BMW 3 series easy to self maintain?

specialized09 · 01-01-2011, 05:04 PM

I'm pretty set on picking up a 2009 CPO 328i sedan some time this year. I'm coming from Japanese cars that have been pretty easy to self maintain (oil change, air filters, cabin filters, brake pads, etc). I've never had any experience with German cars, BMWs to be specific. How easy is it to self maintain all the basics on a 328i sedan?

1997gtx · 01-01-2011, 05:39 PM

You don't have to worry about any of that stuff, since it's free from dealer as long as you're still under the maintenance warranty (4years/50k miles from original sell date). You should have a couple years left assuming you're mileage is still low.

ctuna · 01-01-2011, 06:20 PM

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ting+for+fools

Oil is easy

You should google the Mike Miller BMW schedule

There are also scanning tools for reading codes into your laptop

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/model...atrix.aspx#e90

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145

Free maintenance is skimpy remember you are entitled to one free oil
change a year regardless of what the countdown meter says

I think most things are easier as they are more well built and a bit
more accesible.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=172

Single-t · 01-01-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctuna

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ting+for+fools

Oil is easy

You should google the Mike Miller BMW schedule

There are also scanning tools for reading codes into your laptop

http://www.bavariantechnic.com/model...atrix.aspx#e90

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=172

+1 The factory warranty will expire before you know it, but coming on here will pretty much offer you anything you need to know. I held off on buying my 335i for a while because I was worried about after warranty service, but after being a member on here for almost a year, I'm confident I can take care of any normal service issues. Just ask..people are here to help.

And I do have the Bavarian Technic tool...well worth it.

VTECaddict · 01-01-2011, 06:34 PM

Basic maintenance is not much different than any other car.

ctuna · 01-01-2011, 06:37 PM

That means no timing belt change ever(or chain) as far as I know .
So its mostly fluids plugs and brakes. Also the 328 has the most stable motor and
easy to work on of the two gas motors offered now.

Single-t · 01-01-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Basic maintenance is not much different than any other car.

Agreed, but in order to reset service codes you'll need a cable interface or else you'll get nasty warning lights on dash every time you get in car.

hipnotic · 01-01-2011, 06:43 PM

+1

ctuna · 01-01-2011, 06:52 PM

You can reset maintenance recalls without any tool
I think you can reset them with just a sequence of stalk
button and other button controls.
I did my radiator fluid reset myself that way
There is a DIY in the DIY section

Other quirky thing you should be aware off

RFT issues Run Flat Tires = no spare , rough ride , twice the cost
less mileage. You can get regular tires

The battery has to be registered when changed which means that you
have to reprogram the car to tell it you have a new battery and the value
of that battery . It changes the charging rate.
It can be done with some of the scanning tools.

The 2010 model has less stuff in it and a really terrible base stereo
I think its a result of the recession and exchange rate

Get the L7 stereo if you don't plan on modifying and like stereo
and the sport package for the seats
manual transmission if you want it to be spunky
Anything you add on from BMW after the fact will generally be 2 to 3
times the price if possible as a retrofit and possible so try to get
exactly what you want as much as possible.

Single-t · 01-01-2011, 07:02 PM

Good points. I just bought my first set of non-RFTs and I can't tell you how much better the ride is!
To counter not having the spare, I went to Sears and bought a heavy duty portable compressor to re-inflate tires (cost about $40) and then bought two bottles of "Slime" tire sealant (about $3 each) that I keep with me. Trust me, going away from RFT is the best way to go. Much better ride AND much cheaper. If you have a flat, more than likely the flat fixer and compressor will fix, but if not, you just have to bite the bullet and call for service. Either way, getting rid of RFTs is best choice.

jaybird124 · 01-01-2011, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialized09

I'm pretty set on picking up a 2009 CPO 328i sedan some time this year. I'm coming from Japanese cars that have been pretty easy to self maintain (oil change, air filters, cabin filters, brake pads, etc). I've never had any experience with German cars, BMWs to be specific. How easy is it to self maintain all the basics on a 328i sedan?

I believe they're running a special on CPO's till 1/3/11. You can extend your BMW Maintenance to 100k for free. Worth doing.

With the exception of the transmission (Honda's are by far the easiest to DYI flush), I think everything is pretty easy to work on. I think there are a couple extra steps for replacing things like the cabin filter, but not necessarily more difficult.

pruettfan · 01-01-2011, 08:31 PM

I do all of my own. Car is a 92k. They are pretty straightforward. You can save a ton of money by doing it yourself. I have done oil, spark plugs, belt, both air filters, flushed the brake fluid and I am getting ready for rear brakes in the next few months. Plenty of DIY information of just about everything. I have even done my rear window regulators which every E90 has issues with at some point.

I have a buddy with the same car as mine. He has been bringing his by when it is due for maintaince and learning how to do it himself. He has never done any car work and he has required very little instructions.

