[Yobyot]

I saw the warranty booklet today for a new F30.

I was surprised to see that N20s have to have spark plugs replaced every 30K miles. N55s, every 60K. (I think there was also a number-of-oil-changes interval that was every three for the N20 and something greater for the N55.)

I think this is interesting because maintaining these cars is incredibly expensive (it costs about $900 bucks to replace the coils/plugs in an E90, as I discovered last December.

Another thing I noticed is that the emissions warranty for CA-certified N20s was 8 years/100K miles, while the limit was 7 years/80K (not sure about the mileage) for N55s.

Looks like N20 owners will get a free spark plug replacement during the warranty, but N55 owners won't.

I also wonder if BMW is backing off their very long maintenance intervals and, by doing so, increasing the apparent maintenance costs.

[Red Bread]

Is that $900 for the dealer to do it? I replaced my coils and plugs for about $350 in parts on my M Coupe recently.

[E90Fleet]

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=645963

[S1000RR Drag Racer]

That's not good news to hear. It looks like BMW is going backward to the days of the E36, when the service would nickel and dime you to death when the warranty ran out.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

I saw the warranty booklet today for a new F30.

I was surprised to see that N20s have to have spark plugs replaced every 30K miles. N55s, every 60K. (I think there was also a number-of-oil-changes interval that was every three for the N20 and something greater for the N55.)

I think this is interesting because maintaining these cars is incredibly expensive (it costs about $900 bucks to replace the coils/plugs in an E90, as I discovered last December.

Another thing I noticed is that the emissions warranty for CA-certified N20s was 8 years/100K miles, while the limit was 7 years/80K (not sure about the mileage) for N55s.

Looks like N20 owners will get a free spark plug replacement during the warranty, but N55 owners won't.

I also wonder if BMW is backing off their very long maintenance intervals and, by doing so, increasing the apparent maintenance costs.

The link below shows plugs for the N20 every oil change, so about 15 miles. The N55 plugs every 30K miles. But, that's not happening now with the N55, or not that I'm aware.

The oil change interval is the same at apprx 15K, or more likely when the computer triggers it.

15K plug change interval is what many practiced back in the early 90's when we ran high boost in our Mits turbo's.

It's no big deal though, unless you don't know how to change plugs.
You don't change coil packs with plugs, just the plugs. With the N20 you only have 4 plugs. You can get Bosch plugs for about $12-$13 each.
So that's $48 to $52 per change, which should be about once per year for most drivers. If you do more than 15K per year, then you're likely doing highway driving. For that I'd still do only once per year.

It shouldn't take a BMW tech any longer than an hour in billed time.
But, they probably charge between $80-$100 per hour, plus they'll probably charge about $15 per plug, $60. That's about $160 per year for a plug change.

The change interval seems way too short for such a modern engine.

Learn to change your own plugs and save money and get to know your BMW better.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by RPM90

The link below shows plugs for the N20 every oil change, so about 15 miles. The N55 plugs every 30K miles. But, that's not happening now with the N55, or not that I'm aware.

The oil change interval is the same at apprx 15K, or more likely when the computer triggers it.

15K plug change interval is what many practiced back in the early 90's when we ran high boost in our Mits turbo's.

It's no big deal though, unless you don't know how to change plugs.
You don't change coil packs with plugs, just the plugs. With the N20 you only have 4 plugs. You can get Bosch plugs for about $12-$13 each.
So that's $48 to $52 per change, which should be about once per year for most drivers. If you do more than 15K per year, then you're likely doing highway driving. For that I'd still do only once per year.

It shouldn't take a BMW tech any longer than an hour in billed time.
But, they probably charge between $80-$100 per hour, plus they'll probably charge about $15 per plug, $60. That's about $160 per year for a plug change.

The change interval seems way too short for such a modern engine.

Learn to change your own plugs and save money and get to know your BMW better.

I'd be shocked if the BMW dealers in the Boston area let us off the hook with just an hour's labor to change the plugs.

There's a difference between what it actually takes -- and what the dealers typically pork these normal maintenance services up to.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

I'd be shocked if the BMW dealers in the Boston area let us off the hook with just an hour's labor to change the plugs.

There's a difference between what it actually takes -- and what the dealers typically pork these normal maintenance services up to.

You could be right. But, that's why I say to learn to do it yourself.
I wouldn't let a BMW tech do the work if he quoted me more than an hour for labor to change 4 plugs. There are independent shops that have great mechanics/techs, just look in your area, and save money, at least after the warranty.