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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums Regional Forums UK 520d Service Schedule
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      03-15-2017, 08:15 AM   #1
dmcsweeney
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520d Service Schedule

Hi all,

nearly 2 weeks and 1000 miles into F10 ownership now and I must say I love the car! However, having been a Ford/Jaguar man up to now I need some advice on servicing so I have the following questions;

1. Has anyone got a full service schedule for my car (13 520d SE ED)?
2. What mileage should I change the oil at to avoid timing chain issues?
3. Are there any items best left to the experts? Any special tools required?
4. What are the options for diagnostics? I have a ODB II reader I had for my X-type but haven't checked that it works on the F10 yet.
5. What engine oil should I use? I used to buy the oil in 20 litre containers, trade from my local Ford dealer for the X-types (ford engine).
5. Is the auto box sealed for life or should it be serviced?
6. Does the diff require oil changes?
7. Do the brakes require any specialised tools (i.e. piston wind back tools)?
8. Anything else that could bite a home mechanic on the a@s?

I've serviced and repaired all my own cars for years and currently own 7. All work from oil changes to DMF replacement to welding. I also have access to a 4 post lift and pit as well as my own large workshop so I'm hoping I can take care of this. I was also wondering if I should send it to an independent specialist every few services for a check up and service just to be safe.

Thanks,
Dave
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      03-16-2017, 12:24 PM   #2
MLJ
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Hi Dave,

I'm in a similar situation to you and have always done all of my own work on my cars, I've had my F10 for a couple of years now and can probably answer most of your questions.

See answers in red below

1. Has anyone got a full service schedule for my car (13 520d SE ED)?
2. What mileage should I change the oil at to avoid timing chain issues? I'd advise 10k, at which point a fully synthetic starts to break down, any earlier is not really a benifit but leaving the full 18k (approx as its variable depending on conditions) is not advised.
3. Are there any items best left to the experts? Any special tools required? Nothing is really hard to work on, personally the only thing I wouldn't touch would be the auto gearbox.
4. What are the options for diagnostics? I have a ODB II reader I had for my X-type but haven't checked that it works on the F10 yet. OBD II will give you generic trouble codes however there are many more that can be displayed with the BMW dealer software, ISTA/D. You can also run any dealer available test procedure with this. It's the best tool you can get for the car.
5. What engine oil should I use? I used to buy the oil in 20 litre containers, trade from my local Ford dealer for the X-types (ford engine). Any LL04 approved fully synthetic 0W-30/5W-30. I personally use Castrol Edge as it has a good additive package.
5. Is the auto box sealed for life or should it be serviced? BMW state sealed for life, ZF (gearbox manufacture) recommend servicing every 60/70k. Service is a new pan which contains the filter and new fluid. It is essential you use the correct fluid, I'd advise only using genuine ZF fluid, you also need to maintain certain gearbox temperatures when refilling, you can view these through ISTA/D. If your car has more than 100k on it now I'd advise you leave well alone.
6. Does the diff require oil changes? BMW state sealed for life, there is no drain plug just a fill plug so if you do change it, its not easy.
7. Do the brakes require any specialised tools (i.e. piston wind back tools)? A 9mm allen key for the front calipers. Rears should be electrically wound back when changing pads (can be done through ISTA/D) or manually done by removing the actuator and winding in with a triple square bit ( you can use a torx if you dont have a triple square)
8. Anything else that could bite a home mechanic on the a@s? Not much, most BMW's are very easy to work on, especially compared to fords!
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      03-20-2017, 02:53 AM   #3
dmcsweeney
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MLJ,
thanks very much for your very detailed reply! Which oil do you typically use in your car, the 0W-30 or 5W-30? Also, I can't seem to get a definitive answer anywhere on how much of an issue timing chains were by the time my car was built (registered Jan 13)? It's currently under warranty so I might have it checked by a specialist before that expires as I don't know what is normal in terms of timing chain noise on these engines.
Thanks,
Dave
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      03-23-2017, 10:16 AM   #4
dmcsweeney
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Hi all,

I've been looking at oil for my car and one website specified Castrol Edge Titanium FST 0W-30. I tried finding this in 20L containers, but all I could find was Castrol Edge 0w-30 as per MLJ's comprehensive post above. Not sure what the difference is vs Titanium. According to the description it was developed with BMW and meets their LL04 specification. Any thoughts? What do the dealers use?

