Dunno if they still have them or not, but i remember they used to have service indicators. IIRC there was five little lights which would light up indicating that a service was required.
What makes these bulbs light up? I assume it's not mileage related cos that would be naff!.
I'm only asking cos me and a work mate found ourselves talking about this at work last night, and couldn't decide on a suitable answer.
Over to you guys

 

Mileage is one of the factors that the computer uses, AFAIK. It also takes into account:
- engine speed
- ambient air temperature
- engine temperature
- running time
- and a load of other stuff

Bottom line is, depending on how the car is run (short, town journeys vs. long motorway runs), service intervals will vary.

Quite neat, really.

Cheers
Kav

 

I see.
All you Bimmer drivers. What sort of milage do you see before the lights tell you a service is required? I assume you would follow the service schedule primarily, but if the lights are on say 4 months before the service is due, do you take it in? I know you should, but depending on the above factors (stated by Mark) there is the possability that you could be getting lights every few months.
Forgive me if i'm waffling

 

The Mini has a countdown to oil-service - when you first switch it on it says e.g. 543 miles to oil service, which will be about 7,500 miles for its first change - and it's free

 

On my 1996 328i I get 2k miles between lights - effectivly 10k service intervals. Mix of short journeys when the car barely gets up to temp during the week and longer journeys @ the weekend.

System has been taken to the next level with the current 7 series. Car actually communicates with the dealer so they've got the rights bits in whe you go for a service. Sensors even check the quality of the oil (looking for particles etc) to determine when it fancies being service. Service interval on the newer cars can be upwards of 20k miles.

 

E36 328i Coupe, mix of motorway cruising and A road ragging...about 12k miles between services. BTW, you can buy the tool for resetting the lights for about a tenner!

 

E36 328i. Mix of motorway and enthusiastic B road driving in Yorks Dales.

Around 10K between services so far.

 

Modern BMs just have a mileage countdown, My 330d did c13000 between services.

My Merc has the same thing but more sensitive, as the service time increases when you top-up the oil (and photosensitive oil grade sensor). Merc has gone 10000 and still shows 6000 miles till its next service...so far!!

 

2001 523i, about 18K for first Oil service and 20k for the next one, thats miles. most of my driving is M/way. Never looked at the lights just wait tll it says in the display, take me in for Oil Service or whatever. Done 50K miles. Lets you know when a bulb is out as well, which is a real bonus.

Cheers
cammy

 

Mine should be 15K miles between services but invariably I wait until the amber light shows before I book it in, quite often its gone a little over.

But there again mine goes in for service on average every 3 months..........just over 3 years old and 90K miles!!!! Bless, it works damned hard up and down the east coast.

Jewels