BMW service schedule

BMW service types

• Oil service - engine oil and oil filter, plus a check over. The most frequent item on the schedule.
• Inspection service (often shown as Inspection 1 and Inspection 2) - a broader service adding filters and a longer inspection list; Inspection 2 is the more comprehensive of the two.
• Individual CBS items - brake fluid, brake pads and discs, spark plugs, vehicle check and, where applicable, emissions test, each with their own due date or mileage.

The exact content of each service varies by engine, model and year. Your car's service menu and handbook are the authority.

How condition-based servicing works

The car monitors oil quality, temperature, mileage and driving pattern, and counts down each service item independently. The service menu in the iDrive or instrument display shows what is due and when.

Because items fall due separately, two BMWs of the same age can genuinely need different work. Ask the garage to show you the service menu readout rather than quoting from a generic tier.

Service records and resetting

BMW maintains an electronic service record. Ask any garage - dealer or independent - whether it can update the record and reset the CBS counters, and what documentation you will get. This matters at resale and can matter for warranty or service-plan terms.

Items that sit outside a routine service

• Brake fluid - a time-based change on most schedules
• Coolant and, where fitted, gearbox or DSG oil
• Cambelt, where the engine has one
• Tyres, brake pads and discs - replaced on condition, not on schedule
• Air-conditioning service and regas

Always check the schedule for your exact engine and model year. The definitive source is the handbook, the service indicator and the manufacturer's own schedule - not a generic tier name.