Servicing a BMW 5 series

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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...

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.

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....

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.