Inspection II - dealer or Indie

[Justino]

Well the time has come for my Inspection II service on my 2008 Z4MR. Its a second car, so low mileage at 32k, and the service is due based on 2 years since the last oil service. Its only done 5-6,000 miles since the oil was changed.

Last year I had the diff oil changed when the pinion seal was replaced. The brake fluid was also changed last year when the ABS pump was replaced, so some of the Inspection II items have been done already.

I now need to make a decision on whether to use the main dealer or go to one of the known M specialists as I want peace of mind that the job, particularly valve clearances has been done properly. My service book already has a BMW Indy stamp as he helpfully stamped it when the brake fluid was done.

I don't have mega confidence in the dealer - he didn't fill the oil to the top mark on the last service, despite it being supplied by me, so they weren't saving anything. I prefer the idea of a proper well known M specialist doing this service, less diff oil and brake fluid as they were done less than 1,000 miles ago.

So would appreciate opinions. I know some say you must maintain a dealer history, others say a specialist history is just as good or better given the M focus. As I have an unintentional Indy stamp in my book already for the brake fluid I have lost the pure Dealer history already, so is it worth worrying about anyway.

As a secondary question, if I go the specialist route, who to use. Munich Legends seem to be mentioned a lot, but aren't exactly local to me in Derby. I don't mind travelling, but who else is worth considering?

[pvr]

No way I would do an insp II at 32k, do an oil service only and do the Insp II next time around.

[Justino]

Wouldn't that be jumping out of step with the normal order ?

running in
oil
inpection 1
oil
inspection 2

Its not that I disagree, just don't want to create a paperwork issue I can't undo later, plus no harm done (except to my wallet) of doing it early?

[pvr]

The M service schedule for InspI and Insp2 is mileage based, you would do the interim services every two years as required by the schedule.

On my M, i had done multiple oil / brake fluid services before I reached the 22k for the Insp I service. The shims are not going to wear if you don't use the car and especially in your case, the diff oil was changed anyway.

There is of course no harm but to spend £800 - £1000 a year or two early on your mileage makes no sense to me.

[Justino]

So to follow the logic, are Inspection 1 and 2 services at a set mileage, or does the dashboard computer decide what the next service should be, ie Oil or inspection?

[pvr]

Roughly InspI will be at 21 - 23 depending on the drive style, Insp II mid 40s again depending on drive style.

Note that the interim services logic is not agreed by all members so don't take my and other's views as the only right way. There will be others that will support the schedule you mentioned in your opening post. However, the service book seems to imply that the method that I used for my M is correct.

You can request the service count down to the inspection to not be reset by the interim service so you can still service it at the correct mileage for the inspection which will then be based on your drive style.

[srhutch]

PVR is correct. Mines going in for inspection 2 in a few weeks. It's had 2 oil services though since inspection one, and I contemplated a third but the mileage could run out before the two years so prompted me to do about 3.5k early.

[StevenH72]

Roughly InspI will be at 21 - 23 depending on the drive style, Insp II mid 40s again depending on drive style.

Note that the interim services logic is not agreed by all members so don't take my and other's views as the only right way. There will be others that will support the schedule you mentioned in your opening post. However, the service book seems to imply that the method that I used for my M is correct.

You can request the service count down to the inspection to not be reset by the interim service so you can still service it at the correct mileage for the inspection which will then be based on your drive style.

I think that is correct.

However, I had the Insp II carried out at 30k, the car was fine but I wanted to get peace of mind that all was well. You can never be too sure with buying a used car.

[ncrossy1980]

I was taken out today in my car today by the senior M division tech at Stratstone BMW, gave me a good chance to ask a load of newbie questions, one of many being regarding the service intervals. His exact answer to this very question was that the M inspections are both time and mileage based, whichever comes first. He quoted the oil, inspection, oil, inspection guide and said that if you reach the time cap before the mileage then the inspection is still required.
I guess many folk may have received contradictory advice, probably also from other BMW staff, but I guess that's life. All I know is that this guy has been with BMW on the M team since 2002 so I can't see any reason why his advice wouldn't be correct, and I'm not due an inspection for at least another 10 months so it wasn't sales driven talk either!

[srhutch]

I was taken out today in my car today by the senior M division tech at Stratstone BMW, gave me a good chance to ask a load of newbie questions, one of many being regarding the service intervals. His exact answer to this very question was that the M inspections are both time and mileage based, whichever comes first. He quoted the oil, inspection, oil, inspection guide and said that if you reach the time cap before the mileage then the inspection is still required.
I guess many folk may have received contradictory advice, probably also from other BMW staff, but I guess that's life. All I know is that this guy has been with BMW on the M team since 2002 so I can't see any reason why his advice wouldn't be correct, and I'm not due an inspection for at least another 10 months so it wasn't sales driven talk either!

All I can say is look at you service book. Based on my mileage I would be having an inspection service every 3-4k which would be crazy based on that techs advise, which is incorrect.

Service book states oil service every two years if mileage not reached.

[buzyg]

I would agree with what PVR said. But if you will feel more confident with an earlier service, then there's no harm in that. A good indie ///M specialist. is more valued, by most people here than a Stealer. I used a Stealer for my Ins1, because I knew no better. I've since found an Indie for my Ins2 ,next month.

[DPG]

Mine is due an oil and brake fluid service at the end of this year.

I think I'll stick with the main dealer for that one (especially while it has a warranty) to keep the full BMW history but I'd be quite happy to find a decent Indy for its next inspection.

Just cant seem to find one local

[Beedub]

due to my cars frequent track usage and loads placed by heavy tuning, it has had an inspection 1 and 2 already and is only on 12k miles its been over serviced for the last few years, but i think in my car its kinda not OTT to do that.

[CornishRob]

What happens if you go ten years or longer between inspections based on mileage and the diff and gearbox oil isn't changed?

They are not sealed for life as they are scheduled to be changed?

IF I wasn't going to get an inspection done regularly, then I would at least get these oils done extra as a precaution.

[halifaxbantam]

Mine is due an oil and brake fluid service at the end of this year.

I think I'll stick with the main dealer for that one (especially while it has a warranty) to keep the full BMW history but I'd be quite happy to find a decent Indy for its next inspection.

Just cant seem to find one local

Dan, Richard & the lads at B & M Care, Richardshaw Lane, Pudsey, are good. That's where I would be taking mine.