Table of Contents
Page
The BMW Maintenance Program - 2008 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 535xi Sports Wagon, 550i .......................................... 1
Coverage ......................................................1
Maintenance Intervals ..............................................1
Exclusions from coverage ...........................................1
Maintenance Upgrade Option .........................................1
Maintenance Program . . ............................................ 2
Condition Based Service (CBS) ....................................... 2
Service Interval Display . . .......................................... 3
Info Display screen contents .........................................3
Control Display screen contents .......................................3
Symbols .......................................................3
Quality Certification I ...............................................5
Special Note ....................................................5
Maintenance summary ............................................. 5
Standard operations ...............................................5
Engine oil ......................................................5
Frontbrake .....................................................5
Rearbrake......................................................5
Vehicle Check ...................................................6
Brake fluid ......................................................6
Spark plugs .....................................................6
Automatic Transmission ............................................6
Evidence of maintenance work ....................................... 7
Emission Control Maintenance Schedule . .............................. 15
BatteryCare .................................................... 15
Corrosion Protection ............................................. 15
Restoring corrosion protection .......................................15
Underbody maintenance ...........................................16
Body Inspection ................................................. 17
Customer Assistance Information .................................... 23
Customer Assistance - Notification ................................... 23
BBB Auto Line .................................................. 24
California Residents ..............................................24
Special Programs ................................................ 26
BMW Import Processing Centers ..................................... 26
BMW Roadside Assistance ......................................... 26
Owners Eligibility ................................................27
Getting Started .................................................27
Calling For Assistance .............................................27
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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The performance of certain subsequent mainte-
nance elements, as required by the BMW New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, will be specified at
intervals computed by the BMW Service Interval
Indicator as follows:
– Oil Service: Engine oil should be changed with the engine at operating temperature.
Note: Change oil at least once a year.
All 2008 model year 5 Series are factory-filled
with BMW High Performance Synthetic oils. At
the time of the printing of this booklet, the fol-
lowing 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 engine oils.
For the most current list of synthetic oils, please
contact your BMW center, or call BMW of North
America, LLC at 1 800 831-1117. You can also
obtain this information 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
SH or higher.
The following maintenance elements must be
performed at the mileage/time stated (time
intervals begin from the vehicles production
date):
– Brake Fluid Service: Change brake fluid every two years, or when specified by CBS. – Oxygen Sensor Service: The oxygen sensor
deteriorates strictly on a mileage basis and
must therefore be replaced as follows to maxi-
mize vehicle fuel economy and minimize
exhaust pollution: 120,000 miles.
– Spark Plug Service: Replace at the following intervals:
528i, 528xi, 550i: 100,000 miles
535i, 535xi, 535xi Sports Wagon:
45,000 miles
– The engine coolant has a lifetime rating and does not need to be changed.
For your convenience, you may also wish to
have your BMW center perform any necessary
operations to fulfill any state inspection require-
ments in your area concurrent with the mainte-
nance elements specified above during other
repairs.
Make sure that confirmation of maintenance
work is always entered in this Service and War-
ranty Information Booklet. You may need this for
any warranty claims that become necessary, and
later on as evidence that your car 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 vehicle, but also to computing of the
optimum maintenance interval for your type of
operations and driving style. Your BMW center
has made a substantial investment in unique
BMW special service tools to enable his BMW
factory trained service technicians to perform
quality repairs on your BMW in minimal time.
Your service technician looks forward to serving
your every service need and to help maximize
your satisfaction with your BMW, its longevity,
and resale value.
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Quality Certification I
For a detailed list of items inspected, refer to the
Quality Certification I form provided to the
Owner at time of delivery. A copy of the form is
on file at the selling BMW center.
Special Note
The maintenance requirements for your vehicle
are determined dynamically by the Condition
Based Service (CBS) system . The maintenance
items stated herein reflect the latest information
available at the time of the printing of this state-
ment, and are subject to change. The most cur-
rent maintenance recommendations are
available from your authorized BMW center.
Maintenance summary
The Condition Based Service (CBS) system will
determine the requirement for performance of
the maintenance services described on this and
the following page. These services may be
required either individually or in conjunction with
other maintenance services.
Standard operations
Maintenance work
• Brief diagnostic test
• Verify Check Control messages
• Check indicator and warning lights
• Reset CBS display
Engine oil
Maintenance work
•Change the engine oil and oil filter. We recom-
mend BMW High Performance 5W-30 Syn-
thetic Oil P/N 07 51 0 017 866.
• Replace ventilation microfilter
• After every 3rd engine oil change: Intake air
cleaner: replace air filter element (reduce
replacement interval in dusty operating
conditions).
• Parking brake: check function
Front brake
Maintenance work
•Replace brake pads, clean brake pad contact
points in calipers.
• Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, if
necessary replace at extra charge*
Rear brake
Maintenance work
• Replace brake pads, clean brake pad contact
points in calipers.
• Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, if
necessary replace at extra charge*
• Parking brake: Check condition, brake lining
thickness and function, if necessary replace at
extra charge*.
*Unless covered by Maintenance Program
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