First Service at 12,000 Miles - 2015 BMW M235i Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,316
edited December 2015 in BMW
imageFirst Service at 12,000 Miles - 2015 BMW M235i Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Our 2015 BMW M235i came due for its first service at 12,000 miles. It couldn't have gone smoother.

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  • vvkvvk Member Posts: 196
    Fantastic service is one of the best perks of BMW ownership. I do most of repairs and maintenance on my cars and I am very particular about technical aspects. Most of the time I hate dealing with mechanics because they are just incompetent. My BMW dealer has been outstanding in both performing competent, quality work and being accommodating to my "special needs." They are willing to listen, speak the same language of BMW mechanics and computer electronics and are basically willing to bend over backwards to make me completely happy with spending my money on their service.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 17,914
    My BMW dealer is also excellent. My service advisor as well as a couple of managers and salespeople are BMW CCA members who attend our HPDEs. As a repeat customer(four BMWs) and a CCA member I also receive a 20% discount on service as well as parts and accessories.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • farvyfarvy Member Posts: 34
    I know people like to say their maintenance is free in cases like this, but I don't think it really is. This car stickered at $56,600. I think the cost of some oil changes is factored in there somewhere. And yes I know that BMW gave them this car, but for regular people they pay hundreds of dollars a month (or thousands if purchased outright) for their cars.
  • vvkvvk Member Posts: 196
    farvy, a valid argument, except you do not pay more for BMW vs competitors. Mercedes costs more model for model and does not provide free maintenance. Also, the BMW free maintenance in the US is really comprehensive and covers pretty much everything, not just a few oil changes.
  • darthbimmerdarthbimmer Member Posts: 606
    I have been very UNsatisfied with BMW dealer service in my area. Late into the free service period my car was in the shop every 6-8 weeks for one thing after another after another. But it was all free, so it was good, right? No. It was bad because they were incompetent. That's why it was always going back for "something else". I wonder if they were gaming the system to get more money from BMW. I didn't really smell a rat in this until past 50k miles I switched to a private BMW specialist I used for years with my previous BMW. One visit to them and they FIXED what was wrong. Now the car only returns to the shop once or twice a year for routine maintenance.
  • ayaoayao Member Posts: 27
    What does the new engine oil label read? I wasn't able to find the referenced bulletin.
  • schen72schen72 Member Posts: 433
    BMW free maintenance mostly benefits BMW because most of them are leased. Hence, they are increasing the value of their own used car market, such as CPOs at dealers.
  • edgy99edgy99 Member Posts: 53
    A question -- this is a turbocharged engine. If you owned this car, would you wait 12,000 miles to change the oil?
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 17,914
    My Mazdaspeed3 has a DI turbo and is reputed to be hard on oil. Based on UOAs Mobil 1 5W-30 is good for at least 10,000 miles. Since the N55 uses a LL-01 oil I'd think a 12k OCI is entirely possible- but I'd verify it with UOAs to make certain.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • ayaoayao Member Posts: 27
    10,000+ miles on the MS3 backed up with a UOA is impressive with the M1 5W-30 -- the WRX crowd seems to think that it shears down quickly -- consequently that they seem to like more robust oils like like Rotella 5W-40. Then again people read bobistheoilguy and think they deserve an honorary degree in tribology.

    On my N54 BMW I have do the annual included oil change by BMW and then change it myself in six months because of the heat of the engine (~240F oil temps with normal street driving.) Although my car doesn't rack up a ton of miles/year, they are ... quality miles. UOAs running oils ranging from M1 0W-40, GC 0W-30, BMW 5W-30 and Motul 5W-40 have all come back fine with a ton of TBN.

    The UOAs that bring me pretty close to "you changed the oil at just about the right time and not too early" is when I follow the Maintenance Minder on a 2012 Honda V6 ... about 10k miles in mostly city driving on M1 0W-20.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 17,914
    edited December 2015
    ayao said:

    10,000+ miles on the MS3 backed up with a UOA is impressive with the M1 5W-30 -- the WRX crowd seems to think that it shears down quickly -- consequently that they seem to like more robust oils like like Rotella 5W-40. Then again people read bobistheoilguy and think they deserve an honorary degree in tribology.

    Mobil 1 gets a bad rap on Mazdaspeedforums.org as well- yet when I post one of my M1 UOAs everything gets strangely quiet...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

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