Maintenance Program
The BMW Maintenance Program has been devised
with the following objectives: to maximize vehicle
safety, reliability, and resale value by minimizing
breakdowns resulting from wear, and minimizing
cost and inconvenience by computing mainte-
nance intervals based upon the specific manner in
which each individual vehicle is driven.
Maintenance intervals on motor vehicles have
conventionally been specified based upon
accumulated mileage. However, the type of
driving conditions has a major influence on
routine maintenance requirements; distance
traveled is only one of the significant factors.
A vehicle driven for 50,000 miles of short trips
in the city with numerous cold starts, pro-
longed periods of idling, stop-and-go driving,
and high engine speeds during acceleration
requires more frequent maintenance intervals
than a vehicle driven for 50,000 miles for long
distances at low engine speeds primarily at
operating temperature.
The advanced technologies at BMW have led to
the development of the unique BMW Service
Interval Indicator System which computes the
actual optimum maintenance requirements
based not only upon the accumulated mileage,
but taking into account important factors such as
engine coolant temperatures, high or low engine
speeds, short or long trip driving, and number of
vehicle starts. The maintenance interval may
therefore be maximized with considerable sav-
ings to owners of vehicles subjected to light duty. The
Service Indicator consists of five green,
one yellow and one red Iight-emitting-diodes
(LEDs) and the inscriptions “OIL SERVICE” and
“INSPECTION”.
Whenever the ignition is switched on, up to five
green LEDs will light up, depending on the
amount of use the vehicle has had since the last
maintenance service and your driving style. As
the number of illuminated green LEDs
decreases, this is an indication that the next ser-
vice is almost due and helps you to make the
necessary arrangements on a timely basis.
The green LEDs disappear when the engine is
started.
Notification that maintenance is required is indi-
cated with the illumination of the yellow LED
and accompanying inscription. These will remain
illuminated with the ignition on.
If the maintenance interval has been exceeded,
the red LED will light up in addition to the yellow
one to remind you of the urgent need for servic-
ing. In the interests of road safety and reliability,
you should avoid driving your BMW when the
red LED signal is showing, and have the essen-
tial maintenance work performed without delay.
After each maintenance is performed the service
indicator is reset in order to compute the next
service interval.
The green LEDs which then light up with the
ignition show you the interval before the next
maintenance is due.
If the service indicator displays an illogical read-
ing, for instance the green and red LEDs at the
same time, or if there is no display, consult an
authorized BMW SAV center.
If the speedometer, tachometer or coolant tem-
perature gauge should develop a fault, the ser-
vice indicator will probably cease to operate
correctly as well, since it depends on correct
speed, distance and temperature readings. The
fault must be located and rectified by an autho-
rized BMW SAV center.
A detailed list of all maintenance operations
included in each of the elements of the BMW
Maintenance Program is found on pages 4-8.
These elements are as follows:
(Typical Display) 32 88 02 30
2
Quality Certification I will be performed by your
authorized BMW SAV center and certified on the
following page.
The performance of certain subsequent mainte-
nance elements, as required by the BMW New
SAV Limited Warranty, will be specified at inter-
vals computed by the BMW Service Interval Indi-
cator as follows:
– Oil Service: Engine oil should be changed with the engine at operating temperature.
Note: Change oil at least once a year.
All 2006 BMW X3s are factory-filled with BMW
High Performance Synthetic oils. At the time of
the printing of this booklet, the following oils
are strongly recommended and approved by
BMW:
• BMW High Performance 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
(BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866)
• Mobil 1 5W-30
• Mobil 1 5W-40
BMW is evaluating various synthetic oils for
inclusion in our list of recommended motor oils.
For the most current list of synthetic oils,
please contact your authorized BMW SAV cen-
ter, or call BMW of North America, LLC. at 1
800 831-1117. You can also obtain this infor-
mation from our website, www.bmwusa.com.
BMW recommends that you check your engine
oil level whenever you add fuel to your vehicle. If
you need to add oil between oil changes and
are unable to obtain BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil, Mobil 1 or another special oil on
the list, use a synthetic oil with an API rating of
SJ or higher.
– Inspection I: Major vehicle maintenance as specified in the following pages under Inspec-
tion I.
– Inspection II: Additional major vehicle mainte- nance as specified in the following pages under
Inspection II.
The following maintenance elements must be
performed at the mileage/time stated (time
intervals begin from the vehicle’s production
date): – Brake Fluid Service: Change brake fluid every
two years.
– Oxygen Sensor Service: The oxygen sensor deteriorates strictly on a mileage basis and
must therefore be replaced every 100,000
miles to maximize vehicle fuel economy and
minimize exhaust pollution. The replacement of
the oxygen sensor is required under the terms
of the applicable BMW emission system war-
ranties.
– Spark Plug Service: The X3 is equipped with platinum-tipped spark plugs. These allow a
longer service life than conventional plugs.
Replace spark plugs every 100,000 miles.
– Automatic Transmission Service: Change ATF every 100,000 miles.
The engine coolant has a lifetime rating and does
not need to be changed.
Please see your authorized BMW SAV center for
the most current information.
For your convenience, you may also wish to have
your authorized BMW SAV center perform any
necessary operations to fulfill any state inspec-
tion requirements in your area concurrent with
the maintenance elements specified above dur-
ing other repairs.
Make sure that confirmation of maintenance
work is always entered in this SAV Service and
Warranty Information Booklet. You may need this
for any warranty claims that become necessary,
and later on as evidence that your SAV has been
given the correct and regular maintenance that
justifies its resale or trade-in value.
BMW has applied the most modern technologi-
cal advances not only to the design and produc-
tion of your SAV, but also to computing of the
optimum maintenance interval for your type of
operations and driving style. Your authorized
BMW SAV center has made a substantial invest-
ment in unique BMW special service tools to
enable his BMW factory trained service techni-
cians to perform quality repairs on your BMW in
minimal time. He/she looks forward to serving
your every service need and to help maximize
your satisfaction with your BMW, its longevity,
and resale value.
3
General
The warranty gives you specific legal rights, and
you may also have other rights which vary from
state to state.
THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRAN-
TIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, IS LIMITED TO THE
DURATION OF THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES
HEREIN. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HEREBY
EXCLUDES INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUEN-
TIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF TIME,
INCONVENIENCE, OR LOSS OF USE OF THE
VEHICLE, FOR ANY BREACH OF ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUD-
ING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANT-
ABILITY, APPLICABLE TO THIS PRODUCT.
For assistance in determining which parts are
covered by this warranty, please contact your
authorized BMW SAV center or the BMW NA
Customer Relations Department at 1 800
831-1117 or through our website at www.bm-
wusa.com. You may obtain further information
concerning the emissions warranty or report vio-
lations of warranty terms, by contacting Air
Resources Board (ARB), Mobile Source Division,
9528 Telstar Avenue, El Monte, CA 91731.
Please include the title of the BMW service
department head and telephone number.
California Emission Warranty Parts
List
The following components are covered for
defects by the California Emission Control Sys-
tem Limited Warranty for a period of 7 years or
70,000 miles, whichever comes first.
COMPONENT X3
INTAKE MANIFOLD •
VANOS CAMSHAFT
POSITION
CONTROLLER •
ENGINE CONTROL
MODULE •
KNOCK SENSOR •
FUEL TANK •
EXHAUST MANIFOLD
GASKET •
EXHAUST MANIFOLD
WITH CATALYST •
TORQUE
CONVERTER •
TRANSMISSION
CONTROL MODULE •
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE
SENSOR •
THROTTLE BODY •
FUEL PUMP •
INTAKE MANIFOLD
GASKET •
39