Maintenance Program
The BMW Maintenance Program has been
devised with the following objectives: to maxi-
mize vehicle safety, reliability, and resale value by
minimizing breakdowns resulting from wear, and
minimizing cost and inconvenience by comput-
ing maintenance intervals based upon the spe-
cific 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 LEDand
accompanying inscription. These will remain illu-
minated 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)
2
Engine Oil Service
Engine CompartmentX5 3.0i,
4.4i, 4.8is
Change oil and oil filter while engine is at normal operating temperature. We
recommend BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil, p/n 07 51 0 017 866. •
Reset service interval indicator. •
Replace microfilter. •
Check overall thickness of front and rear disc brake pads using special tool. If
replacement is necessary: Examine brake disc surfaces. Clean brake pad contact points
in calipers. Grease wheel centering hubs. Check thickness of parking brake linings only
when replacing rear pads. •
Check parking brake actuation. Adjust if necessary. •
5
