[hollandog]

Just saw a post on my Facebook that the guy got rip off $500+ for his first IS350 service. Though the website says every Lexus comes with 2 free service the dealer did not honor it. And the dealer dared to call him again for additional $149 wheel alignment. I would file complaint to Lexus if I were him.

A relative of mine who's not a car guy got billed $800 for oil change & service of his ML350 by Mercedes. Also had him changed all 4 tires under 15k miles.

It makes me appreciate the effort by BMW to offer free maintenance to their cars even they are cutting the coverage now. None of the competitions are doing it. I can't remember the last time I paid for regular service.

[VividRacingII]

Well, BMW offers 12k miles service is not that impressive tho.

[hollandog]

Originally Posted by VividRacingII

Well, BMW offers 12k miles service is not that impressive tho.

The mileage interval varies depend on drive style/location. My system has service every 1 year or 7500 miles.

[eluded]

What is free maintenance for BMW? Yearly oil change?

[rolltidef32]

Originally Posted by eluded

What is free maintenance for BMW? Yearly oil change?

Well, there's that, brakes if necessary, and almost anything that isn't wear and tear for the first 4yrs or 50K.

BMW did make some drastic changes for 2016, but my two cars are under the old plan still.

Think it's also important for car owners to do a little research before or during a service trip. If someone isn't smart enough to realize what is happening with such expensive cars, this is why it's so easy for a shady dealership to fleece them.

A bad SA tried some crap when my wife took in her X3 for an oil change last year. Gave her crap about the tires. I'd already told her that I would get a new set when they wore out in about 8 more months.

Dude said they were dangerous, ect. I told her to hand the phone to him, I then preceded to tear into the guy. Don't ever say anything to try to scare my wife. I know cars, know tires with an obsession; even measured the tread before sending her there. Also let him know that the survey would reflect his behavior and that I would check the car once she was home, and if anything were not up to par, he'd see me in person; which would not end well.

Needless to say, no other problems and I also changed advisors to a great young man who sees eye to eye with me. He gets all 5's for both car visits.

[EdDuran]

I have a 2014 328xd and recently went in for a 20,000 mile service .. aka, oil/filter change and wipers. When I got home I checked the iDrive maintenance screen and it was saying brakes were due at 50,000. Wish I had checked BEFORE going to the dealers, as the last time I looked I thought the front were around 25k and the rears around 40k. I was wondering if they tweaked the system

I also asked about software updates; its been two years and they've never done any. But they wouldn't do it unless there was an issue. After I was thinking about what I've read about the steering feel improvement from the software updates. I have coded a few things (windows up with remote, mirrors closing when locked) and read too that BMW could void your warranty for doing this.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by EdDuran

I have a 2014 328xd and recently went in for a 20,000 mile service .. aka, oil/filter change and wipers. When I got home I checked the iDrive maintenance screen and it was saying brakes were due at 50,000. Wish I had checked BEFORE going to the dealers, as the last time I looked I thought the front were around 25k and the rears around 40k. I was wondering if they tweaked the system

I also asked about software updates; its been two years and they've never done any. But they wouldn't do it unless there was an issue. After I was thinking about what I've read about the steering feel improvement from the software updates. I have coded a few things (windows up with remote, mirrors closing when locked) and read too that BMW could void your warranty for doing this.

You read wrong - BMW cannot "void your warranty" for custom coding. I've had custom coding on my last 4 BMWs with zero problems from the 3 dealerships I've used. Now, if the motors in your folding mirrors give out and you're still under warranty, they might give you a hard time about replacing them under warranty - but, it's a feature that's in the car that you activated - you did not create any new code/feature. Your reply if they challenged you is "why did BMW include that feature if it could wear out a component?". If, on the other hand, you somehow were able to insert new code to do something not originally included in the car's software, that's a completely different situation, but they could still only deny warranty claims on any component affected by the non-original code.

[PennSt8]

Originally Posted by hollandog

The mileage interval varies depend on drive style/location. My system has service every 1 year or 7500 miles.

This! I have 22K on my 4, and I've had 3 oil changes, wipers and front brakes replaced. That warranty is worth its weight in gold especially with the amount of city driving that I do on clogged LA streets.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by EdDuran

I have a 2014 328xd and recently went in for a 20,000 mile service .. aka, oil/filter change and wipers. When I got home I checked the iDrive maintenance screen and it was saying brakes were due at 50,000. Wish I had checked BEFORE going to the dealers, as the last time I looked I thought the front were around 25k and the rears around 40k. I was wondering if they tweaked the system

I also asked about software updates; its been two years and they've never done any. But they wouldn't do it unless there was an issue. After I was thinking about what I've read about the steering feel improvement from the software updates. I have coded a few things (windows up with remote, mirrors closing when locked) and read too that BMW could void your warranty for doing this.

There are physical wear sensors that will indicate when the pads are worn down and require replacement.

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by hollandog

Just saw a post on my Facebook that the guy got rip off $500+ for his first IS350 service. Though the website says every Lexus comes with 2 free service the dealer did not honor it. And the dealer dared to call him again for additional $149 wheel alignment. I would file complaint to Lexus if I were him.

A relative of mine who's not a car guy got billed $800 for oil change & service of his ML350 by Mercedes. Also had him changed all 4 tires under 15k miles.

It makes me appreciate the effort by BMW to offer free maintenance to their cars even they are cutting the coverage now. None of the competitions are doing it. I can't remember the last time I paid for regular service.

Sounds anecdotal. My father has a 09' MB S550 and his oil changes at the dealership are $150ish. I don't trust BMW's service interval, well, for my E92 anyways. I did not feel comfortable waiting 15k miles to change the filter, so I paid to get it changed at 7500.