While it is under warranty it makes sense to let the dealer do it for free but don't feel like you are missing out on something once it gets beyond the warranty period. You can do everything they can just as well. I buy all of my stuff from Tischer (getbwmparts.com)

Chriztofor · 01-02-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctuna

You can reset maintenance recalls without any tool
I think you can reset them with just a sequence of stalk
button and other button controls.
I did my radiator fluid reset myself that way
There is a DIY in the DIY section

Here is the video on how to reset it http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=series+reset

ENINTY · 01-02-2011, 07:19 AM

Having worked on Hondas (the only Japanese car I've owned) and BMWs, including the E90, I'd say BMWs are easier. For the simple stuff you mentioned, there is no difference. However with BMWs the engineering is a bit different so the best thing to buy is a Bentley service manual to better understand the car (this goes for any vehicle really) before you start turning wrenches on it.

01-01-2011, 05:04 PM	#1
specialized09 New Member 4 Rep 14 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere out in the world iTrader: (0)	BMW 3 series easy to self maintain? I'm pretty set on picking up a 2009 CPO 328i sedan some time this year. I'm coming from Japanese cars that have been pretty easy to self maintain (oil change, air filters, cabin filters, brake pads, etc). I've never had any experience with German cars, BMWs to be specific. How easy is it to self maintain all the basics on a 328i sedan?
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01-01-2011, 05:39 PM	#2
1997gtx Lieutenant 10 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 08 328xi \| 08 S5 \| 02 S4 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	You don't have to worry about any of that stuff, since it's free from dealer as long as you're still under the maintenance warranty (4years/50k miles from original sell date). You should have a couple years left assuming you're mileage is still low. __________________ 08 328xi - SOLD \| 08 S5 \| 02 S4
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01-01-2011, 06:20 PM	#3
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	There is a DIY sub board here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ting+for+fools Oil is easy You should google the Mike Miller BMW schedule There are also scanning tools for reading codes into your laptop http://www.bavariantechnic.com/model...atrix.aspx#e90 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451145 Free maintenance is skimpy remember you are entitled to one free oil change a year regardless of what the countdown meter says I think most things are easier as they are more well built and a bit more accesible. http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=172 Last edited by ctuna; 01-01-2011 at 06:26 PM..
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01-01-2011, 06:34 PM	#5
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Basic maintenance is not much different than any other car. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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01-01-2011, 06:37 PM	#6
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	It has a timing chain That means no timing belt change ever(or chain) as far as I know . So its mostly fluids plugs and brakes. Also the 328 has the most stable motor and easy to work on of the two gas motors offered now.
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01-01-2011, 06:43 PM	#8
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	+1
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01-01-2011, 06:52 PM	#9
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	You can reset maintenance recalls without any tool I think you can reset them with just a sequence of stalk button and other button controls. I did my radiator fluid reset myself that way There is a DIY in the DIY section Other quirky thing you should be aware off RFT issues Run Flat Tires = no spare , rough ride , twice the cost less mileage. You can get regular tires The battery has to be registered when changed which means that you have to reprogram the car to tell it you have a new battery and the value of that battery . It changes the charging rate. It can be done with some of the scanning tools. The 2010 model has less stuff in it and a really terrible base stereo I think its a result of the recession and exchange rate Get the L7 stereo if you don't plan on modifying and like stereo and the sport package for the seats manual transmission if you want it to be spunky Anything you add on from BMW after the fact will generally be 2 to 3 times the price if possible as a retrofit and possible so try to get exactly what you want as much as possible. Last edited by ctuna; 01-01-2011 at 07:10 PM..
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01-01-2011, 07:02 PM	#10
Single-t Private First Class 7 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 2007 Alpine White 335i, E90 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (1)	Good points. I just bought my first set of non-RFTs and I can't tell you how much better the ride is! To counter not having the spare, I went to Sears and bought a heavy duty portable compressor to re-inflate tires (cost about $40) and then bought two bottles of "Slime" tire sealant (about $3 each) that I keep with me. Trust me, going away from RFT is the best way to go. Much better ride AND much cheaper. If you have a flat, more than likely the flat fixer and compressor will fix, but if not, you just have to bite the bullet and call for service. Either way, getting rid of RFTs is best choice.
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01-01-2011, 08:31 PM	#12
pruettfan Brigadier General 1622 Rep 3,402 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, LBB, DCT, Exec Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	I do all of my own. Car is a 92k. They are pretty straightforward. You can save a ton of money by doing it yourself. I have done oil, spark plugs, belt, both air filters, flushed the brake fluid and I am getting ready for rear brakes in the next few months. Plenty of DIY information of just about everything. I have even done my rear window regulators which every E90 has issues with at some point. I have a buddy with the same car as mine. He has been bringing his by when it is due for maintaince and learning how to do it himself. He has never done any car work and he has required very little instructions. While it is under warranty it makes sense to let the dealer do it for free but don't feel like you are missing out on something once it gets beyond the warranty period. You can do everything they can just as well. I buy all of my stuff from Tischer (getbwmparts.com)
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01-02-2011, 07:19 AM	#14
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Having worked on Hondas (the only Japanese car I've owned) and BMWs, including the E90, I'd say BMWs are easier. For the simple stuff you mentioned, there is no difference. However with BMWs the engineering is a bit different so the best thing to buy is a Bentley service manual to better understand the car (this goes for any vehicle really) before you start turning wrenches on it.
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