Thanks,
Dave
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      03-24-2017, 09:33 AM   #5
MLJ
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Hi Dave, That will be fine. I use 0W-30 but I'd use whichever was cheaper at the time.

If you have a N47 engine rather than the B47 you are susceptible to the timing chain issues, by 2013 they were mostly rectified however. My N47 is currently nearing 150k miles and still on the original chain, however it is now starting to develop a rattle.

If you pop your VIN number into one of the online BMW specification checkers you'll find out which engine you have.
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      03-25-2017, 01:04 PM   #6
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It's an N47 if its a 2013.
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      03-25-2017, 04:45 PM   #7
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Hi dave

My last two oil services at the dealer have used shell helix.

The first time I had it done and they used this I thought the dealership were doing something different to BMW recommendations but then I read somewhere that other dealers were using helix as well. The oil filler cap states Castrol so I wasn't sure if shell is a superior or Inferior product in comparison.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks in advance
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      03-25-2017, 04:49 PM   #8
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BMW changed suppliers. Shell is based on their new GTL technology out of Qatar. As long as it meets BMW's LL04 spec, you'll be fine.
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      03-27-2017, 05:19 AM   #9
dmcsweeney
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Gents,

thanks again for the advice. I'm hoping to take it to a BMW indy later in the week to get him to have a listen to the chain to put my mind at ease. I've become seriously paranoid, and without a reference I don't know if it sound ok or not.
Regards,
Dave
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      03-27-2017, 11:53 AM   #10
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I just sold my '12 520D M Sport after timing chain issues. Started a month ago when i heard a metallic ticking from the engine bay. I took it to a BMW specialist who told me not to worry as all 'engines tick' from time to time. A week later i heard a scraping noise coming from the rear of the engine (you could hear it loudest by standing by the drivers door coming from the gearbox area underneath the car) it sounded like metal on metal which scared me. Took it back to the specialist who charged me an hours worth of labor as he only heard the noise after an hour! He put it on the ramp n confirmed the noise was from the timing chain, he guessed that a guide had went and was a £1.5k engine out job
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      03-28-2017, 02:38 AM   #11
dmcsweeney
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhillon5 View Post
I just sold my '12 520D M Sport after timing chain issues. Started a month ago when i heard a metallic ticking from the engine bay. I took it to a BMW specialist who told me not to worry as all 'engines tick' from time to time. A week later i heard a scraping noise coming from the rear of the engine (you could hear it loudest by standing by the drivers door coming from the gearbox area underneath the car) it sounded like metal on metal which scared me. Took it back to the specialist who charged me an hours worth of labor as he only heard the noise after an hour! He put it on the ramp n confirmed the noise was from the timing chain, he guessed that a guide had went and was a £1.5k engine out job
What mileage did this occur at? Had the car been serviced according to BMW's schedule or sooner?

Thanks,
Dave
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      03-28-2017, 12:25 PM   #12
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The previous owner had a service pack so every 18kish miles? I serviced the car 5k before the idrive said the next service was due. The noise started occurring just 200 miles after that service.. At around 63k
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      03-29-2017, 10:45 AM   #13
dmcsweeney
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhillon5 View Post
The previous owner had a service pack so every 18kish miles? I serviced the car 5k before the idrive said the next service was due. The noise started occurring just 200 miles after that service.. At around 63k
surprisingly low mileage for such a problem to occur on a car that should have been outside the problem years. I wonder what percentage of cars are actually affected? After all, I suppose we only hear about the bad ones.

Regards,
Dave
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      03-29-2017, 02:35 PM   #14
MLJ
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The numbers are very low, it's only down to the volume of N47's sold which make the issue seem so bad. It is an inherent design flaw however I don't think you should worry unnecessarily.
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      03-31-2017, 02:15 AM   #15
dmcsweeney
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MLJ View Post
The numbers are very low, it's only down to the volume of N47's sold which make the issue seem so bad. It is an inherent design flaw however I don't think you should worry unnecessarily.
Thanks again. Hoping to drop by the indy later today and get him to have a listen as I need to arrange servicing for my neighbour's car with him. I'll also pick up oil today and give it a service over the weekend if I get time.

Regards,
Dave
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      03-31-2017, 05:52 PM   #16
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Moral of the story learn what sounds normal n what doesnt!
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