BMW Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the BMW X5 have three rows of seats?

A: No, the X5 does not have 3 rows of seats. The BMW X7 is the only model in the line up that comes standard with a third row of seating.

Q: Which BMW’s have all-wheel drive?

A: BMW calls its all-wheel drive system “xDrive”. Most BMW’s can be purchased with “xDrive” or come standard with it. The only models that you cannot get xDrive in are the BMW Z4 Roadster, and the BMW M2.

Q: What is a CPO BMW?

A: CPO stands for Certified Pre-Owned. A CPO vehicle is a vehicle that was traded in with less than 60,000 miles on the odometer and is tested against our 164 point inspection by a BMW Certified Technician. Every Certified Pre-Owned BMW comes with a protection plan for additional peace of mind. This protection plan covers you for 5 years/unlimited miles and it includes BMW Roadside Assistance.

Q: How many miles can I go before my BMW needs an oil change?

A: Every 7,500 to 10,000 miles you should have your oil changed.

Q: What kind of oil does my BMW use?

A: BMW uses Synthetic motor oil, for better performance at lower and higher temperatures. BMW recommends the following oils: Pennzoil® Synthetic Motor Oil or BMW Twinpower 5W30 Synthetic.

Q: When should I service my BMW?

A: To keep your BMW operating like the Ultimate Driving Machine it is, regular maintenance is essential. Fortunately, with newer BMW models, it's easy to know when service is required thanks to the BMW Condition Based Service (CBS) system. The system monitors high and low speeds, total mileage, and trip distances, and calculates service intervals based on these metrics. When maintenance is due, a Service Interval Indicator System alert will appear on the iDrive and instrument cluster.

Q: What type of warranty comes with my BMW?

A: All new BMWs come with a 4 year/50,000mi warranty. All Certified Pre-Owned BMWs include whatever was remaining on the original new car warranty plus an additional year of coverage with no mileage limit.

Q: What does the BMW maintenance program cover?

A: The BMW Maintenance program covers factory-recommended maintenance services, including engine oil, engine filter, brake fluid, and spark plug changes. BMW Ultimate care consists of scheduled maintenance for the 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. BMW Ultimate Care+ allows you to add 1-3 more years or up to 75,000 miles on top of the original new vehicle warranty. You can add these warranties any time as long as you're still within your original coverage.

Q: What if my “service engine soon” light turns on?

A: When this light comes on we recommend that you bring the vehicle to our service center to have it checked out. We have a special code reader that will allow us to properly diagnose your vehicle's problems.

Q: When should I change my spark plugs?

A: For maximum fuel economy and peak engine performance, your spark plugs should be replaced every 3 years or 30,000 miles. Please refer to the “scheduled maintenance” section in your owner's manual.

Q: How do I pair my phone using iDrive 8?

1. Go to telephone on the iDrive screen

2. Click on the device you want to pair.

3. On your phone a pairing message will come up, click “pair”, and “allow”.

4. If you want to use Apple Carplay, click on “Use Apple Carplay” and on your phone another pop up message will show up and click “Use Apple Carplay” and “allow”.

Q: What do the colors of the LED display on the charging socket in my bmw electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle mean?

A: The LED light displays the status of the current charging process. Flashing orange means that the charging has been initiated. Flashing blue indicates the hi-voltage charging has begun.(only if the vehicle is unlocked) Flashing red indicates that the charger is not plugged in correctly, or there was an error when charging. If the vehicle is locked, the charge status indicator goes out after some time.

Q: What BMW’s are still available with a manual transmission?

A: The BMW M2, M3, and M4.

Q: Do BMW vehicles have advanced driver aids?

A: BMW models come standard with features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and BMW Assist emergency communications. Other features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and an automated parking system, can be equipped with certain available packages, or come standard on specific models.

Q: Do I need to align my tires when I get new ones?

A: Yes, you should always align your vehicle's tires after getting new ones installed. This is to ensure that you have an even tread wear once you start driving on them which also allows your tires to last longer.

Q: What is the difference between oem, and generic parts?

A: OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer” - which means they were made by the same people who made your car. Generic parts are made by other manufacturers and while most of them will fit your vehicle, they just don't have the types of quality checks that OEM parts do. Be assured at BMW of Darien we only use OEM parts for any service procedure.