Find the Model Year 2017 and Later BMW X3 Maintenance Plans
BMW X3 Maintenance Guide
This guide explains the following BMW maintenance plans for the 2016 and prior model year BMW X3:
- The complimentary BMW Maintenance Program, which is a 4-year or 50,000-mile maintenance plan offered for new BMWs
- The complimentary BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) maintenance plan offered for certified pre-owned BMW vehicles
- The optional, fee-based BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade, which allows owners to extend their complimentary maintenance plans for an additional 1 to 2 years
BMW Maintenance Plans for the BMW X3
Refer to the chart below for the BMW X3 Models covered under the BMW maintenance plans:
| BMW X3 Body Style | Models |
|---|---|
| SUV | xDrive28i, xDrive35i |
BMW Maintenance Program
The BMW Maintenance Program is a complimentary maintenance plan offered for brand new BMWs for the initial 4-year or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The BMW Maintenance Program is based on the criteria set by the BMW Condition Based Service or CBS system. Owners may find information about the CBS system under the “Vehicle Status -> Service Required” tab via the BMW’s Center Console or iDrive. We will discuss this in detail in a little bit.
BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Maintenance Plan
For certified pre-owned BMWs, this maintenance plan provides coverage for an additional 2 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The additional coverage sets in after the original 4-year or 50,000-mile BMW Maintenance Program expires.
BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade
For all 2015 or later BMW models, owners have the option to purchase an extended maintenance plan, referred to as the Maintenance Program Upgrade, for an additional 1 or 2 years.
The 1-year Maintenance Program Upgrade covers an additional 1 year or 25,000 miles, for a total of 5 years or 75,000 miles (whichever comes first) including the original 4-year BMW Maintenance Program.
The 2-year Maintenance Program Upgrade covers an additional 2 year or 50,000 miles, for a total of 6 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) including the original 4-year BMW Maintenance Program.
Cost of the BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade
The cost of the 1 and 2 year(s) Maintenance Program Upgrade may vary depending on the vehicle’s model.
Please note, all prices and specs quoted are based on the BMW USA information provided from the company’s website. They are not guaranteed to be accurate information as the data was collected when this article was published. Please visit your local BMW dealerships for detail.
BMW Maintenance Plan Condition Based Service (CBS) System
All BMW maintenance plans are strictly determined by the Condition Based Service or CBS system. The maintenance items are dynamically computed by the CBS into specified intervals based on accumulated mileage, high or low engine speeds, and short or long trip driving.
The CBS will provide an alert, referred to as the Service Interval Indicator System, via the iDrive and instrument cluster when a BMW vehicle’s maintenance is due.
How to Access the BMW CBS System
- Press the Menu button next the iDrive controller
- Select “Vehicle Status”
- Scroll down and select “Service Required”
Service Required Under the BMW CBS System
The Service Required screen displays 5 categories with the maintenance program shown on the left half of the screen.
5 Maintenance Service Categories Under the BMW CBS System
- Engine Oil
- Front Brake Pads
- Rear Brake Pads
- Vehicle Check
- Brake Fluid
How to Find Out If Your BMW is Due for Maintenance
Under “Service Required” look for the following symbols to identify if maintenance is due on a BMW.
- A green “OK” symbol displayed next to each maintenance category signifies maintenance is not required.
- A yellow triangle symbol indicates the deadline for service or a checkup is approaching and the owner should contact a BMW center for an appointment
- A Red triangle symbol represents the service deadline has already passed
On the right half of the “Service Required” screen, a display also shows part(s) of the vehicle with different colors of highlights which identify if service is needed.
- Green highlight represents maintenance is not required
- Red highlight represents maintenance is required
The due date of the required maintenance in the month and year along with the mileage mark are also displayed on the screen. Owners should bring in their vehicles for maintenance on or before the due date or the mileage mark, whichever comes first.
BMW Maintenance Versus Limited Warranty
BMW Maintenance Programs
The BMW Maintenance specifically covers parts of the vehicle that need to be maintained regularly over the specified time period per the BMW owner’s manual. The BMW Maintenance Program, BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO), and BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade are all maintenance plans which provide coverage to engine oil, front brakes, rear brakes, vehicle check, and brake fluids. These items need to be maintained over time for the better performance of the car.
BMW Limited Warranty
The BMW Limited Warranty offers coverage for the major vehicle components that are not typically included in the maintenance plans. These components can include the engine, transmission, electrical system, cooling system, and the fuel system. The BMW Extended Vehicle Protection program, on the other hand, is the extended warranty program. BMW offers this comprehensive, fee-based coverage plan to extend the limited warranty for the repair of major components that the BMW maintenance plans do not cover.
3 Levels of the BMW Extended Vehicle Protection
Below are the three levels of the Extended Vehicle Protection plans, aka extended warranties, offered by BMW:
- Platinum
- Gold
- PowerTrain Plus
Within the above three levels, each level has six variations of the plan which specify different lengths of the extended warranty. They can cover an extra 1-year or 20,000-mile, and all the way up to 3-year or 50,000-mile after the original 4-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty expires.
Refer to our complete guide to the BMW Extended Vehicle Protection for detail. Please note, this Extended Vehicle Protection program applies to the 2016 and prior model year BMWs only.
For the 2017 and later model year BMWs, please refer to our complete guide to the BMW Limited Warranty and Extended Service Contracts.
