08-07-2014, 08:29 AM
Mileage: 53,200
The service interval thingy has been counting down rapidly over the past week or so. It finally dropped from 3k miles to 800 (with intervals in between) and I decided I'd look up what is involved in "service required" according to BMW. I had done a lot of work to it at 50k so I figured I was covered. Turns out I was, they recommend fluids and filters, that's it.
So, I reset the service indicator, which is vaguely like doing the Macarena in the driver's seat.
1. Insert key into key slot (even if you have Comfort Access)
2. Close door
3. Press Engine Start button with foot off of the clutch to just turn on the electronics
4. Let the "Service" exclamation mark disappear in the dash display
5. Press and hold the trip odometer reset button for about 7 seconds. If you hold it too long, you'll get some strange diagnostic menus that are all in German.
6. Use the turn signal stalk's trip computer toggle to find "Reset"
7. Press and hold the "BC" button on the end of the stalk until a clock icon spins around, then notice the interval is reset.
So I did all that, and it worked. And then the car freaked out and told me I needed all four brake pads replaced.
I grabbed a flashlight and took a look between the wheel spokes - the car could be right, after all - and while the fronts look near new, the rears are getting pretty low. The good news is that this car came with an extended maintenance package (which I've been told does transfer ownership) and it covers oil and brakes until August 2015 or 100k miles.
I'm dropping the car off at BMW of Alexandria after work tonight, and they will give me a loaner overnight for $Free.
My friend Rodrigo is a tech there so he gave me some insight onto how the brake system works. The older BMWs had a wear sensor that would just get worn down at a certain point and open a circuit, tripping the "brake pads" light. It was either "on" or "off."
Apparently the newer BMWs use the same sort of sensor (one per axle) but it's thicker and is designed to wear down AS the pads wear down, so it changes resistance as the pads wear. The car knows that the resistance is changing and constantly monitors for the threshold to be hit. So, I guess in doing my reset of the whole service system, it checked everything and realized the rear pads were just out of spec enough to sound the alarms.
New cars are silly. Can't wait to give a review of a beige 320i or whatever they give me.
The service interval thingy has been counting down rapidly over the past week or so. It finally dropped from 3k miles to 800 (with intervals in between) and I decided I'd look up what is involved in "service required" according to BMW. I had done a lot of work to it at 50k so I figured I was covered. Turns out I was, they recommend fluids and filters, that's it.
So, I reset the service indicator, which is vaguely like doing the Macarena in the driver's seat.
1. Insert key into key slot (even if you have Comfort Access)
2. Close door
3. Press Engine Start button with foot off of the clutch to just turn on the electronics
4. Let the "Service" exclamation mark disappear in the dash display
5. Press and hold the trip odometer reset button for about 7 seconds. If you hold it too long, you'll get some strange diagnostic menus that are all in German.
6. Use the turn signal stalk's trip computer toggle to find "Reset"
7. Press and hold the "BC" button on the end of the stalk until a clock icon spins around, then notice the interval is reset.
So I did all that, and it worked. And then the car freaked out and told me I needed all four brake pads replaced.
I grabbed a flashlight and took a look between the wheel spokes - the car could be right, after all - and while the fronts look near new, the rears are getting pretty low. The good news is that this car came with an extended maintenance package (which I've been told does transfer ownership) and it covers oil and brakes until August 2015 or 100k miles.
I'm dropping the car off at BMW of Alexandria after work tonight, and they will give me a loaner overnight for $Free.
My friend Rodrigo is a tech there so he gave me some insight onto how the brake system works. The older BMWs had a wear sensor that would just get worn down at a certain point and open a circuit, tripping the "brake pads" light. It was either "on" or "off."
Apparently the newer BMWs use the same sort of sensor (one per axle) but it's thicker and is designed to wear down AS the pads wear down, so it changes resistance as the pads wear. The car knows that the resistance is changing and constantly monitors for the threshold to be hit. So, I guess in doing my reset of the whole service system, it checked everything and realized the rear pads were just out of spec enough to sound the alarms.
New cars are silly. Can't wait to give a review of a beige 320i or whatever they give me.
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M