Special note from Charlie Robertson
Is the manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule best for your car?
Prior to the Free Scheduled Maintenance programs which certain luxury import vehicle manufacturers offer, engine Oil & Filter Changes were routinely recommended every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, Intermediate Services every 15,000 miles and Major Services every 30,000 miles. But once these manufacturers began paying for scheduled maintenance, lo and behold these steadfast schedules were revised. Suddenly the cars hardly need any maintenance at all according them.
Consider this-The all important break-in service (usually performed within the first 1,200 miles) was done away with. Engine oil suddenly lasts 15,000 miles, Manual gearbox and differential oil? No worries there – now they NEVER need to be changed; Break fluid and coolant service intervals were doubled although there has been no change in the composition of the brake fluid and anti-freeze used.
Considering that many car buyers commonly viewed European luxury vehicles as “high maintenance” cars I can think of nothing which would address that more effectively than Free Scheduled Maintenance tied to extended intervals. So, ask yourself this question; Are Free Scheduled Maintenance and extended intervals all about marketing and cost reduction – the manufacturer’s costs? Draw your own conclusions. I have made mine.
The alternative maintenance schedule recommend below is not, “Charlie Robertson's maintenance schedule.” It is actually the maintenance schedule, more or less, used prior to the newer extended schedules. It also represents my opinion, based upon 30 years of experience with European luxury imports, technical advisors and; both dealer and independent professional technicians. The fact that my opinion differs from those of others does not mean anyone is necessarily right or wrong. But you should note that if there is one common reason for drivability and performance problems in contemporary European luxury cars with over 100,000 miles is that some, if not most of the items recommend within our schedule were unperformed at the recommended intervals.
Factory Recommended Schedule
EVERY 15,000 MILES (Approximately)
EVERY 50,000 MILES- (Approximately)
- Oil & Filter Service
- Replace Air Filter
- Replace Environmental Filter
EVERY 100,000 MILES- (Approximately)
- Oil & Filter Service
- Replace Air Filter
- Replace Environmental Filter
- Replace Spark Plugs
Fairfax Motors Recommended Schedule
EVERY 5,000 MILES (Approximately)
EVERY 15,000 MILES- (Approximately)
- Oil & Filter Service
- Replace Air Filter
- Replace Environmental Filter
- Replace Differential Fluid (if needed)
EVERY 30,000 MILES- (Approximately)
- Oil & Filter Service
- Replace Air Filter
- Replace Environmental Filter
- Inspect & Replace Coolant if needed
- Inspect & Replace Brake Fluid if needed
- Inspect & Replace Differential Fluid if needed
- Inspect & Replace Spark Plugs if needed
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