Servicing a BMW 5 series

thebadguy88

Hi Folks

I bought a bmw 5 series 520d at the start of December 2017. It had 116,000km on it when i bought it and Im due to service it in the next few weeks.
I would just like to know where is the most reasonable places to buy parts that I can bring to an indy mechanic based near my work place.
Also what will i need to buy and change??Oil , filter and so on??
Any advice would be great
Thanks

rex-x

Let the mechanic buy the parts, there is no saving to be made and you are forfeiting any warranty on the work by supplying. Also many garages don't even allow it for normal parts (we don't)

Also keep in mind your oil capacity is greater than on most engines > 5L so the service will cost a bit more.

Toyotafanboi

I'd agree with the above. Bring it to the mechanic, he will know what it needs.

You'll make a saving on the VAT too. If you buy them at retail price from a motor factors you pay 23% VAT on the retail price. If you buy them from your mechanic at the retail price with the service you only pay 13.5%. That difference is probably more than you'd save sourcing them yourself anyway.

Blazer

If you still have a warranty on it make sure the mechanic uses oem parts and Castrol oil which is recommended by BMW.

thebadguy88

Blazer wrote: »

If you still have a warranty on it make sure the mechanic uses oem parts and Castrol oil which is recommended by BMW.

Hi there

i bought it from a Simi dealer with a 12 month warranty plan , he also services there , should i go to him for the service??

Regards

thebadguy88

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I'd agree with the above. Bring it to the mechanic, he will know what it needs.

You'll make a saving on the VAT too. If you buy them at retail price from a motor factors you pay 23% VAT on the retail price. If you buy them from your mechanic at the retail price with the service you only pay 13.5%. That difference is probably more than you'd save sourcing them yourself anyway.

Thanks for the advice , how much would you think a service for bmw 5 series cost??
I have driven 7000km since i bought it and it was just serviced before i got it

thebadguy88

rex-x wrote: »

Let the mechanic buy the parts, there is no saving to be made and you are forfeiting any warranty on the work by supplying. Also many garages don't even allow it for normal parts (we don't)

Also keep in mind your oil capacity is greater than on most engines > 5L so the service will cost a bit more.

Il take your advice sir , any mechanic I went to near me in Cork , I could always bring the parts but im too busy in work now to go sourcing them

Toyotafanboi

thebadguy88 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice , how much would you think a service for bmw 5 series cost??
I have driven 7000km since i bought it and it was just serviced before i got it

I don't know what BMW recommend at 120k kms to be honest. That said, generally speaking I would expect it to potentially need some work around tyres/ brakes/ suspension at that mileage.

I'd also expect it to need a full service, oil/ air/ fuel/ pollen as a lot of pre sale services consist of just an oil and filter change, and if that's the case it'll surely be due more this time.

thebadguy88

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I don't know what BMW recommend at 120k kms to be honest. That said, generally speaking I would expect it to potentially need some work around tyres/ brakes/ suspension at that mileage.

I'd also expect it to need a full service, oil/ air/ fuel/ pollen as a lot of pre sale services consist of just an oil and filter change, and if that's the case it'll surely be due more this time.

I hope it wont be that expensive lol but thanks for the informative reply

Cheers

millington

thebadguy88 wrote: »

I hope it wont be that expensive lol but thanks for the informative reply

Cheers

I would expect €250 would be more than enough for a full service using Castrol oil & a general checkover. If it's an auto it may be worth getting the gearbox oil changed also.

biko

I changed the title a bit since this is hardly the first time the car have been serviced.

Blazer

A oil change is recommended around the 100,000 km mark on autos.
This is expensive and can cost upto €600 if you don’t know what you’re doing yourself and very few Bmw dealers offer it. And you definitely want an Indy BMW who knows what their doing to change it.
Valdes in Dublin comes highly recommend if you’re from around there.

bazz26

What needs doing at this service interval will totally depend on what was done at the last interval. What year is the car and what engine is in it? Petrol or diesel?

The onboard iDrive computer should tell you what is due. It usually gives a run down in km/miles to things that need changing/attention like oil, filters, brake pads and inspection. If the dealer you bought it off just serviced it but didn't bother having the iDrive reset for what he did then that's going to throw it out of wack.

At 120k km presuming it's diesel and the dealer only gave it the bare minimum then it could be due an oil/oil filter, air filter, pollen filter and fuel filter. It may also be due an inspection. You will pay around €400 from a good BMW indy.

