Maintaining Your BMW 8 Series

The New 8 Series is the second coming of a classic BMW flagship coupe. Where have you been, we ask?!!! New, stylish and athletic, it's swoopy, and like no BMW before it. Purely a driver's car, it features big, brawny twin-turbocharged V8 power with incredible handling and progressive interior design. It's truly a sight to behold.

The "Halo car" of the moment, the BMW 8 Series is one of those cars you can just look at and your senses will become stirred. But that means you wouldn't be driving, just looking and why would you be okay with just doing that? Get in and go! But at the end of the day (week, month?) the new 8 Series does need periodic servicing. That's why BMW has issue a scheduled service plan that addresses nearly every aspect of care for your new BMW of Wyoming Valley BMW 8 Series.By bringing your new BMW 8 Series coupe to the BMW of Wyoming Valley service department, you will be guaranteed of nothing but factory-certified mechanics who know your new 8 Series sports coupe from inside-out.

You have a choice: Would you like to drop your BMW 8 at the dealership, to pick up later, or would you prefer to wait in our comfortable BMW of Wyoming Valley service waiting area? There, you can watch television, read a book, enjoy a beverage or surf the web via our complimentary Wi-Fi.

The technologically advanced BMW 8 Series uses a system that operates on a principle known as Condition Based Service (CBS). With it, sensors and algorithms are used to monitor the condition of the oil and other crucial fluids. The system monitors engine revolutions and can determine if you have been doing most of your driving in stop and go traffic or in dusty, dry regions. From there, it estimates the expected life cycle remaining before items like air filters and coolants need changing. An alert lights on your dashboard to inform you what's next and that it's time for a change.

Motor Oil: The smooth operation of your BMW of Wyoming Valley 8 Series depends on fluids. Motor oil is probably the most important fluid, next to gasoline, inside your 8 Series. While the use of "regular" motor oil is perfectly fine, you should make a concerted effort to change it and its oil filter every 5,000 miles. Going further, your service experts at Wyoming Valley BMW all recommend the use of synthetic motor oil because of its ability to withstand thermal breakdown in the face of high heat and humidity. Once again, your dashboard alert inform you when it thinks your synthetic oil and filter have reached the end of the line. But remember the rule of thumb for synthetic is that it should be discarded and replaced no later than 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first.

Driving a machine like the BMW of Wyoming Valley 8 Series, is going to have you seeking new, longer, curvier routes back home. But if any of those routes include mountainous highways, roads through deserts or stop and go traffic, your expert mechanics at Wyoming Valley will also encourage you to change to change your synthetic oil and oil filter at the 5,000 mile mark rather than the longer interval.

At the same time as your 10,000-mile synthetic oil service, BMW-certified mechanics at the Wyoming Valley service department will also perform other services and checks including a tire rotation, for even wear at all four corners of your 8 Series. They will also perform an examination of the brake pads and rotors, as well as replace the coolant every 10,000 miles, and check the integrity of the cooling system as needed. The steering system and key suspension components will be lubricated and yet we have just a little more to do with a topping off of fluids. Finally, your Wyoming Valley service advisor will check to insure there are no outstanding recalls or service campaign notices.

Regularly scheduled maintenance will occur through the 5,000- 10,000- and 15,000-mile services. Eventually, it will be time for the 20,000 mile service that, of course, will feature many of the same tasks, as seen at 10,000 miles, from oil change, to the tire rotation and so on. The Condition-Based Service (CBS) sensors will alert you to your next service appointment, based on how it has logged your recent driving habits and excursions.

Your 30,000-mile service will involve another synthetic oil and filter change, and as always, a tire rotation. It's also an opportune time to replace the brake fluid, and check the brake pads on your Wyoming Valley BMW 8 Series, as well. It's also time for a fuel filter change, to insure a constant, clean fuel flow. Check the 8 Series' owner's manual, which also details the first of several brake fluid services that will occur during this 30,000 mile interval. Subsequent brake services should occur every 60,000 miles after that.

About that 60,000 miles milestone: That's a sign your BMW 8 Series is just getting started! But still, scheduled services continue on. Your BMW service technician will once again change the fuel filters, the cabin and engine air filters, lubricate key suspension and steering components, rotate the tires, change the oil and more. The wrap-up comes with a fluid top off, and a multi-point inspection that will also reset any maintenance alerts to factory default setting.

By consulting with your BMW service advisors, you'll allow us to provide more information on the proper maintenance of your BMW 8 Series. Our professional staff of consultants and technicians, will always be happy to help you.

An alignment is crucial to the overall handling geometry of your Wyoming Valley BMW 8 Series vehicle. But how will you know if your "8" is in need of one? Imagine driving down the interstate highway, and you discover your BMW wants to drift a little to the right of the lane or to the left, up to the point that if you didn't stop it, it would continue going totally off the highway. That's when you know you are in need of an alignment. At BMW of Wyoming Valley, we suggest an alignment at least once a year, because just sometimes, driving happens. But first things first: Before the alignment, our BMW expert technicians recommend having your tires rotated before an alignment service is performed. That way they are in the proper position to cause them to equalize in a new position, because each position causes a different type of wear pattern at each corner of the car. Your BMW 8 Series owner's manual will have more information.

Speaking of Tires: Bald tires on your BMW 8 Series will just never do. It's the motoring equivalent of wearing a tuxedo while having dirt under your fingernails. Think about it: With no grip, how are you going to get that BMW power to the pavement? President Lincoln said it best. Actually it was a Lincoln Penny that did all the talking when it was inserted into the tire tread of a BMW 8 Series. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Take a crisp Lincoln head penny from your pocket and place it head first inside one of your tire's tread grooves. Ole' Abe is nothing if not honest. If "Honest Abe" sinks down to his ears or more, then you have plenty of tread. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, then change them immediately. As we frequently say, "Bald is for eagles, most babies and some old men, but not your tires." Our BMW Parts department has the replacement tires your 8 Series needs, all at competitive market prices.

But wait! We're just getting started! What about the Windshield Wipers? They routinely get no respect. But the fact is they are still critical pieces of safety gear for your vehicle. That's why we recommend a change every six months. They live in the wild elements, where the heat, sun and humidity can take their toll. The same in the cold of winter. While exposure to UV rays and high humidity will cause the blades to eventually deteriorate and even begin to powder away, extreme cold can snap wiper blades like a chicken bone. A quick stop at the BMW of Wyoming Valley Parts and Service department will have your 8 Series sporting factory-approved replacements in no time.

Nobody can service your 8 Series like the factory-trained pros at BMW of Wyoming Valley. Call for an appointment today. And if you need to find where we are just Google "mechanics near me," for a map and more.  Our team of service advisors and expert mechanics will be happy to see you.