BMW N54 maintenance intervals
What BMW's own US maintenance booklets schedule for the 335i / 335is, 535i, 135i, X6 xDrive35i, Z4 sDrive35i / 35is and 740i, plus SixLine's labelled estimates for everything else — in miles and kilometres.
BMW's maintenance booklets never name an engine: they list services by model column and count them in engine oil services ("every 6th engine oil service, approx. 60,000 mi"). This page reads those booklets for the cars that carry the N54 and prints their figures in the first two tables. Where BMW gives no number, a separate table shows SixLine's own estimates, labelled as such.
- Engine
- 3.0 L (2,979 cc) straight-six, twin-turbo
- Built
- 2006–2016
- Booklet years covered
- MY2007–2012, MY2014–2016
- Spark plugs
- 4th service: ≈ 40,000 mi / ≈ 64,000 km; 3rd service: ≈ 45,000 mi / ≈ 72,000 km
The N54 appears in the MY2007–2016 booklets here and in none from MY2017: we know of no MY2017 or later US car with it. The booklets name models, not engines, so the model years of each car are our reading. The MY2011 and later booklets print 60,000 mi for the plain 335i, 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i (see the N55 page) and the turbo figure of 45,000 mi only for the 335is, the Z4 sDrive35is and, in MY2011–2012, the 740i / 740Li.
Intervals BMW prints for N54 cars
| Item | Booklet interval | Distance | Booklet years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and oil filter (derived, see below) | every oil service | ≈ 15,000 mi ≈ 24,000 km | MY2009–2012 |
| Engine oil and oil filter (derived, see below) | every oil service | ≈ 10,000 mi ≈ 16,000 km | MY2014–2016 |
| Ventilation microfilter | every oil service or every 2 years, depending on model and year | ≈ 15,000 mi ≈ 24,000 km | MY2010–2012 |
| Ventilation microfilter | 2nd service | ≈ 20,000 mi ≈ 32,000 km | MY2014–2016 |
| Brake fluid | every 2 years | — | MY2007–2012 |
| Engine air filter element | 3rd service | distance not printed | MY2007–2008 |
| Engine air filter element | 2nd or 3rd service, depending on model and year | ≈ 30,000 mi ≈ 48,000 km ≈ 45,000 mi ≈ 72,000 km | MY2009–2012 |
| Engine air filter element | 5th service | ≈ 50,000 mi ≈ 80,000 km | MY2015–2016 |
| Spark plugs | 45,000 mi | 45,000 mi ≈ 72,000 km | MY2008 |
| Spark plugs | 3rd service | ≈ 45,000 mi ≈ 72,000 km | MY2009–2012 |
| Spark plugs | 4th service | ≈ 40,000 mi ≈ 64,000 km | MY2014–2016 |
| Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) | 100,000 mi | 100,000 mi ≈ 161,000 km | MY2007–2011 |
| Oxygen sensors (150,000 mi for California-warranty and SULEV cars) | 120,000 mi | 120,000 mi ≈ 193,000 km | MY2007–2012, MY2014–2016 |
An oil service is the booklet's unit, but no booklet prints a mileage for the oil change itself (BMW calls it Condition Based Service). The distance shown for one oil service is therefore derived, our own division of what the booklets do print: in MY2014–2016 spark plugs are due "at every 6th Engine Oil Service (approximately 60,000 miles)", so one service ≈ 10,000 mi ≈ 16,000 km; in MY2010–2013 spark plugs are due at "60,000 miles or at every 4th Engine Oil Service" ("45,000 miles or at every 3rd" for the turbo cars; MY2013: "4th … approximately 60,000 miles"), so one service ≈ 15,000 mi ≈ 24,000 km; in MY2009 the turbo cars' spark plugs are due at "45,000 miles or at every 3rd engine oil service", so one service ≈ 15,000 mi ≈ 24,000 km. The MY2007–2008 booklets print no service count at all, so for those years the table gives the multiple the booklet prints (air filter "after every 3rd engine oil change") without a distance, and no oil-service row; spark plugs are printed in miles. The MY2014 booklets print their connected services "for vehicles built as of July 2013". The MY2007–2011 booklets add the note "Change oil at least once a year." The oil change itself is not fixed: CBS counts it down on the car, and BMW also codes some cars with a shorter or longer oil interval (option codes 8K…). BMW of North America's bulletin SI B01 06 13 (October 2013) states the engine-oil "Due in" date uses a 12-month interval on BMW vehicles produced on or after July 1, 2013 (24 months before that; E71 and E88 excepted), and the vehicle check a 48-month interval.
