Got my first 'proper' car - what do I need to keep an eye on?

SuprSi

I started a new job a few weeks ago and part of the package included a company car, which turned out to be an 1 year old BMW X3 It's not a car I'd would have looked that much at, but coming from a 1996 VW Polo it's a significant step up and I'm very much enjoying driving it.

It's a 2.0d and has full servicing, road side assistance, etc, etc, but what I want to know is if there's anything I need to keep an eye on? With the Polo I had it serviced once a year, which looked after oil and everything else. Being a modern car/engine, do I need to top it up with oil or anything else like that, stuff I wouldn't have done with the Polo?

It came with a manual but I haven't had time to read it due to moving home, though I definitely will as soon as we're settled.

tossy

Congrats

Modern cars are pretty good at warning you about low oil and other fluids but it's good practice to check the oil at least once a month while you are checking tyre pressures maybe, i'm sure i don't need to tell you but always check the oil when the engine is cold to get a true reflection of the exact level in the sump.

bazz26

If the X3 is like other BMWs then it will not have an oil dip stick. You should be able to check the oil level via the digital gauge in the on board computer menu.

Rose35

bazz26 wrote: »

If the X3 is like other BMWs then it will not have an oil dip stick. You should be able to check the oil level via the digital gauge in the on board computer menu.

Wow snazzy!!!!!!!!!!!

tossy

bazz26 wrote: »

If the X3 is like other BMWs then it will not have an oil dip stick. You should be able to check the oil level via the digital gauge in the on board computer menu.

I only found out this fact last week, a hairdresser friend of mine has a Z4 and he was pointing it out.

bazz26

Not gone on that myself though, I prefer the old fashion visual inspection with the dip stick rather than depending on an electronic sensor to tell me my oil level.

When I first got my BMW I had fun looking for the battery under the bonnet, found the charging terminals alright but couldn't see where the battery was, eventually found in the boot. (:

tossy

bazz26 wrote: »

Not gone on that myself though, I prefer the old fashion visual inspection with the dip stick rather than depending on an electronic sensor to tell me my oil level.

When I first got my BMW I had fun looking for the battery under the bonnet, found the charging terminals alright but couldn't see where the battery was, eventually found in the boot. (:

Yeah i wouldn't be into it at all. Is it a reflection on the type of people BMW want to sell their cars too i wonder ?

SuprSi

bazz26 wrote: »

If the X3 is like other BMWs then it will not have an oil dip stick. You should be able to check the oil level via the digital gauge in the on board computer menu.

Actually come to mention it I did notice a thing in the display where I could check the oil leve - very snazzy indeed! As if electric windows and a sunroof weren't enough for me!

bazz26

tossy wrote: »

Yeah i wouldn't be into it at all. Is it a reflection on the type of people BMW want to sell their cars too i wonder ?

You could be right there.

SuprSi wrote: »

Actually come to mention it I did notice a thing in the display where I could check the oil leve - very snazzy indeed! As if electric windows and a sunroof weren't enough for me!

Not sure about the BMW SUVs but most of the cars have run on flat tyres and come with a tyre pressure monitoring system also.

No Pants

SuprSi wrote: »

do I need to top it up with oil or anything else like that, stuff I wouldn't have done with the Polo?

Did the Polo have one of those magical engines?

Fatswaldo

The BMW will tell you, sometimes in advance, when you need to do something - service, oil level, bulbs fail, tyre pressure low etc. A message will appear on the screen. Handy, only issue is if you go back to a car without these things and have to start remembering for yourself again!

bazz26

If it is a company car then most likely the leasing company has a fixed service/maintenance schedule for it with your company so I would not be doing anything other than monitoring the oil level, etc. If it starts drinking oil then I'd be inclined to notify the relevant person at work.