BMW Maintenance: Cost, Plans and Service Schedule

Are BMWs expensive to maintain?

BMWs are among the most expensive vehicles to maintain and repair. Not only are their parts expensive, but BMWs often have quirks that require you to visit a qualified BMW technician for repairs.

Whether you’re in need of maintenance work (tire rotations, engine oil and oil filter changes, replacement of worn-out parts) or repairs of unexpected part failures, BMWs tend to have particularly high service and maintenance costs.

According to RepairPal, BMW owners tend to spend around $968 annually on repair and maintenance costs. This is significantly higher than the industry average across all vehicles, which is $652. However, luxury vehicles tend to cost more to maintain. When compared to the upkeep costs for other luxury vehicles, BMWs are competitive.

How BMW compares to other automakers

Compared with many other luxury models, BMWs cost more to maintain, but the difference isn’t drastic.

RepairPal data shows that BMWs average 0.9 yearly visits to a repair shop, which is more than twice as often as the industry average (0.4 visits per year). However, it’s still a bit more affordable than Audi’s or Land Rover’s annual average repair cost.

BMW maintenance and repair costs by model

These figures combine repair costs and maintenance costs, which makes things simple but not as helpful if you’re trying to actually set a budget. While maintenance costs and regularly scheduled expenses tend to be lower, repair costs are higher — and more sporadic expenses are harder to plan for.

Annual upkeep costs can vary by model, mileage and age, among other factors. We’ll go into more detail on the average repair costs for different BMW models, so you have a better idea of what to expect.

BMW maintenance cost and schedule

You can generally count on the timing of vehicle maintenance to be the same between makes and models. Still, we suggest following the routine maintenance schedule inside your owner’s manual.

Annual maintenance costs typically increase over time. While routine maintenance and upkeep can lower the chances of unexpected repairs, your BMW may need a more expensive service appointment after five years, or sometime between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. If you are planning on long-term ownership, knowing when to anticipate a spike in maintenance costs can help you budget for the future.

Essential BMW car tips

Newer BMW models are equipped with a maintenance reminder system, so you don’t necessarily have to know your maintenance schedule if you own a newer vehicle. Your BMW’s display will show your progress toward the following maintenance tasks:

• Engine oil change (by date/miles)

• Front and rear brake pad replacement (by miles)

• Vehicle inspection (by date/miles)

• Brake fluid change (by date)

• 1,200-mile running service for M vehicles (by date/miles)

If you want to do your own maintenance, be aware that the following service tasks may be combined with the “Engine Oil” notice:

• Engine air filter replacement

• Cabin microfilter replacement

• Spark plug replacement

• Final drive oil change (M vehicles)

Preventative maintenance for BMWs

If you own an aging or high-mileage BMW, there are a few preventative actions you can take to lower the chances of ending up in the shop needing an expensive repair.

• Cooling system: Check the coolant condition periodically and replace it as needed to avoid overheating.

• Oil leaks: According to RepairPal, valve cover gasket leaks are common in BMWs after 60,000 miles. You should routinely check for oil leaks in the lower engine area to prevent serious issues from developing.

• Suspension components: Regularly checking shock performance and alignment can help ensure the suspension systems are in good shape.

BMW repair costs

Repair costs are harder to estimate than maintenance costs because you don’t know when, how or how often your BMW will break down. However, you can look at other BMW owners’ experiences to get a rough idea of what to expect.

Example: 2021 BMW X5 maintenance costs

Do BMWs come with a warranty?

New BMW vehicles come with a four-year/50,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty that can help you avoid repair bills. If you want to save money on maintenance and repair costs, consider purchasing a prepaid maintenance plan or extended warranty, both of which are available from BMW.

BMW’s prepaid maintenance plans are called BMW Ultimate Care. These prepaid maintenance plans can help you save money on scheduled maintenance for up to four years and can even help protect you against rising labor costs and inflation since your price is locked in when you buy the plan. Every new BMW comes with 3 years or 36,000 miles of BMW Ultimate Care coverage and there are options to extend coverage for up to seven years total.

BMWs that are older than five years or have more than 60,000 miles can also benefit from a prepaid maintenance plan. For a one-time payment of $249, BMW will cover all oil and oil filter changes for the next three years.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a BMW?

BMW’s extended warranties, called Vehicle Service Contracts, can keep you from paying for covered repairs, but they’re relatively expensive, so you might be better off with an extended warranty from a third-party warranty company. As many customers can attest, extended car warranty companies might save you a good amount.

“When I needed service for my transmission, I just brought my car into the dealership and let them know what extended warranty I had,” Connie, a reviewer from Louisiana, told us. “They dealt with the people and got everything going. It’s very important to have coverage. That saved me $6,000.”

When considering options, make sure you get multiple quotes and research the pros and cons of extended warranties so you can make an educated purchase.

BMW maintenance plans and coverage

Purchasing a prepaid maintenance plan can help you lock in the prices for some regularly scheduled maintenance costs, including oil and filter changes. This can help you save money if costs rise from inflation during your coverage period.

BMW Ultimate Care vs. Ultimate Care+ explained

BMW Ultimate Care comes standard on all new BMWs and includes scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles, 24/7 roadside assistance for four years/unlimited miles and BMW Teleservice, which lets your car monitor and report to BMW when it needs service.

You can choose to extend Ultimate Care beyond the initial three years/36,000 miles via BMW Ultimate Care Scheduled. This covers your scheduled maintenance for another two years or 39,000 miles.

Purchasing Ultimate Care+ adds the maintenance of some wear and tear items, including brake pads and wiper blades, to your coverage. You can purchase BMW Ultimate Care+ when you purchase the vehicle, and can extend Ultimate Care+ up to four years, for a total of up to seven years or 125,000 miles of coverage.

BMW Value Service

BMW Value Service is available at participating authorized BMW dealerships. This maintenance program offers competitive pricing on select services and uses only BMW-trained technicians and original BMW parts backed by a two-year warranty.

Check with a participating BMW dealer near you for pricing and available services to see if this program could be a worthwhile investment for you.

FAQ

Bottom line

BMWs aren’t necessarily the most reliable vehicles, and when they do break down, they can cost a lot of money to fix. That means you should probably have several thousand dollars set aside if you want to be financially prepared for when your BMW needs repairs. You also might consider investing in an extended warranty or a prepaid maintenance plan for your BMW.