A present for everybody! (no, it's not porn or viagra)

[Kalevera]

Guys...

That's right, I'm giving each and every one of you a gift, the gift of taking even better care of your e34 than you probably already do. And you don't even have to send $5 and your address to a PO box somewhere!

This booklet sits on our service counter at work. Everyone who thinks that changing your oil every time the light comes on is tantamount to an attentive service regimen would do well to look at it.


http://www.bimmer.info/~lowell/BMWCBS.pdf

From what I recall, there are a few additional pictures in the hard copy; evidently I PDFed an early version of it. Most, if not all, pictures came from that secret society of BMW service professionals that I probably can't mention without being killed

Your friend, Whit

[Alexlind123]

So whats the point of this booklet? I saw a bunch of ugly oily engine parts. And it was trying to tell the reader that something was wrong with the factory approved maintainece schedules and/or techniques. It didnt say anyhing about what should be changed.

[Kalevera]

So whats the point of this booklet? I saw a bunch of ugly oily engine parts. And it was trying to tell the reader that something was wrong with the factory approved maintainece schedules and/or techniques. It didnt say anyhing about what should be changed.

Very good observation, my dear Alex. The point is that BMW is in the business of selling cars, not making them last forever. Hence their recommended service procedures usually aren't up to par. If the last of the classics, if you will (those being late E36, E39, E38, and E46), had manufacturer mandated service intervals that produced these kinds of catastrophes, be afraid for the future and reconsider what you're doing to maintain your current vehicle at present.

This particular philosophical shift means I will hesitate to buy any of the models currently on the showroom floor. Timed obsolescence on the electronics, service intervals that are worse than those that produced the pictures, no oil dipstick on the E90 (not to mention that the 6 banger E90s take 8+ quarts of oil and BMW "complimentary" maintenance only provides 7 and some change, meaning the thing is low enough on the stuff to pop an idiot light) EDIT - oops, that last bit applies to the E6# N62, not E90. E90 with the N52B30 has a 6.5q capacity. And these are technological "advancements" over what we currently drive. No thanks.

My final point is this: I see E34s with engines that resemble some of those pictures. Their "people" usually aren't enthusiasts. But a lot of people, through habit or ignorance, overrun their oil and other fluids. That's a very bad idea if you're planning on keeping a classic around for a few years.


best, whit

[emw525E34]

Whit,

I completely agree with your viewpoints and is very disappointed that new cars are going the route of trying to be "idiot-proof" to the point of customer dependency on the dealer. That cannot be good.

"And these are technological "advancements" over what we currently drive. No thanks."

I got a mind to source and maintain non-fully electronic dependent engines for the next 20 years just to enjoy the "lower tech" BMWs and thier driving dynamics. Its does not really cost more in the long run and does need some skills, but thats exactly the point some enthusiasts wanted.

Just to prove the point in F1 races who have seen. Contrast Schumi who can read his car's condition and able to "nurse" it to the finish line, to Montoya who has zero respect for his machinery and drives the car to destruction.

[uscharalph]

Guys...

That's right, I'm giving each and every one of you a gift, the gift of taking even better care of your e34 than you probably already do. And you don't even have to send $5 and your address to a PO box somewhere!

This booklet sits on our service counter at work. Everyone who thinks that changing your oil every time the light comes on is tantamount to an attentive service regimen would do well to look at it.


http://www.bimmer.info/~lowell/BMWCBS.pdf

From what I recall, there are a few additional pictures in the hard copy; evidently I PDFed an early version of it. Most, if not all, pictures came from that secret society of BMW service professionals that I probably can't mention without being killed

Your friend, Whit

I'd rather have porn and viagra! ROTFLMAO!

[Lennyz525i]

Damn, pretty interesting. Didn't know oil pan sludge could get that thick...

[winfred]

seen running motors where the oil has turned completely to sludge, as in take out the drain plug on a hot motor and it barley comes out, i beleave that comes up around 15-20k miles on the oil change with dino juice

Damn, pretty interesting. Didn't know oil pan sludge could get that thick...

[632 Regal]

I can guarantee that that wasnt synthetic oil there!

Whit, do you think, even with the suggested intevals that this "could" have been prevented with synthetic?

[Kalevera]

Jeff, a dealership would've put BMW High Performance Synthetic in both of those motors.

best, whit

[SharkmanBMW]

Jeff, a dealership would've put BMW High Performance Synthetic in both of those motors.

best, whit

so then what caused it???
I am looking at a 2001 or 02 330xi, should I be afraid?