BMW Maintenance Guide

April 25, 2024

Whether you’ve owned your BMW for many years or you’re contemplating the purchase of your first one, you know it’s a fine piece of machinery that’s a pleasure to own. It’s worth the time and expense to stay on top of routine maintenance tasks to identify small problems before they become big ones. When you’re researching BMW mechanics, you want to find one with the knowledge and training to handle these tasks with ease.

Regular Oil Changes

While the manufacturer recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles, most mechanics suggest performing this function slightly more often. Also, you don’t have to get this maintenance done at the dealership, despite popular belief. Unless you live in a rural area with limited choices for service, a quick online search for “BMW mechanics near me” will reveal several service centers capable of performing such a routine job. The steps may vary depending on the year and model of your car, but the basic process is the same.

• Draining the old oil
• Changing the oil filter and O-rings
• Adding clean oil
• Resetting the oil life monitor

Brake Pad Replacement

How often you change the brake pads on your BMW is not as easy to determine as to how often to change your oil. The calculation involves how many miles you put on your car every year, whether you drive mostly on city streets or highways, and your driving style. Are you more prone to “stomp the brakes” or do you apply them evenly and steadily?

In general, brakes and rotors both wear down faster if you do more stop and go driving in a city setting than if you are a warrior of the open road. Urban driving may mean you need brake maintenance as often as every 15,000 miles. Interstate and highway driving can extend the life of your brakes up to 60,000 miles.

Driving style can trump other factors in determining how long your brakes last. If you keep your foot on the brake constantly, the parts will wear faster, no matter the type of road underneath the vehicle. To extend the life of the components, take note of how you use your brakes, and aim for moderation.

New Tires

Just as many factors impact the wear and tear on the brakes of your BMW, your tires face similar challenges from multiple fronts. How you maintain your tires and your driving style, among other factors, play a role in determining how often you’ll need new rubber on your wheels. Professionals use special tools to measure the tread wear on your tires, giving you an objective way to know if it’s time to buy new ones.

Many BMW owners don’t realize that tires require maintenance just like the rest of the automobile. However, it’s important to keep them inflated to the right psi. The manufacturer’s recommended pressure is listed on the walls of the tires and in the owner’s manual. The age of the tires figures into the equation as well. Most manufacturers recommend changing them out every six years regardless of the level of wear for the safety of those riding inside the car.
During routine maintenance, experts in import car repair know to check the alignment on your BMW. If the car pulls to one side or another, you’ll get an irregular wear pattern that impacts the long-term performance of your tires. Keeping the vehicle in proper alignment and rotating the tires regularly can help with this issue.

Environmental factors affect the life of your tires. For example, if you live in a hot climate and you choose a softer tire, you may get better handling, but you won’t get as many miles out of your purchase. If you get enough snow and ice to require winter tires, you don’t want to leave them on once that type of weather is over for the year.

Fluid Flush and Replacement

Over time, dirt and other foreign particles accumulate in the fluid inside your BMW’s transmission, reducing its ability to do its job well. The way to remedy this problem is to replace the old fluid. Recommendations vary as to how often this needs to be done, anywhere from every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. A visual inspection can help you determine if the time is near. Transmission fluid is normally red, but it darkens over time. Smell like something burning is an indicator that the fluids are breaking down. If you place a drop of the liquid between your fingers and you feel grit or dirt, it’s time for a visit to the mechanic.

Get a BMW Service in Denver at Paddock Imports

All of this is useful information for the owner of a classic BMW or a shiny new model, but not everyone has the time or the inclination to keep up with all the vital statistics on their car. Let the experts at Paddock Imports handle all the routine maintenance you need. If you need minor or major repairs, they can take care of that for you too. Contact them today to get your appointment scheduled.