[ashpal19]

Does anyone know what all is included in free maintenance for leased cars?

Also implied, what is not included ? Somethings that folks had to pay for in the 36 months of leasing ?

[Y0tsuya]

Originally Posted by PennSt8

This! I have 22K on my 4, and I've had 3 oil changes, wipers and front brakes replaced. That warranty is worth its weight in gold especially with the amount of city driving that I do on clogged LA streets.

Dude that wiper refill is like $10. Back when I had my e46 I installed my own silicone wipers anyway. The whole maintenance thing is worth $1000 at best to me. Not enough to sway any purchase decision.

[EdDuran]

Originally Posted by roundel335

You read wrong - BMW cannot "void your warranty" for custom coding. I've had custom coding on my last 4 BMWs with zero problems from the 3 dealerships I've used. Now, if the motors in your folding mirrors give out and you're still under warranty, they might give you a hard time about replacing them under warranty - but, it's a feature that's in the car that you activated - you did not create any new code/feature. Your reply if they challenged you is "why did BMW include that feature if it could wear out a component?". If, on the other hand, you somehow were able to insert new code to do something not originally included in the car's software, that's a completely different situation, but they could still only deny warranty claims on any component affected by the non-original code.

Interesting - well I'll make an appointment and report back. Curious about the steering feel change, if any. thanks

[hollandog]

Originally Posted by Y0tsuya

Dude that wiper refill is like $10. Back when I had my e46 I installed my own silicone wipers anyway. The whole maintenance thing is worth $1000 at best to me. Not enough to sway any purchase decision.

For the car guys like us who can do a lot of the stuff ourselves that's true.
It's easy to get rip off few hundreds for a service if you don't know anything about cars.

At least BMW covers majority of the stuff in the free maintenance.

[hollandog]

Originally Posted by ashpal19

Does anyone know what all is included in free maintenance for leased cars?

Also implied, what is not included ? Somethings that folks had to pay for in the 36 months of leasing ?

Tire rotation, alignment and the tires are not included.
Most of the stuff is included for MY2016 or older.

MY2017 or newer they took out the brakes and clutch if you have manual.

[NYF32DRIVER]

http://www.bmwblog.com/2016/01/07/st...d-maintenance/

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by hollandog

Just saw a post on my Facebook that the guy got rip off $500+ for his first IS350 service. Though the website says every Lexus comes with 2 free service the dealer did not honor it. And the dealer dared to call him again for additional $149 wheel alignment. I would file complaint to Lexus if I were him.

A relative of mine who's not a car guy got billed $800 for oil change & service of his ML350 by Mercedes. Also had him changed all 4 tires under 15k miles.

It makes me appreciate the effort by BMW to offer free maintenance to their cars even they are cutting the coverage now. None of the competitions are doing it. I can't remember the last time I paid for regular service.

Pointing to an obscure Facebook post bitching about a dealer not honoring "free" service means absolutely nothing without at least some context as to why they didn't honor it. As a car guy you know very well that BMW dealers can be just as ingenious as other brands in overcharging for service.

In fact, as a car guy, you needn't be reminded that BMW finished in 9th place out of 12 Luxury Brands in the 2016 J.D. Power U.S. Customer Service Index study. And with the change in 2017 models to remove brakes, engine belts, manual-transmission clutches, and even wiper blades from the "free" list, this leaves only a few stripped maintenance things like oil changes and air filters and spark plugs still being covered but now it's one year less (3 yrs instead of 4) coverage.

Hopefully, the money BMW saves by reducing "free" service will be used to improving their poor dealer service record.

[hollandog]

Looks like a lot of you guys don't give a shit on the free services provided by BMW, while bitching on how BMW cutting the service.

Personally I don't find how BMW had inferior service than other brands from the past visits. And I went to the dealership with probably the worst reviews (Life Quality BMW in Brooklyn). In fact all BMW dealerships in nyc have generally bad reviews. Compared to my past Infiniti experience it was about the same.

[Adamr916]

Now that my free maintenance is up, the only thing I will need to return to the dealership for is for a DEF refill. I can do it myself, but with no way of actually knowing how much needs to be added, it's just best I take it to them until someone comes up with a way for me to check it myself. But in the past, I've never personally had an issue with maintenance on the car, aside from the car washes, but I will say that I'm going to feel better about doing the oil changes myself.

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by NYF32DRIVER

http://www.bmwblog.com/2016/01/07/st...d-maintenance/

One thing I'm reading there that I didn't pickup on before is the below:

Furthermore, the new program will no longer includes brake pads, brake rotors, wiper blades, engine belts or manual transmission clutches.

Pretty sure scheduled maintenance for brake pads and wiper blades is within 3 years/36K miles, meaning the typical lease customer now will have to shell out for these services? I understand they're not overly expensive maintenance items, but still ..

[PennSt8]

Originally Posted by Y0tsuya

Dude that wiper refill is like $10. Back when I had my e46 I installed my own silicone wipers anyway. The whole maintenance thing is worth $1000 at best to me. Not enough to sway any purchase decision.

Yes, I am aware. Windshield wipers are cheap and easily replaceable. I merely rattled off (as an example) the things that have been replaced under the current scheduled maintenance plan. There are a lot of lazy people out there that cannot be bothered with keeping up on simple maintenance items such as wipers (especially in SoCal)

[XRAVE]

The service charges really start to add up.

5-6 oil changes in 4 years/50k miles = $600-720
Brakes (all 4 rotors plus 4 pads) = $1000+
Clutch replacement = 1500$
Wipers ( 1 replacement a year ) = 120$

This is all I could think of quickly but there's many more like air filters, other engine fluids, sparks plugs, etc