First Service undertaken at 22,000miles???

cooots · 06-25-2011, 09:27 AM

Hi All,

New member from Aus here (long time browser tho).

I'm looking at buying a pre-owned Z4 Coupe 3.0si auto in Titan Silver (2006 model, first registered Jan 2007).

The question I had is that the service manual shows the Pre-Delivery Check ticked off and then the First Service undertaken at 36,000kms (22,000miles) in May 2010

The dealer told me that this is not unusual as the service intervals vary in these cars depending on how/where it is driven... so its likely the original owner drove it like a grandma. That's not a bad thing I guess, but 36,000kms (22,000miles) seems a long time between oil changes.

So I was wondering if you guys could let me know if this is true, and whether or not you'd be concerned about it.

Many thanks in advance!

XMetal · 06-25-2011, 09:58 AM

I'm more worried that the oil hasn't been changed over 3 years rather than the amount of mileage on it. Since the service interval is determined by the amount of fuel burned, it's possible to get 22k miles prior to getting a service light if the car was driven on pure highways. But BMW does recommend at a minimum, an annual oil change regardless of mileage (without resetting the service light reminder). If one does that recommended annual oil change without resetting the service light, would it shows in the service manual?

santov · 06-25-2011, 10:57 AM

Yes it's common. There was an 3.0i that I was looking at with 24k miles and it only had one oil change done at 22k.

Remember the car calls for Inspections based on gallons of gas > ~600 gallons. So this 3.0 was driving by grandma. I don't think any oil can last that long, and it's likely the filter was covered with break in metals. But it's unlikely theres any serious damage or concern.

Any in-between oil changes are logged by the dealer. If it's an oil change only the techs are NOT supposed to reset the service meter.

Hawkeye · 06-27-2011, 10:33 AM

If there were no oil changes in between I would personally steer clear. The original dealer oil change program had free oil changes once a year or every ~15K miles. If they did not change it at least once a year then I would get a full analysis of the car by an indy or something before committing to it.

nmulax · 06-27-2011, 11:29 AM

Most people (myself included) don't log the vehicles maintenance in the owner's manual. Have the dealer pull the complete vehicle history by punching the VIN into the computer so you can really see what has/has not been done.
Like Hawkeye said, it should have had 4 oil changes at this point - due to the 1 year intervals.

06-25-2011, 09:27 AM	#1
cooots Enlisted Member 8 Rep 38 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	First Service undertaken at 22,000miles??? Hi All, New member from Aus here (long time browser tho). I'm looking at buying a pre-owned Z4 Coupe 3.0si auto in Titan Silver (2006 model, first registered Jan 2007). The question I had is that the service manual shows the Pre-Delivery Check ticked off and then the First Service undertaken at 36,000kms (22,000miles) in May 2010 The dealer told me that this is not unusual as the service intervals vary in these cars depending on how/where it is driven... so its likely the original owner drove it like a grandma. That's not a bad thing I guess, but 36,000kms (22,000miles) seems a long time between oil changes. So I was wondering if you guys could let me know if this is true, and whether or not you'd be concerned about it. Many thanks in advance!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-25-2011, 09:58 AM	#2
XMetal Colonel 1167 Rep 2,882 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	I'm more worried that the oil hasn't been changed over 3 years rather than the amount of mileage on it. Since the service interval is determined by the amount of fuel burned, it's possible to get 22k miles prior to getting a service light if the car was driven on pure highways. But BMW does recommend at a minimum, an annual oil change regardless of mileage (without resetting the service light reminder). If one does that recommended annual oil change without resetting the service light, would it shows in the service manual?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-25-2011, 10:57 AM	#3
santov Lieutenant 64 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 3.0si White over Beige Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area, Calif iTrader: (8)	Yes it's common. There was an 3.0i that I was looking at with 24k miles and it only had one oil change done at 22k. Remember the car calls for Inspections based on gallons of gas > ~600 gallons. So this 3.0 was driving by grandma. I don't think any oil can last that long, and it's likely the filter was covered with break in metals. But it's unlikely theres any serious damage or concern. Any in-between oil changes are logged by the dealer. If it's an oil change only the techs are NOT supposed to reset the service meter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-27-2011, 10:33 AM	#4
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	If there were no oil changes in between I would personally steer clear. The original dealer oil change program had free oil changes once a year or every ~15K miles. If they did not change it at least once a year then I would get a full analysis of the car by an indy or something before committing to it. __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-27-2011, 11:29 AM	#5
nmulax Brigadier General 380 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	Most people (myself included) don't log the vehicles maintenance in the owner's manual. Have the dealer pull the complete vehicle history by punching the VIN into the computer so you can really see what has/has not been done. Like Hawkeye said, it should have had 4 oil changes at this point - due to the 1 year intervals. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote