What To Expect From A BMW Service Appointment At Foreign Affairs Motorsport
Regular factory-scheduled maintenance is the secret to keeping your BMW happy, running and reliable. The factory recommended service schedule ensures your BMW’s fluids get changed often enough to ensure they are working at optimal efficiency and ensures wear items are swapped out long before they have the opportunity to fail. At Foreign Affairs Motorsport, we offer a combination of factory- recommended BMW service and vehicle-specific services.
BMW Factory Service and Maintenance
We’ll start by looking at the standard BMW factory scheduled service and maintenance plan, which is usually recommended for vehicles in or after 1999, that have not been significantly modified, and do not see extreme conditions such as those experienced during racing events.
The BMW Scheduled maintenance program is broken into four service checklists that can be done independently or combined into a single appointment.
Intermediate Oil Service
Usually triggered by the service interval light on your vehicle, the intermediate oil service is the most basic of your services, where old oil is drained and replaced, and your oil filter is replaced with a new unit. The service interval does vary slightly depending on your specific model and engine, but the general recommendation is every 5,000 miles or every 6 months.
General Service
General BMW service should occur every 12 months or 10,000 miles, and includes several inspection and service items. To start, the engine oil is drained and replaced along with the oil filter. Engine coolant is inspected and tested, and is either topped up or replaced depending on the coolant’s condition. The engine air filter is also cleaned or replaced, depending on the style of filter used
Brake pads and discs front and rear are inspected and measured for thickness and wear patterns, respectively, and will be recommended for replacement if out of spec or if they are found to be near the end of their serviceable lifespan. Along with the braking systems, tires are inspected for wear and damage, and may also be recommended for replacement if they pose a safety hazard. If all is within spec, tire pressure is checked and corrected.
Certified BMW service technicians will then inspect all exterior lights and horn, ensuring they are operating correctly, and inspect wipers for wear and top up wiper fluids.
Finally, the vehicle will be visibly inspected for any damage, leaks or items displaying excessive wear, the OBD2 system will be scanned for any stored fault codes that may need to be addressed, before conducting a short road test to ensure the vehicle is safe and all systems are working correctly.
Inspection 1
Inspection 1 is the first of two major services your BMW may need to have completed. The first time inspection 1 is completed, is at 30,000 miles, and it is then completed every subsequent 60,000 miles. Inspection 1 contains everything that is included in the general service, but includes some additional service items, such as fluid levels, lights, brakes, tires, steering, suspension, and exhaust system. The final test consists of a road test to check all the points of the BMW Inspection 1.
Inspection 2
Inspection 2 occurs every 60,000 miles and consists of all service items from a general service and Inspection 1, but includes spark plug replacement, cabin filter replacement, full rust inspections, and a full inspection of rubber components such as hoses and boots for any cracks, tears, or leaks.
While it is not specifically mentioned, any good auto technician will also always inspect the vehicle for any signs of damage or items experiencing excessive wear that may need to be replaced sooner than scheduled to ensure your safety and that the car remains reliable.
Vehicle Specific Service Schedule
Some BMW’s need a little extra love, either due to the nature of their performance modifications, the advanced age or mileage of the vehicle, or the use case. For these vehicles, our team of service technicians may take the factory-recommended service schedule and modify it to better suit the vehicle.
For example, a M4 with modifications that have it pushing 700bhp might need more frequent oil changes, and thicker oil to cope with the extra heat generated by bigger turbos. A vintage E30 with its original engine could also use thicker oil to compensate for worn engine components, and an M2 used exclusively for track days is going to go through brakes and tires quicker than an X5 that is used to commute. Every Beemer we work on is unique, and we like to ensure they get one-of-a-kind service.
BMW Service Specialist in Pompano Beach
Owning a BMW is a privilege, and maintaining it properly ensures that the driving experience remains unlike any other. Foreign Affairs Motorsports has been operating in Pompano Beach, Florida, for over 40 years. We take great pride in our workmanship and treat each customer like family. If you want to ensure the best service for your BMW, then give us a call at 954-746-0488 and we’ll gladly handle the rest.