Break in & First Service (different question)

[///M3AN]

Okay guys, sorry if this is a repost but I swear I searched and I can't find a difinitive answer to this...

After 600 miles I get a call from BMW saying my car "says" it is time for service. It had 750(ish) miles when I dropped it off this morning for the first oil change. Does this first service complete the break-in or is it the full 1200 that I need to wait for?

[Team Plutonium]

Looks like a very early first service... you should be all set, but I would've waited until the 1200 mark. In the end I doubt it matters much...

[///M3AN]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Looks like a very early first service... you should be all set, but I would've waited until the 1200 mark. In the end I doubt it matters much...

I asked the service guy that called me about that and he said, BMW wants to make sure it is done between 600 - 1200. I have not abused the car in any way for the first 750 miles so I doubt that is why the car "wanted to get serviced"

It was funny when they called though, wasn't expecting it.... "hello Jason, your M3 has told us it is ready to come in for service. When would you like to bring it in?"

my initial thought response was "no sh!t...?"

[doc19]

Originally Posted by ///M3AN

Okay guys, sorry if this is a repost but I swear I searched and I can't find a difinitive answer to this...

After 600 miles I get a call from BMW saying my car "says" it is time for service. It had 750(ish) miles when I dropped it off this morning for the first oil change. Does this first service complete the break-in or is it the full 1200 that I need to wait for?

No you are fine... it varies from car to car and depends on a lot of different variables. I took mine in at 1000, I've seen others at 700, others at 1300. Enjoy that first 8000rpm gear change... it is epic

[luis_m3]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Looks like a very early first service... you should be all set, but I would've waited until the 1200 mark. In the end I doubt it matters much...

+1, I would have waited as well, but honestly, I do not see any harm with doing it now.

[///M3AN]

Originally Posted by luis_m3

+1, I would have waited as well, but honestly, I do not see any harm with doing it now.

But my M3 "called" BMW and said it wanted an oil change! How could I say no to that?

[jphughan]

I got the same call and told them I'd schedule it closer to 1200. I'm pretty sure they call 600 miles in advance because for every other service interval (15K, 30K, etc), 600 miles early is no big deal, so no harm getting it done in advance -- or given that people drive ~1000 miles/month on average, calling with 600 miles to go allows the dealers to schedule a few weeks out and still get the cars in before the interval drops to 0. But it seems they don't adjust that early notification for the 1200-mile service, where 600 miles early is WAY too early as a percentage IMHO.

OP, if you've already had the service done, I would still follow the break-in guide until you actually hit 1200 miles rather than ripping it up to redline just because you got your fluids changed.

[Denk]

I received a call from BMW stating that my M3 reported an oil change due at around 800 miles. I think it was because the car reported service due soon.
It's just a head's up. I took it in at about 1300 miles for its first svc.

[DBH]

Depending on what options you have, the car actually does communicate with BMW and will "tell" them amongst other things, when service is required. Welcome the the world of "1984" and big brother!

[izzyM3]

Eh, I'm getting a caution sign already to prepare and call by 600 miles for an oil change. Should I call for 600 and do another at 1200?

[PhillyNate]

I think the OP is ok. Would I have waited a little, yes. If I recall correctly, the car began telling me to go at 700 miles or so. I got mine done at 995 miles and have been fine.

[TheDeliverator]

Mine started alerting me at about 800 miles. I was in Amsterdam. Drove down to Nurburg on a Friday and had the service performed in Euskirchen (about 45 minutes North of Nurburg), the following Monday. Turned out to be almost 1200 miles on the nose on service day.

I was a little worried, knowing one of the reasons they change the fluids is to remove fine metal particles that may be created in the first 1200 miles... I didn't want those 'lil babies causing "damage", but I didn't want to take it in too soon and have more of those babies born after the service. <---------No doubt just new m3 anxiety.

Oh, one of my cornering headlights was broken (not that I noticed), and they fixed that too. 5 Euros

[Cyclone Chris]

I noticed my "service due" message at 585 miles yesterday after owning the car 2 months. I'm thinking its slightly too early to get the oil changed out already. Haven't really driven the car very hard. Been varying RPM upto 5500. Once or twice I may have mistakenly got it up to 6500.

I may wait till I reach a 1000 miles, then take it in. Unfortunately, I will have to pay for this service, as BMW UK will not honor free service on US Spec cars here.

Can't wait till I return to the US in 1.5 yrs. hopefully I won't have any other services I will need to pay for. My plan is to return to the US with only 6,000 miles or less on the car.

[imserious]

guys, I'm looking at a used car and the carfax shows that the first maintenance was done at 17,000 miles 9 months after purchasing.

i'm assuming they did not do the initial 1200 mile service and I should pass on this car. thoughts?

btw, looks like a lot of wear on the steering wheel as well...

[heart_doctor]

Did you get an alert from the car saying a service was due? Sounds early but it can vary depending on how you drive the car.... Should be fine. I would still follow the Breakin instructions until after 1200 miles ...

I also change the oil every 7500 miles despite what BMW says ...