[theblackmamba]

Preface: 09 Msport Lci 335i 59k

I just had an oil change done a few months ago (maybe 4 months?) they inspected the car, no issues except a leaving oil filter housing gasket which was replaced under warranty.

Now my car is asking for a service - I just hit about 59k maybe less.

Looking around the site looks like I need the following done:

1. Brake Fluid Flush (Might have the dealer do this)

2. Interior Filter (Done already myself)

3. Engine Air Filter (Done already myself)

4. Change Engine Coolant (Might have the dealer do this)

5. Power Steering Fluid (Might have the dealer do this as the pump seems to be stuttering/binding at full lock or when making turns - complained about this a few times ago when I brought the car in and was told it was within tolerances so no dice)

6. Differential Fluid (Should I change this myself?)

7. Transmission Fluid and Filter (Not going to change because this should be lifetime?)

Now what should I have the dealer do? -- I was reading that I could get another oil change and get the inspection done for free instead of paying for a 60k inspection?

How much does your dealer charge for #1, #4 and #5?

Thanks in advance!

[F-16 CHIEF]

Sell it! JK

I'm in the same boat. I'm going to get Rear diff and Tranny done and call it a day.

[Fillyo75]

I have 1200 miles until my 60k service, so watching this. I just replaced my cabin filter, changed oil & new wipers. I just got my car back after 8 days due to SES light, they replaced low pressure fuel sensor, all 6 coils and 3 plugs. So I may just do 1 & potentially 4 also.

[tturbolife]

Check your suspension... I'm at 60k and needed my thrust arms (control arms) replaced.

[135Pats]

Good time to replace all vac lines...I'm planning to do coolant lines at that mileage as well.

All the fluids in the car should have been replaced at least once (obviously oil far more often) at this mileage IMO as well.

[PINeely]

It is well known that BMWs self-destruct when they hit 60k. Come on man, do your research.

Having done each job that you listed a few times I will try to shed some light. The short answer is that all of this stuff is straightforward and can be done yourself but it depends on how dirty you are willing to get your hands, so to speak.

1. Brake fluid- extremely easy and actually kind of fun to DIY. You need a brake bleeder bottle which you can get at harbor freight for $15. The first time I did this job I just used a water bottle with a hole in the cap (hot nail works great) and some 1/4" vinyl tubing from home depot. Worked perfectly. I don't know what the dealer charges. Maybe $150-ish

2. Done

3. Done

4. Coolant- Also a simple DIY and a good place to save money. Dealer charges $160 but a gallon of coolant and a gallon of distilled water cost $25.

5. PS fluid- This one you want the dealer to do because they can lift the car. It is DIY-able but you have to remove banjo bolts and PS lines and such which is messy and a total PITA. Takes roughly 2 hours to DIY since you have to crawl around under the car so much. Much less time if you have a lift. I'm not sure how much the dealer charges for it. If you do DIY, you need Pentosin CHF11S fluid. Napa sells it.

6. Diff fluid- DIY if you don't mind being under the car. You will need a fluid transfer pump to get the old stuff out and put the new stuff in. Takes about 30 minutes.

7. Ahhh, the highly-controversial lifetime fluid. Change it. BMW defines the car's "lifetime" as 100,000 miles. So yes it will last for that long (allegedly) but anything after that is uncharted territory as far as they are concerned. It's no different from the fluid you get from other manufacturers and should be changed just as you would with any other car.

As for changing it, I say dealer. Again we have something that is DIY-able but there is no dipstick to fill from which makes getting the correct amount of fluid back into the transmission a bit tricky. You have to run the car for a precise amount of time with half of the fluid in there and such, then after some is taken up into the torque converter you fill it the rest of the way. The filter is also no fun to remove and install. Fluid transfer pump is needed here again. There is a drain hole and a fill hole, whatever you do don't take out the drain plug until you know for sure that the fill plug is loose.

Hope this helps. I made my DIY recommendations based upon which jobs I hate doing, lol.

[Ph0zenstone]

Between 50K-60K I did the following (all DIY thanks to this forum which probably saved me over $1K):
1) tranny pan and fluid (redline d6)
2) front and rear differntial (redline 75w90)
3) transfer case (BMW fluid)
4) power steering (pentosin)
5) brake fluid (ATE)
6) serpentine belt (Dayco from Advance Auto)
7) spark plugs (NGK)
8) oil (I do this every 5K anyway with Mobil 1 0W40
9) brake rotors and pads (oe rotors and Akebono pads)
10) air filter (K&N)
11) cabin filter (from Advance Auto)
12) battery (autocraft platinum AGM H8)

Next on my list is coolant and I think I'm set until 70K

Was also doing maintenance on my 2001 corolla (train station beater) and dayum there's more sludge than I anticipated when changing the valve cover gasket and belt tensioner