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 com-
puting maintenance intervals based upon the
specific manner in which each individual vehicle
is driven.
Maintenance intervals on motor vehicles have
conventionally been specified based upon accu-
mulated mileage. However, driving conditions
have 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, prolonged periods of
idling, stop-and-go driving, and high engine
speeds during acceleration requires more fre-
quent maintenance intervals than a vehicle
driven for 50,000 miles for long distances at low
engine speeds primarily at operating tempera-
ture.
The advanced technologies at BMW have led to
the development of the unique BMW Condition
Based Service (CBS) system which computes
the actual optimum maintenance requirements
based not only upon the accumulated mileage,
but taking into account important factors such
as high or low engine speeds, short or long trip
driving, and condition of the engine oil and
brake pads.
Condition Based Service (CBS)
CBS is a further development of the Service
Interval Indicator System. Sensors and sophisti-
cated algorithms take even more detailed
account of the various conditions of vehicle use.
The remaining times for selected maintenance
tasks as well as any legally prescribed dates are
displayed to you individually:
Engine oil
Brakes - front and rear separately
Brake fluid
Vehicle check
Required State Inspection(s)
CBS thus determines the current and future
maintenance requirements. This data can also
be read from the vehicle key by your BMW Ser-
vice Advisor and used to propose the optimum
scope of maintenance.
Have maintenance and repair work performed
by your BMW center. Make sure that the mainte-
nance work is stamped in this Service and War-
ranty Information Statement. These entries are
the evidence of regular maintenance of your
vehicle and a requirement for warranty claims.
Disconnecting the battery during periods
of long-term storage will interrupt the
calculation of time-based services. Have all
items requiring time-based maintenance, such
as brake fluid and possibly also the engine oil
and microfilter, brought up to date by your BMW
center. Also see the section on battery care on
page 15 of this statement.
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Vehicle Check
Maintenance work
•Check operation of horn, headlight flasher and
hazard warning flashers.
• Check instrument and control lighting and
heater/air-conditioning blower.
• Check lighting system: turn signals, back-up,
license plate, interior (incl. map, reading
lights), glovebox, flashlight, luggage area
lights.
• Safety belts: check condition and function.
• Check windshield wiper and washer jet
positions.
• Body: check for corrosion (except cavities).
• Tires: check tread depth, wear pattern, outer
condition, inflation pressure (also spare tire). If
necessary, correct pressure (also spare).
• Battery: check state of charge (magic eye) and
charge if required.
• Power steering reservoir: Check fluid level.
• Visually inspect all SRS airbag units for torn
covers, obvious damage or attachment of
stickers.
• Rear-view mirrors
• Coolant: check fluid level and concentration.
• Windshield washer and intensive cleaning sys-
tem: check protection level, fluid level, top if
necessary.
• Brake system connections and lines: check for
leaks, damage and correct positioning
• Underbody, incl. all visible parts (i.e. transmis-
sion, rear axle, fuel lines, exhaust system),
check for damage, leaks and corrosion
• Steering components: check for clearance,
leaks, damage and wear
• Final Inspection: Road test with check of
• Brakes
• Steering
• Shock absorbers (visual)
• Transmission
Brake fluid
Maintenance work
•Replace brake fluid
Spark plugs
Maintenance work
•Replace spark plugs at the following intervals:
528i, 528xi, 550i: 100,000 miles
535i, 535xi, 535xi Sports Wagon: 45,000 miles
Automatic Transmission
Maintenance work
• Replace ATF at intervals of 100,000 miles
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