Service interval

FC · 05-28-2004, 09:59 AM

The car tells me I should bring it in the next 50 miles. Surprising since I am only at 13,900 miles. I guess the computer can tell I don't exactly drive it like a grandma. How does it calculate and adjust the interval? Does it start off at 15,000 and add or substract based how use the engine? I'm curious to know.

I'll bring it in early next week. I did one oil change at 1800 miles and another at 8000 miles.

dan · 05-28-2004, 10:01 AM

based purely on fuel consumption

FC · 05-28-2004, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonoboy

based purely on fuel consumption

Interesting... I've averaged 21mpg pretty consistently since new, which I think is pretty good for less than 25% highway driving.

dan · 05-28-2004, 10:08 AM

for manual transmissions, the interval is reached when you consume 601 gallons of gas

(for autos it's 667)

TD · 05-28-2004, 10:17 AM

When I had my 330i, I recall that my first oil change came due at ~11,900 miles.

JST · 05-28-2004, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonoboy

based purely on fuel consumption

I read somewhere that the early BMW computers used a host of variables, but according to the company, it turned out that fuel consumption was an excellent proxy for all of these other variables. It's obviously cheaper to design a system that monitors one variable rather than many, so the newer ones just look at gas consumed.

killerdeck · 05-28-2004, 10:35 AM

Hmmm...did not know it was only based on fuel consumption. MBR, I have noticed that only after 1650 miles on my car, the interval has dropped a little over and above my mileage. So far I have gotten 21.2, 21.4, 21.0, 20.2, and the current tank is averaging 22.4 after 200 miles of 50% highway. Just some info for you to compare with.

dan · 05-28-2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuka

I forgot the mileage, but I think my first service was either 9000 miles or 11K miles for the E46 M3.

13.9K is really good.

mine was between 10,500-11,000, so I'm guessing yours was 9,000

FC · 05-28-2004, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerdeck

Hmmm...did not know it was only based on fuel consumption. MBR, I have noticed that only after 1650 miles on my car, the interval has dropped a little over and above my mileage. So far I have gotten 21.2, 21.4, 21.0, 20.2, and the current tank is averaging 22.4 after 200 miles of 50% highway. Just some info for you to compare with.

Well, truth be told, my commute is not on any highways, but the route I take has many long, stop-free 45mph roads. My guess is that for fuel consumption purposes, it may be just as good or close to highways. Whenever I can, I do punch it.

Rob · 05-28-2004, 03:05 PM

My e46 first service was just under 10k. Some of that was driving habits and track events, but I lived in the city at the time as well.

05-28-2004, 09:59 AM	#1
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,263	Service interval The car tells me I should bring it in the next 50 miles. Surprising since I am only at 13,900 miles. I guess the computer can tell I don't exactly drive it like a grandma. How does it calculate and adjust the interval? Does it start off at 15,000 and add or substract based how use the engine? I'm curious to know. I'll bring it in early next week. I did one oil change at 1800 miles and another at 8000 miles.

05-28-2004, 10:01 AM	#2
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,896	based purely on fuel consumption __________________ "There's a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas." -Willie

05-28-2004, 10:08 AM	#4
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,896	for manual transmissions, the interval is reached when you consume 601 gallons of gas (for autos it's 667) __________________ "There's a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas." -Willie

05-28-2004, 10:17 AM	#5
TD Founder emeritus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 21,007	When I had my 330i, I recall that my first oil change came due at ~11,900 miles.

05-28-2004, 10:35 AM	#7
killerdeck Crotchety Join Date: Nov 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 2016 BMW M3 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,376	Hmmm...did not know it was only based on fuel consumption. MBR, I have noticed that only after 1650 miles on my car, the interval has dropped a little over and above my mileage. So far I have gotten 21.2, 21.4, 21.0, 20.2, and the current tank is averaging 22.4 after 200 miles of 50% highway. Just some info for you to compare with.

05-28-2004, 03:05 PM	#10
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	My e46 first service was just under 10k. Some of that was driving habits and track events, but I lived in the city at the time as well.