Squatman

millington wrote: »

I would expect €250 would be more than enough for a full service using Castrol oil & a general checkover. If it's an auto it may be worth getting the gearbox oil changed also.

your forgetting the BMW premium, so double that,, then put on another 20%. Just a guess, but id say 6 hundy. might need a turbo breather too, coolant flush, etc. my old 530 was 50€ for wipers.

mickdw

I agree that getting garage to supply parts is the correct way to do things and with the vat system it shouldn't cost anymore however my experience is that if I supply parts, I will supply genuine stuff and correct oil and I can shop around for a good price for it online etc.
At many garages, they will fit the cheapest stuff the motor factors can find and when requesting genuine stuff, charge far far in excess of what they should seeing me as a soft target when looking for genuine stuff.
That is before we get to the issue of knowing whether they actually fill with the correct oil regardless of how much they charged for it.
For those reasons I do my own servicing now.

robtri

if inspection one wasnt done at 90k... heres whats needed (manfacture recommends)
Every 10,000 miles or 12 months:

Safety & Oil Service

Oil change

Oil filter change

Brakes

Horn

Windshield wipers and wiper fluid

Indicator lights and dashboard warning lights

Steering linkage

Engine coolant

Rubber belts and hoses

Suspension components

Check for fluid leaks

Check tire pressure

First 30,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles after that:

Inspection 1:

Underneath Your BMW:

This includes everything from prior inspections.

Verify the engine temperature

Check power steering system, rear axle, and transmission for leaks.

Check the exhaust system for leaks, proper positioning and mounting, and overall condition.

Check front control arm and bushing for wear.

Check steering system for absence of play and overall condition.

Clean the brake pad contact points, check the brake disc surfaces, and examine the thickness of your brake pads.

Examine brake lines and clutch system connectors for leaks, damage, and proper positioning

Check positioning and movement of parking brake cables.

Tires and Wheels:

Check tire pressure on all tires.

Examine tires for wear and even tread.

Grease wheel center hubs.

Under the Hood:

Read diagnostic system.

Check antifreeze, coolant, brake, clutch, and windshield washer fluid levels.

Examine engine cooling system/heater hose connections for leaks.

Check air conditioning is working correctly.

Perform a battery load test and check the electrolyte levels of your battery, and reset service indicator.

For the Body and Interior:

Check interior and exterior lighting for functionality.

Check indicator lights, instrument panel, and dashboard for illumination and control.

Check washer and wiper system

Check safety belts and visually check airbag units for damage.

Check heating and air blowers and defoggers

Check mirrors

To complete the inspection, there should be a short road test to finalize that the car is in proper working order.

Toyotafanboi

mickdw wrote: »

At many garages, they will fit the cheapest stuff the motor factors can find

Is this really a thing? Most independents do take pride in their work and only want to fit parts they can stand over themselves, quality wise.

There's very few decent mechanics who will fit the cheapest stuff they can find unless they are specifically requested to do so.

aristotle25

If you are in anyway capable of basic hands-on work you will easily be able to change the air filter and two micro filters. It literally open a few clips and nuts and swap out old filters and out in new.

Watch a few YouTube videos and see. You can buy the filters from micksgarage or elsewhere.

Squatman

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Is this really a thing? Most independents do take pride in their work and only want to fit parts they can stand over themselves, quality wise.

There's very few decent mechanics who will fit the cheapest stuff they can find unless they are specifically requested to do so.

correct. everyone will use recommended parts. and only charge labour on top. anything else will be at owners request. (indies anyway)

Squatman

aristotle25 wrote: »

If you are in anyway capable of basic hands-on work you will easily be able to change the air filter and two micro filters. It literally open a few clips and nuts and swap out old filters and out in new.

Watch a few YouTube videos and see. You can buy the filters from micksgarage or elsewhere.

yea but seriously, if your going to an indie anyway, this will likely only cost an extra 2 euro... whats the point? do it all or nothing IMO

mikeecho

My Indy is quite happy to use the bits and bobs I supply.

His oil is generic, as is any parts.

I supply Castro oil, genuine filters and other bits.
I let him know when I'm booking the car in, and never a problem.

And i have the knowledge that only quality parts have been used.

millington

Squatman wrote: »

your forgetting the BMW premium, so double that,, then put on another 20%. Just a guess, but id say 6 hundy. might need a turbo breather too, coolant flush, etc. my old 530 was 50€ for wipers.

I'm not forgetting BMW premium. I've owned over 10 of them and I sell car parts for a living


And just on the branded vs. cheapo, it varies wildly. I know some mechanics that do tend to go for high quality parts but most of them just want good value i.e. not cheap **** but something middle of the road.

thebadguy88

mickdw wrote: »

I agree that getting garage to supply parts is the correct way to do things and with the vat system it shouldn't cost anymore however my experience is that if I supply parts, I will supply genuine stuff and correct oil and I can shop around for a good price for it online etc.
At many garages, they will fit the cheapest stuff the motor factors can find and when requesting genuine stuff, charge far far in excess of what they should seeing me as a soft target when looking for genuine stuff.
That is before we get to the issue of knowing whether they actually fill with the correct oil regardless of how much they charged for it.
For those reasons I do my own servicing now.