The BMW Maintenance Plan Service Items
The information below provides details of the BMW service items covered and not covered under the CBS system for the 2016 and prior model year BMWs. This applies to the BMW Maintenance Program, the BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) maintenance plan, and the BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade.
| BMW X3 Maintenance Plan Service Items | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Service Items Covered by the BMW Maintenance Plans | |
| Standard Operations | |
| Verify Check Control messages | Yes |
| Check indicator and warning lights | Yes |
| Reset CBS display | Yes |
| Inspect tires | Yes |
| Adjust tire pressures | Yes |
| Reset Tire Pressure Monitor | Yes |
| Check parking brake functionality while the vehicle is being driven into the workshop | Yes |
| Engine Oil Service | |
| Change engine oil | Yes |
| Change oil filter | Yes |
| Replace ventilation microfilter every 2 years based on the vehicle production date, or in connection with schedule brake fluid change. | Yes |
| After every 3rd Engine Oil Service: Intake air cleaner: replace air filter element (reduce replacement interval in dusty operating conditions). | Yes |
| Front Brakes | |
| Replace brake pads | Yes |
| Clean brake pad contact points in calipers. | Yes |
| Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, replace as necessary | Yes |
| Rear Brakes | |
| Replace brake pads | Yes |
| Clean brake pad contact points in calipers | Yes |
| Brake discs: Check surface and thickness, replace as necessary | Yes |
| Parking brake: Repair or replace parking brake shoes or linings only if a reduction in the brake's effectiveness is noted. When fitted, parking brake shoes or linings are excluded from coverage under the BMW Maintenance Program | Yes |
| Vehicle Check | |
| Check operation of the horn | Yes |
| Check operation of the headlight flasher | Yes |
| Check operation of the hazard warning flashers | Yes |
| Check instrument and control lighting | Yes |
| Check heater and air conditioning blower | Yes |
| Check lighting system: turn signals, back-up, license plate, interior (including map, reading lights), glovebox, luggage area lights | Yes |
| Safety belts: Check condition and function | Yes |
| Check windshield wiper and washer jet positions | Yes |
| Tires: Check tread depth, wear pattern, outer condition, inflation pressure. If necessary, correct pressure | Yes |
| Reset Tire Pressure Monitor | Yes |
| 12V Battery: Check stat of charge (magic eye) and charge, if required. | Yes |
| Visually inspect all SRS airbag units for torn covers, obvious damage or attachment of stickers | Yes |
| Convertible: Open the convertible top. Activate automatic rollover protection system via OBD diagnostic link | Yes |
| Rear-view mirrors | Yes |
| Coolant: Check fluid level and concentration | Yes |
| Windshield washer and intensive cleaning system: check protection level, fluid level, top off if necessary | Yes |
| Brake system connections and lines: check for leaks, damage and correct positioning | Yes |
| Underbody, incl. all visible parts (i.e., transmission, rear axle, fuel lines, exhaust system): Check for damage, leaks and corrosion | Yes |
| Steering components: Check for clearance, leaks, damage and wear | Yes |
| Road test check of Brakes, including burnishing of parking brake pads. | Yes |
| Road test check of Steering | Yes |
| Road test check of Shock absorbers (visual) | Yes |
| Road test check of Transmission | Yes |
| Brake Fluid | Yes |
| Replace brake fluid | Yes |
| Spark plugs (connected to specific Engine Oil Service) | Yes |
| Replace spark plugs at intervals of 60,000 miles or at every 4th Engine Oil Service. | Yes |
| Emission Control Maintenance | |
| Basic engine oil. | Yes |
| Basic engine oil filter. | Yes |
| Air filter: replace at every 3rd Engine Oil Service. | Yes |
| Ignition System spark plugs replaced at intervals 60,000 miles. | Yes |
| Underbody Maintenance | |
| Anti-corrosion service: underbody cleaned at least once a year, in Spring, with plain water in order to remove mud, chemical sediments, and other deposits. | Yes |
| Service Items Not Covered in the BMW Maintenance Plans | |
| Items reimbursable under your New Vehicle Limited Warranty | No |
| Gasoline and diesel fuel | No |
| Gasoline and diesel fuel additive | No |
| Diesel glow plugs | No |
| Diesel particulate filter | No |
| Windshield washer additive, except when in conjunction with scheduled maintenance | No |
| Tires and wheel alignment | No |
| Tire balance and rotation | No |
| Parking brake shoes or linings | No |
| Reset Tire Pressure Monitor | No |
| Wear and tear of soft trim items such as seats, carpets, moldings, headliner, door panels, and all chrome trim | No |
| Damage, including consequential, which results from negligence, improper operation of the vehicle, wear and tear or deterioration due to driving habits or conditions, improper repair, environmental influences, flood, accident or fire damage, road salt corrosion, alteration, installation of non-genuine BMW accessories, or use of improper, poor quality of contaminated fuel | No |
| Altered or unreadable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or odometer irregularities or vehicles where the true mileage cannot be determined | No |
| Maintenance or repair after the vehicle is deemed a total loss | No |
| Maintenance or repairs performed by other than an authorized BMW center within the United States or Puerto Rico | No |
| 'Topping off' low fluids (e.g., engine oil, antifreeze, washer fluid, etc.) except when done in conjunction with a scheduled maintenance or other required maintenance work (as outlined in the customized maintenance checklist printout) that is performed during an applicable Maintenance Program period | No |
| Vehicles used in competitive events | No |
| Oil changes performed outside the recommended maintenance intervals as indicated by the Condition Based Service | No |
| Any other vehicle-specific exclusions described in the Service and Warranty Booklet included with the vehicle | No |
