My preowned BMW 530d clocks 56000 kms: 10th year service update & costs

Suspension, brake pads, discs and wiper blades were checked and they got the all-clear. No work required.

GTO recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

10th-Year Service Update:

How the owner & the car both look now:

Sent the 530d to the workshop (Redline Autohaus) after 1.5 years! Just love BMW’s reliability, no issue at all in the longest time. The odometer now reads 56,000 km and there were a lot of things done. At these once-a-year visits, I get everything fixed, even the smaller stuff. This goes a long way in enhancing the “feel good” factor of your car.

Only the best for her as I intend to keep it for at least another 2 years, if not 3. It’s fast, fun-to-drive, luxurious, feels special, is reliable & has what is among the best diesel engine + AT gearbox combinations in the world. I am actually retaining the 530d for longer than I’d originally planned:

• Full service performed with engine oil change etc.
• The front fog lamps had become dull, with the left one completely fogged up & yellow’ish. Got them replaced to maintain the “fresh” look of the car. It’s important to take care of all fixes, big & small, to maintain your car in top shape - link to my article on the subject (Best Practices : Maintain your Car in Top Shape).
• As is the case with most German cars (especially BMWs, Audis & VWs), the AC vents keep breaking. This time, it was the central ones at the front. Had them replaced.
• The subwoofer was crackling at really loud volumes, leading to undesirable sounds (like rattles). I thought its the driver doorpad that needs to be refitted properly, but turns out, both the subwoofers were a bit torn due to the car’s age & my high-volume R&B music. The subwoofers have been repaired & I’m very happy to update that the original sound quality is back, with no crackles or rattles at all!
• The black roof lining was sagging at the rear and had started dropping. Akshay told me the best solution is to replace it (not repair). Went ahead with it.
• RHS wiper spray wasn’t working (left one was). Fixed.
• Rear seatbelt (one behind the driver) doesn’t clip in. Parts awaited. Will be fixed at my house once the parts arrive.
• Suspension, brake pads, discs and wiper blades were checked and they got the all-clear. No work required.
• Total cost was Rs 66,500 + GST. Other than this, the expenses have been 10 – 12k every 6 months for exterior & interior detailing. Not bad for a 10-year-old 6-cylinder German luxury car.
• That being said, the annual average maintenance costs still fall in the Rs 1 – 1.5 lakh range (if I look at all the bills of the last 5 years).
• BMW’s auto-wipers SUCK and are simply unable to handle heavy rains. I move to manual operation which weirdly is faster most of the time. Worse still, the auto-wipers have very poor sensitivity levels in light rain. Several times during a light drizzle, you want the wipers, but the auto-wiper won’t kick in.
• The rear tyres (Dunlops) have worn out and will need a replacement soon. It’s 15,000 km since I got them. Too early, but the remap (650 Nm / 300+ BHP), my heavy foot and the soft tyres themselves are to blame. Another problem with these Dunlops is the high rate of punctures! Every year, I’m getting 2 – 3 punctures which is really absurd – never got them with my other tyres or cars.

Nice shot from a working breakfast @ Birdsong Cafe (incredibly laptop-friendly place):

Sitting on the tail-gate of a Toyota Hilux. All these test-drive cars ensure that my own cars average just 5,000 - 6,000 km a year:

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