Is a microfilter needed with oil change?

My X1 tells me it wants it's first service at 18m and 13000miles.
It reports needing an Oil Change but my local dealer says they change (actually said they "must change") the microfilter with every oil change.
The manual just says it is Condition Based.

Is this mandatory or is the dealer trying to get some more revenue? If I leave it will it request the microfilter separately in the future as part of the CBS?

Thanks
Joe

 

Singovel is right,

The dealer will only reset the CBS if everything on the required service schedule has been carried out, so in this case they will only reset the CBS if the cabin filter is changed as required by the service schedule.
As another example....a dealer will if you ask them just do an oil and oil filter change at mid way between the CBS indicated requirements...but they will not update the CBS to show "oil / filter changed" as that is not a BMW oil service as the cabin filter has not been changed.
Im surprised the CBS is indicating a service is due after 13000 miles / 18 months.....the default values seem to be 19000 miles or 2 years whichever comes first. It is all dependent on driving style though

 

Thanks for both replies. I'm not familiar with CBS so was surprised the on-line booking system shows the microfilter as being an option for the service (the system error'd when I tried to use it so had to call the dealer to make the booking btw)

Where can I find the service schedule, @Singovel ?

Cheers
Joe

 

Our x5 had its first service... the other day...
£413. I Think..:. The cabin filter change was around £120 of that.... don’t forget the 3.0 d has 6.5 litres of oil... the x1 should use less..::
I reckon your looking at around £300... + all in...
Good luck::


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BMW dealers will delight in charging about £25 a litre for oil, so on a 3.0d its over £150 for oil...provide your own oil, of the right spec in original packaging and save a fortune.

The X1 is 5.25 litres i believe

 

I buy mine at Home Bargains, BMW LL04 spec fully synthetic - £18.99 for 4.5 litres last lot I bought to do an upcoming change. I always get the filters from BMW [Cotswold for Members' discount].

 

I had this exact conversation with my dealership last week. My oil service should have been around £220 which I was very happy with but apparently it needs the microfilter as well which takes it to around £375 so a significant jump. It goes in at the end of may and I asked for a waiting appointment but they said M cars need to be left all day. First time I have ever been told that , so asked for a G80 M3 for the day

 

That's £155 to change a paper filter, what a huge cost.

One of the first cars that I remember being marketed extolling the virtues of a pollen filter was the Astra F (mk3) in 1992. I ended up having four or five of them from new. The main benefit I found was they were great at stopping the leaves and debris coming through the vents, but once they clogged up, the cars used to steam up like mad at the merest hint of a damp/cool day.

Even though our vehicles were serviced on the button at the main dealer, our company refused to pay for the filters and hence I just took them out when blocked, very easy as they were in the wiper scuttle area and could be swapped/removed with no tools. (Old fashioned MD micro-managed spending to the Nth degree)

After that the designers had to get cleverer as cars became more densely packaged, and subsequently hid them in the most inaccessible places. Like on our old Focus, which meant removal of lower dash trim & moving the fusebox to gain access to the panel cover, all while lying on your back and cutting half your fingers.

Probably explains the large cost on the M5, it must be a similarly awkward job.

 

its not just any paper filter. it is a BMW micro activated charcoal filter

www.shop.bmw.co.uk/micro activated charcoal filter

 

Come on then Bob
Help us all out here....
We would welcome your support in the quest to beat BMW pricing...
Cheers
Al



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Got my last batch of oil from Harry Fairbairn. Must be half the price of what some dealers charge.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254904714178?hash=item3b598143c2:g:5ksAAOSwWmhf4LjR

 

Thanks Bob
As ever appreciate your effort
Thanks
Al


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Two people above have confirmed that BMW's agents won't update the service history when the oil is changed but not the pollen filter as all operations are not completed, as all key items are listed individually on the I-Drive, then anyone can subsequently check to see if anything was missed.

I find this is a bizarre approach, bordering on a restrictive practice even, that will just make low-income people like me with older cars consider having the vehicle serviced outside the dealer network.

 

Yes there’s no reason for them not to reset the warning if they don’t replace the micro filter, the service advisor just needs to uncheck the micro filter on the key reader before they send the data. When the tech does the reset it will just reset and write to the car what was sent by the advisor.

 

Its called the ///M tax lol

 

yep... includes charging for 2 litres of oil when the actual capacity is 1 litre ... duly rectified when the error is pointed out... but how many people would be aware to question 'mistakes' like this?