing my battery due to age.

[Rebound]

Originally Posted by sspade

I would recommend lowering your oil change interval to at least 7k if not 5k miles.

Also, your due for a fresh set of plugs.

Other than that, normal maintenance items.

Air filter, cabin filter.

Make sure you are running only top tier fuel and maybe mix a bottle of techron in every oil change.

Also- hopefully you have not been using ASS all these miles. Thought to be a contributor to timing chain failure along with extended oil change intervals! If you have, Id stop immediately.

What is ASS?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by Rebound

What is ASS?

Auto Start Stop

[floridaorange]

So nice having that coded off!