Oil changes performed outside the recom-
mended maintenance intervals as indicated
by the Service Interval Display
Maintenance Upgrade Option
Please contact your authorized BMW center for
information and availability on the optional Main-
tenance Program Upgrade for coverage up to
6 years and 100,000 miles.
Intervals
Time intervals should be followed using the
maintenance interval as indicated by the BMW
Service Interval Display.
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
temperature.
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.
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 17 of this statement.
2
Symbols
No service is currently required.
The deadline for service or a legally man-
dated inspection is approaching. Please
schedule a service appointment.
The service deadline has already passed.
The current service status is automatically
saved in the vehicle’s ignition key. The Service
Advisor at your BMW center has a device called
a key reader. When your Service Advisor inserts
your key into the key reader, all pertinent vehicle
and servicing data will be available, and a cus-
tomized maintenance checklist is printed out
based on the specific operations called for by
the Condition Based Service.
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.
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 M3 vehicles are factory-
filled with Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60
Synthetic Engine Oil (BMW part number
07 51 0 009 420). This is the only approved
engine oil at the time of printing of this book. 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 Castrol TWS Motorsport
10W-60 Synthetic, BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil or Mobil 1, 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 every
120,000 miles to maximize vehicle fuel econ-
omy and minimize exhaust pollution.
Spark Plug Service (not shown in CBS):
Replace at 37,000 miles.
The engine coolant has a lifetime rating and
does not need to be changed except for sys-
tem repairs.
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. Should you request more frequent
maintenance service, the cost of these ser-
vices will not be covered by the Maintenance
Program.
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 BMW fac-
tory trained service technicians to perform qual-
ity 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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