Comments on: Buying your car based on the Free Maintenance Programs

By: T

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:23:29 +0000

We switched from Mercedes-Benz to BMW after having to replace the brakes once and tires twice within the first 39,000 miles of ownership. The Mercedes-Benz dealship was always friendly but kept telling me that they were special tires and brakes etc. I lived / worked in Italy and Germany for over 10 years between 1976 and 1992 and drove all kinds of European cars but NEVER had so many problems as I did with the ML350. WE now drive a BMW X5 and are VERY HAPPY with it and the servise we get ALL over the US.

By: Ft. Lauderdale VW Service

Ft. Lauderdale VW Service — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:45:01 +0000

When the last time I took my VW for its schedule maintenance, I took it to a VW service provider where the technician asked me several questions about the car and took it for a test drive. It took him hardly three hours to fix the problems that it had. And, after that service I was surprised to find that my car was running as smoothly as any new car. So, I feel that before the technicians fix any problem, they should ask the owner about the problems associated with that car so that they can find out the actual cause of trouble.

By: Nick Iliff

Nick Iliff — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:16:12 +0000

I was going to say… it’s been around since long before 2005. My dad’s ‘98 528i had free maintenance.

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:22:21 +0000

@Horatiu B.: Its ok i actually understood that, i didn't put it as a complais it was more a kind of comment to show how's BMW in other countries, good work Horatiu keep it up

By: Horatiu B.

Horatiu B. — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:28:38 +0000

I apologize guys, I should have mentioned U.S, but I need to start thinking more globally. I just didn’t want to talk about countries since I wasn’t sure what maintenance plans they have there. It would be interesting one day to compare the U.S market to others, based on pricing, options etc..

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:50:52 +0000

In Mexico they charge you for the “Ultimate Service” mmm it would be around $ 3-4k for 5 years or 500k km in a a 3 series more or less, still is more useful to pay each one service individually well that’s how most of the people do it(In mexico).

By: Mohammed AlMomen

Mohammed AlMomen — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:37:41 +0000

@Tuesmq: Thats where you are wrong in alot of places in the world BMW doesn't offer the free maintenance and it still changed the service intervals. Here in Saudi they only offered this service at 2004. Before that we had no free service program and we still had the same intervals.

By: Tuesmq

Tuesmq — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:41:55 +0000

We all know that with the free maintenance program BMW skips a lot of services that used to be recommended by BMW. No more breakin fluid change, and oil change now at 15k miles.

It’s fine for those who lease or trade every 5 yrs, but not if you plan to keep the car for a long time. I’d also be leery of purchasing a used BMW that’s serviced like this. At the end of the day, it’s marketing.

By: Gil

Gil — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:04:48 +0000

Irrelevant of cost (my good dealer told me “somebody pays for it somewhere”; and besides, buying a luxury car voids your rights to whine about costly maintenance ).

I think the BMW Ultimate Service is there to help themselves in resale value: Make it easy and painless for owners to have their vehicles serviced. This way, they do keep their vehicles in top condition and properly maintained. I mean, why not? It’s zero dollars! And a vehicle that’s been meticulously maintained = higher resale value. It *is* nice to buy a CPO car that has a full history. Verifiable dealership history, at that.

Nothing worse than buying a used luxury car and you don’t even know if the oil has been changed once, twice, or never.

By: Hammadur Bhandari

Hammadur Bhandari — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:04:27 +0000

Also, I had an 01 540i before and I remember having to pay $175 for oil changes back in the day. The only thing I actually paid for the 7’s were tires and they can set you back about $400 from BMW for Pirelli PZeros.

By: Hammadur Bhandari

Hammadur Bhandari — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:01:09 +0000

I love the BMW Maintenance service! Previously I had an 03 745li and I bought the extended warranty from my local dealership for $1298! It extended my warranty till October 31 2008. On October 27, 2008 I traded it in for an 06 750li. Between both cars, I still don’t know how much an oil change costs, or brakes, or any other maintenance that needs to be done. Is it a wonder why there are so many BMWs on the road?

By: Mohammed AlMomen

Mohammed AlMomen — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:02:28 +0000

Well I ordered a 135i which is coming in the 1st week of may, and here BMW offers the program for reasonable amount , around 3K $ for 5 years or 100K KMs , that’s here in the middle east. My guess BMWs program isn’t really free but actually calculated within the price of the car, and since you guys get 4yr/50k Miles which is less than what we get then I’m guessing that it would cost less the 3k of the total car price .