No matter how new or old your BMW, it’s always important to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Not only will staying on top of the maintenance of BMW prolong its life, it will also keep your car performing at its best for much longer. The recommended schedule for maintenance provided by the manufacturer is designed to ensure all of the components of your vehicle remain functioning properly.

Stated by 12 Volt Solutions, one thing to keep in mind is that the time frame for maintenance schedule may vary depending on the model of BMW vehicle. The information in this article is for the brand’s most current vehicle models, including the BMW X3. The maintenance schedule below will generally apply to BMW models from the year 1999 and newer.

Older vehicle models of BMW tend to have a longer period of time in between specific kinds of inspection. However, they tend to have four different types of inspections, as opposed to the three inspection types of newer models. This updated schedule for BMW maintenance is less confusing than that of older models as well. This maintenance schedule is also designed to be simpler than the older one. While your BMW vehicle will let you know when it’s time for a maintenance check-up through the service light, it’s best to also keep the basic rule in mind of bringing your car in to be checked at least once every year, or every ten thousand miles.

Once a year or every ten thousand miles, you BMW should be brought in for an annual maintenance check-up. This service check should include a safety and oil check, oil filter change, and an oil change. Along with the oil and filter check, whoever is servicing your vehicle should also check to make sure the horn, brakes, and windshield wipers are working properly, as well as that your car has a sufficient amount of wiper fluid. The suspension components, rubber hoses and belts, engine coolant, steering linkage, tire pressure, dashboard warning lights, and indicator lights should all be checked as well. Lastly, your car should be checked for any fluid leaks.

There are many features of your BMW X3 that need to be check after the first thirty thousand miles, and then again every sixty thousand miles after that.

An inspection of underneath your BMW includes everything from the previous check-up as well checking the transmission for leaks, the rear axle, and the power steering system. This inspection will also include verifying the temperature of the engine, checking the exhaust system for any leaks, proper positioning, mounting, and the overall condition.

The front control arm, as well as bushing, should checked for wear and tear. The steering system of your car should be checked for overall condition and absence of play, and the movement and positioning of the cables of the parking brake should also be checked during this inspection of your BMW. This inspection should include examining the thickness of your vehicle’s brake pads, checking the surfaces of the brake disc, and cleaning the contact points of the brake pad. Your vehicle’s clutch system connectors and brake lines should also be examined for proper positioning, damage, or leaks.

The wheels and tires of your BMW X3 will also be inspected. This include checking the tire pressure on all four tires, as well examining the tires for even tread and wear. The wheel center hubs should also be greased.

While inspecting underneath your BMW’s hood, the diagnostic system should be read, as well as a battery load test performed. Make sure to check that the air conditioning of your car is working properly, as well as check your car’s levels of clutch, brake, coolant, antifreeze, and windshield wiper fluids. Examine the engine’s heater hose and cooling system connections for any leaks. Also, check the battery’s electrolyte levels, and then reset the service indicator.

The exterior and interior lights should be checked to make sure they are functioning. This also includes checking the indicator lights, dashboard, and instrument panel for control and illumination. You should also be sure that your BMW vehicle’s wiper and washer system, mirrors, and safety belts are checked. Airbag units of the car should be visually checked for signs of damage. The blowers for air and heating, as well as defoggers, should be checked during this inspection too.

At the end of this inspection, a short road test should be conducted as well to ensure that your vehicle is working in proper order.

Every sixty thousand miles, a second kind of inspection should be done on your BMW X3. This second inspection includes all of the feature of the first inspection, with the addition of a few more parts of your car that need to be checked to make sure your vehicle is working well. The lining of the parking brake should be inspected, as well as the flexible boots examined for possible leaks. It’s also recommended to replace the air filters and spark plugs of your vehicle every sixty thousand miles to keep your car well maintained. Depending on your warranty for rust prevention, the body of your BMW should be inspected for rust.

Keeping up with your BMW’s maintenance schedule is important in making sure your vehicle stays in proper working order for many years. Having your car regularly inspected can help extend its life span and possibly save you money later down the road. You’ll be able to detect any issues with your BMW early that could affect your car later on down the road. These issues could cause your car to break down, perform lower than usual or expected, or even cause serious damage to your car that could be costly to fix, if it can be fixed at all.