A BMW is listed as a luxury car. To keep your BMW operating at top condition and providing the ultimate driving experience it's famed for, your BMW needs regular maintenance and servicing. While the costs associated with regular servicing may leave a car owner unimpressed with how much goes out of his pocket, in the long run, it proves to be a necessary evil.

Prevention is always better than cure. Consequently minor repairs and regular BMW servicing makes sure that the owner does not suffer enormous costs that may arise from sudden breakdowns associated with lack of servicing.

The costs incurred can be minimised by informing yourself of exactly what kind of servicing your BMW needs and when. Such research has been made easier in recent years by the availability of numerous online resources where owners can compare what the brochures of different BMW servicing motor shops and mechanics offer.

In recent times also, the motor industry has introduced regulations that direct and limit what a garage or mechanic can charge for a car servicing session. The rules further list in detail what components and replacement parts to include in each interim or major service.

When to service

The general rule of the thumb is that every every months 12 months, a car should have a full service.  This includes checking things like the following.

• Oil change
• Oil filter change
• Brakes including brake pads and brake fluid
• Car horn
• Steering wheel system
• Checking or replacing the engine oil
• Rubber belts and hoses
• Checking the suspension
• Checking for fluid leaks
• Windscreen wipers and wiper fluid
• Indicator lights and dashboard lights
• Check whether tyres have the required pressure

Routine servicing and maintenance such as replacement of filters, the spark plugs and oil change is mandatory if your car is not running normally. Such servicing is not scheduled and is carried out whenever the car requires it.

When the transmission fluid starts to get dark, it needs changing. Common transmission problems that may indicate that the transmission needs service include: unfamiliar noises in the bonnet, difficulty in shifting gears especially when accompanied by a grinding noise and overheating.

A replacement of the whole transmission system can run into thousands of dollars. Very close to the cost of buying a new car for the cheaper brands. As a result, it is prudent that a transmission problem is taken care of as soon as it surfaces.

Whereas tasks such as changing the transmission fluid can be done by the owner, it should also be noted that the BMW transmission is an intricate, not to say sensitive arrangement. If you are not particular experienced in working with complex machinery, then, this type of servicing is best handled by skilled personnel.

Types of BMW servicing

If one does not want to service their vehicle in dealerships, they can always choose from the numerous mechanics and motor shops available. Many of these can be found online.

The beauty of this choice is that such mechanics and garages can provide BMW servicing at a lower average cost. The servicing is also more personalised compared to what dealership offer.

Another important point to note here is that servicing outside the company's designated dealers does not invalidate your warranty.