How the intervals change by model year
| Booklet | One oil service (derived) | Air filter | Spark plugs | Cabin filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MY2007 | — | 3rd | — | — |
| MY2008 | — | 3rd | 45,000 mi | — |
| MY2009 | ≈ 15,000 mi | 3rd | 3rd | — |
| MY2010 | ≈ 15,000 mi | 2nd | 3rd | every service / 2 years |
| MY2011 | ≈ 15,000 mi | 2nd | 3rd | 2 years |
| MY2012 | ≈ 15,000 mi | 3rd | 3rd | 2 years |
| MY2014 | ≈ 10,000 mi | — | 4th | 2nd |
| MY2015 | ≈ 10,000 mi | 5th | 4th | 2nd |
| MY2016 | ≈ 10,000 mi | 5th | 4th | 2nd |
"—" means the booklet gives no single figure for these cars that year (a blank cell, or a value printed at two different services), or, in the oil-service column, that no booklet of that year lets us derive one; it does not mean the service does not exist. Air-filter timing depends on the model column, so different cars on this engine can sit at different services in the same year.
SixLine's estimates for everything else
BMW leaves these items to CBS or gives no number: brake pads and brake discs run through CBS, brake fluid and the gearbox oils are printed in some booklet years only (see the table above) and not in the others, and the cooling system is described as long-term rated. So SixLine starts from the preventive estimates below. They are SixLine's own numbers, not BMW's, and every interval can be edited in the app. For a US car covered by a booklet, the BMW figures in the table above replace the estimate for those items.
| Item | Distance | Time | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil service | 8,000 km ≈ 5,000 mi | 12 months | All |
| Air filter | 30,000 km ≈ 19,000 mi | 36 months | All |
| Cabin filter | 20,000 km ≈ 12,000 mi | 24 months | All |
| Accessory belt | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 60 months | All |
| Brake fluid | — | 24 months | All |
| Front brake pads | 40,000 km ≈ 25,000 mi | — | All |
| Rear brake pads | 60,000 km ≈ 37,000 mi | — | All |
| Front brake discs | 80,000 km ≈ 50,000 mi | — | All |
| Rear brake discs | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | — | All |
| Spark plugs | 60,000 km ≈ 37,000 mi | 72 months | All |
| Timing chain condition check | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | All |
| DCT fluid | 60,000 km ≈ 37,000 mi | 48 months | DCT |
| Manual transmission oil | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | manual gearbox |
| Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | automatic |
| Front differential fluid | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | xDrive |
| Rear differential fluid | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | All |
| Transfer case oil | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 96 months | xDrive |
| Vehicle check | — | 24 months | All |
| Remote key battery | — | 24 months | All |
| Oxygen sensors | 240,000 km ≈ 150,000 mi | — | All |
| Coolant | 100,000 km ≈ 62,000 mi | 60 months | All |
| Battery check | — | 48 months | All |
Get your N54 schedule on your phone
SixLine sets up a schedule like this for your N54 and drivetrain, counts each item down by distance and by date, and reminds you before it is due. Every interval can be edited. Free for one car, with no account.
Download on theApp StoreSources
- MY2007 booklet (3 Series), PDF p. 9–14, 23 (Only the 3 Series booklet was found for MY2007. Spark plugs and microfilter are Condition Based Service items there with no figure printed.)
- MY2008 booklet (3 Series), PDF p. 12–14 (No MY2008 5/6/7 Series, X3/X5, Z4 or M booklet was found.); MY2008 booklet (1 Series), PDF p. 12–14
- MY2009 booklet (1, 3, 5, 6 Series), PDF p. 12–15 (Only the 1/3/5/6 Series booklet was found for MY2009; no X3/X5/X6, Z4, M or 7 Series booklet.)
- MY2010 booklet (1, 3, 5, 6 Series), PDF p. 14–17 (No MY2010 7 Series booklet was found.); MY2010 booklet (X5/X6), PDF p. 10–12; MY2010 booklet (Z4), PDF p. 10–12
- MY2011 booklet (7 Series), PDF p. 8–11
- MY2012 booklet (1, 3, 5, 6 Series, Z4), PDF p. 14–17 (No F30 3 Series sedan, M3 or M5 booklet was found for MY2012.); MY2012 booklet (7 Series), PDF p. 8–11
- MY2014 booklet (2/4/6 Series + Z4), PDF p. 15–17
- MY2015 booklet (2/4/6 Series + Z4), PDF p. 13–15
- MY2016 booklet (2/4/6 Series + Z4), PDF p. 14–15
- Engine facts: Wikipedia (fetched 2026-11-10).