Hi Mick

Where would you source your own parts online if you don't mind recommending to me and is it tough to d0 your own servicing??

tphase

thebadguy88 wrote: »

Hi Mick

Where would you source your own parts online if you don't mind recommending to me and is it tough to d0 your own servicing??

Basic service (oil, and filters) is easy enough
Cheapest bricks and mortar place I found for oil was one of the main dealers in Galway (Motorpark), about the same price as online. Don't think they were too bad pricewise for filters etc compared to online but I'd need to check receipts. I'd generally compare the prices vs Otto which is just up the road - sometimes can be a sizeable difference for the same part
Online I've mostly ordered stuff off Mister Auto (5 or 6 times). They get a bad rap but I've never had an issue with them. Just order in plenty of time, they're not always the fastest and you'd want to leave some leeway just in case they have to rectify a mistake. They carry lots of OEM brands and have fairly regular sales, which is when I stock up on service parts.

I also find it handy that they deliver via An Post, no faffing around with drivers trying to find you while you're at work...

blingrhino

Advanced pitstop quoted me 300e for fronts discs and pads and sensors on a 141 5 series today.

seems ok ?

Voodoomelon

One thing to be aware of, which I wasn't, is that the likes of eBay and Amazon are riddled with counterfeit oil, from the likes of Castrol, Mobil 1 etc, so always be sure what you have in your hand is the real deal.

millington

blingrhino wrote: »

Advanced pitstop quoted me 300e for fronts discs and pads and sensors on a 141 5 series today.

seems ok ?

Thats extremely cheap. I'd actually be cautious of that, the discs are very expensive for the front of an F10

Theboinkmaster

blingrhino wrote: »

Advanced pitstop quoted me 300e for fronts discs and pads and sensors on a 141 5 series today.

seems ok ?

That seems very cheap - I use Valdas and he charged me 450 for same work. BMW quoted me 700....

Blazer

Blazer wrote: »

If you still have a warranty on it make sure the mechanic uses oem parts and Castrol oil which is recommended by BMW.

A mechanic hasn't needed to use OEM parts and lubricants to maintain manufacturer warranty since 2010, they only need to be to OEM specification.

I can use MAHLE filters in a car model that has Bosch as the OEM supplier.

The 2010 Block Exemption laid out that Manufacturers needed to freely distribute the technical specification for replacement parts and to a) not disallow warranty claims when non-OEM branded parts were used (unless it was the non-OEM branded part that failed) & b) allow official dealer networks to buy non-OEM branded parts.

mickdw

thebadguy88 wrote: »

mickdw wrote: »

I agree that getting garage to supply parts is the correct way to do things and with the vat system it shouldn't cost anymore however my experience is that if I supply parts, I will supply genuine stuff and correct oil and I can shop around for a good price for it online etc.
At many garages, they will fit the cheapest stuff the motor factors can find and when requesting genuine stuff, charge far far in excess of what they should seeing me as a soft target when looking for genuine stuff.
That is before we get to the issue of knowing whether they actually fill with the correct oil regardless of how much they charged for it.
For those reasons I do my own servicing now.

Hi Mick

Where would you source your own parts online if you don't mind recommending to me and is it tough to d0 your own servicing??

I dont have a bmw but in relation to audi, I try to keep an eye on Halford for offers on the oil I want and indeed the main dealers are pretty good for oil.
Mister auto are great price wise for original equipment stuff. They are slow to deliver and tend to make mistakes but for scheduled stuff, it's easy to be organised and order 1 month in advance.

rabbitinlights

You're overthinking this, just find a recommended Indy BMW mechanic in Cork and bring the car in for a service and inspection.

Any decent Indy will tell you what needs doing and when.

S.

aristotle25

Squatman wrote: »

yea but seriously, if your going to an indie anyway, this will likely only cost an extra 2 euro... whats the point? do it all or nothing IMO

Really? I bought 2 microfilters and 1 air filter for about €70 from micksgarage. I don't think you will find any half decent mechanic to do the same job for that money (or at least in Dublin that I know of).

kirving

In my limited experience of standing at motor factor counters once every few months, the indy mechanics who I see tend to buy the cheapest stuff available. Of course I realise that the professionals are getting big deliveries of stuff and I'm not getting a true picture.

Once a guy covered in dirt and grease had a laugh at me at the counter for buying Castrol or whatever it was which was about a fiver more than his and said "What are you wasting money on that for? Oil is oil."

Kevin Irving

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Once a guy covered in dirt and grease had a laugh at me at the counter for buying Castrol or whatever it was which was about a fiver more than his and said "What are you wasting money on that for? Oil is oil."

Unless you have some sort of extreme performance engine, he's right.

