What are the maintenance guidelines for the BMW 3 Series?
3 Answers
Here are the maintenance guidelines for the BMW 3 Series: 1. First maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package. 2. Second maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package, air filter, cabin air filter (recommended replacement at around 20,000 km, or based on actual condition). 3. Third maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package, brake fluid (conservative replacement, relatively inexpensive). 4. Fourth maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package, air filter, cabin air filter, fuel filter (conservative replacement). 5. Fifth maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package, spark plugs (conservative replacement, can be decided based on actual usage). 6. Sixth maintenance: Engine oil and oil filter package, air filter, cabin air filter (cycle repeats thereafter).
It's been five years since I started driving the BMW 3 Series, and this car really requires meticulous maintenance. Every day before starting the engine, I take a quick glance at the tire pressure and the oil dipstick. Last time, I noticed the coolant was low and topped it up in time. The manual recommends maintenance every 10,000 kilometers, but I change the oil around 7,000 kilometers, considering how delicate BMW engines are. The air filter is replaced every two maintenance sessions, and the cabin air filter is a must before summer each year—otherwise, the airflow starts to smell. Brake fluid replacement every two years is non-negotiable; last time, the dealership detected excessive moisture content, which scared me into changing it immediately. Brake pads depend on driving habits—since I tend to brake hard, mine needed replacement at 40,000 kilometers. Always use LL-04 certified oil; last time, I cheaped out and used the wrong oil, triggering a warning light and a wasted trip to the dealership. I keep a notebook to log every maintenance task, so I know exactly what’s due next time.
When I first got my BMW 325i, I knew nothing about car maintenance. Now I've figured things out. The first service was done at 8,000 km, costing over 3,000 yuan for all the recommended items at the dealership—later I learned I could save 500 by replacing the air filter myself. The maintenance schedule is quite flexible; for city driving like mine, if I don’t hit 10,000 km a year, I follow the time-based schedule, changing engine oil and filters annually. Tire rotation is crucial—swapping front and rear tires every 20,000 km extends their lifespan. Once, my wipers squeaked, and I discovered leaves clogging the washer fluid tank; now I clean it monthly. Brake maintenance is often overlooked—I have the wheels removed every 30,000 km to clean out brake dust, which improves responsiveness. The car’s system reminds you of the next service, but don’t rely solely on it; regular manual checks are more reliable.
