BMW maintenance, explained properly.
Practical, specific answers — not generic car-care advice. Written for BMW owners who want to actually understand their car, not just guess.
Start here
BMW Maintenance Schedule
What actually needs doing, and when — and why your BMW's own schedule isn't as universal as it looks.
BMW VIN Decoder
Decode any BMW VIN to see its model, engine, generation and factory specs.
Where Is the VIN Number on a BMW?
Four places to look, and which one actually matters if they ever don't match.
BMW Chassis Codes Explained
E30 to G-series — what the letters and numbers actually mean, and why they matter more than the model name.
Fluids & intervals
BMW Oil Change Interval
The official answer, the debated answer, and why they're both defensible.
BMW Coolant Guide
Type, interval, and what not to mix — the color matters less than the chemistry.
BMW Brake Fluid Interval
The one service with no dashboard warning most owners ever notice.
BMW Brake Pads & Rotors Cost
What to actually expect for the next brake job, and why the rotors usually come along for the ride.
“Lifetime” Transmission Fluid
BMW's official answer and the independent-shop answer genuinely disagree. Both sides have a point.
Engine-specific
Intervals by engine
BMW B58 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,998 cc) straight-six — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW B48 maintenance intervals
2.0 L (1,998 cc) inline-four — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW B47 maintenance intervals
2.0 L (1,995 cc) inline-four diesel — SixLine's estimated intervals.
BMW B57 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,993 cc) straight-six diesel — SixLine's estimated intervals.
BMW N55 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,979 cc) straight-six — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW N54 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,979 cc) straight-six — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW N20 maintenance intervals
2.0 L (1,997 cc) inline-four — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW N47 maintenance intervals
1.6 L (1,598 cc) and 2.0 L (1,995 cc) inline-four diesel — SixLine's estimated intervals.
BMW N57 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,993 cc) straight-six diesel — SixLine's estimated intervals.
BMW N63 maintenance intervals
4.4 L (4,395 cc) V8 — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW N74 maintenance intervals
6.0–6.7 L V12 (60°) — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW S55 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,979 cc) straight-six — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW S58 maintenance intervals
3.0 L (2,993 cc) straight-six — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW S63 maintenance intervals
4.4 L (4,395 cc) V8 — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.
BMW S68 maintenance intervals
4.4 L (4,395 cc) V8 — BMW booklet figures plus SixLine's estimates.