As long as oil matches the specs (whether ACEA, API or a specific GM/BMW spec), it really doesn't matter whether it's Castrol, Comma or Halford's own brand. Some argue that going from semi-synth to fully synth oil in a commonrail engine is more fuel efficient, or slightly quieter, but I've never really seen any scientific evidence of such!

Squatman

aristotle25 wrote: »

Really? I bought 2 microfilters and 1 air filter for about €70 from micksgarage. I don't think you will find any half decent mechanic to do the same job for that money (or at least in Dublin that I know of).

why? you will be doing these jobs together with the service. and it is literally a few screws. (I think you are including the cost of parts, which i am not)

aristotle25

Squatman wrote: »

why? you will be doing these jobs together with the service. and it is literally a few screws. (I think you are including the cost of parts, which i am not)

I have used 3 well know BMW independents in Dublin and can assure you they charge well for changing the air filter and micro filter even when it’s part of an overall service.

Every part of that service is itemized and Labour on top even though it’s onlh a few screws. It is without doubt cheaper to do it yourself.

Squatman

aristotle25 wrote: »

I have used 3 well know BMW independents in Dublin and can assure you they charge well for changing the air filter and micro filter even when it’s part of an overall service.

Every part of that service is itemized and Labour on top even though it’s onlh a few screws. It is without doubt cheaper to do it yourself.

can you quote an itemised receipt? upload a copy please?:eek:

aristotle25

Suppose if you don't believe me you can ring a few of them up and get quotes?

Squatman

aristotle25 wrote: »

Suppose if you don't believe me you can ring a few of them up and get quotes?

OOOOhh caught rotten. Thanks for your nonsense

thebadguy88

Went to the main dealer to sort an issue and indie couldnt do for me.
I then went for a health check on the vehicle with the main dealer , i was quoted that all the work needed came to 2400 euro.
They were pricing tyres at 180 each and to track it a further 150 euro
I bought two tyres from a local tyre garage for 150 euro lol

Stallingrad

thebadguy88 wrote: »

Went to the main dealer to sort an issue and indie couldnt do for me.
I then went for a health check on the vehicle with the main dealer , i was quoted that all the work needed came to 2400 euro.
They were pricing tyres at 180 each and to track it a further 150 euro
I bought two tyres from a local tyre garage for 150 euro lol

Mind if I ask what the €2400 included (apart from tyres and tracking)?

thebadguy88

Stallingrad wrote: »

Mind if I ask what the €2400 included (apart from tyres and tracking)?

A crack in the alloy , a few brake discs , springs , two tyres , tracking , oil , filter , air filter
the parking button had small crack so replace that
The cap for fuel was after breaking off so replacign that

Leonard Hofstadter

It would cost way less to go to an Indy, as you're in Cork Fionnsport would easily get my vote, I travel from Dublin to him because he's that good. May I ask what tyres you bought because that's very cheap for a set of run flat tyres....

thebadguy88

Leonard Hofstadter wrote: »

It would cost way less to go to an Indy, as you're in Cork Fionnsport would easily get my vote, I travel from Dublin to him because he's that good. May I ask what tyres you bought because that's very cheap for a set of run flat tyres....

Wheres Fionnsport based mate?
I went to tyre centre in forge hill , they are very good:P

rex-x

thebadguy88 wrote: »

Wheres Fionnsport based mate?
I went to tyre centre in forge hill , they are very good:P

What brand tyres? If the alloy is cracked you need a new one asap

aristotle25

rex-x wrote: »

What brand tyres? If the alloy is cracked you need a new one asap

You can repair cracked alloys as well. Depending I suppose on how bad it is.
I've had two alloys welded for a 1cm crack in the past and no issue since.

thebadguy88

aristotle25 wrote: »

You can repair cracked alloys as well. Depending I suppose on how bad it is.
I've had two alloys welded for a 1cm crack in the past and no issue since.

I was told by local mechanice it is an easy job to fix up
no need for new alloy

rex-x

aristotle25 wrote: »

You can repair cracked alloys as well. Depending I suppose on how bad it is.
I've had two alloys welded for a 1cm crack in the past and no issue since.

Bmw are well known for their alloy issues, welding in my experience is not permanent if they get another knock, the weld is more brittle than the already brittle alloy

Leonard Hofstadter

rex-x wrote: »

What brand tyres? If the alloy is cracked you need a new one asap

Exactly, what brand of tyre are they? No way they could be anything decent for a pair of 17 inch run flats at €150 unless they're the bargain of the century, I spent that much per tyre last year for a set of admittedly 18 inch Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric 3s (but they were not run flats) and that was in the UK where things are cheaper than here, plus I got them at a bit of a discount.

Some BMW alloys suffer from cracking but it's only one or two particular types, the 19 inch ones on certain 3 series variants being the main culprits.

Fionnsport is based on the Old Mallow Road.