[Trogster]

Anyone else experiencing this?

Today I booked my break-in service only to be told that the replacement diff-oil is back-ordered to November / December.

WTH?

Is BMW using some Unicorn Pixie-dust oil in their diffs? How hard can it be to source differential oil?

In any case, it looks like my break-in service will take 2-trips to the Dealer.

[nype]

Is this break-in service just an M car thing?

[Trogster]

Originally Posted by nype

Is this break-in service just an M car thing?

It's a differential oil thing...BMW Canada doesn't have any.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by nype

Is this break-in service just an M car thing?

Yes, the true M cars have a 1200 mile breakin service (oil and diff fluid change).

[Trogster]

Just found this M3/M4 thread dated back to August that discusses the national Diff-oil shortage.

Unacceptable!

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2044258

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by nype

Is this break-in service just an M car thing?

It appears to be a thing for at least the M cars. I don't know about the M SUVs. (FWIW, a family member has a new 2023 X4 M40 and I don't think there is a break in service called for.)

Break in service calls for replacing engine oil and diff fluid.

Had my M2's break in service done May 31 this year with 1204 miles.

Will add it has been my SOP for years (decades) treating a new vehicle to a break in service consisting of an engine oil/filter service at anywhere from ~500 miles (Hellcat) to 1200 miles (the M2 but other cars too) to 2K miles at the end of "break in".

Diffs and manual transmissions get an early fluid change too, just not that early. Earliest was my 2001 Z28 which got one at around 18K miles. Prior years GM called for an early fluid service but then it no longer called for an early service. But I had it done anyhow. But more often I wait and had it done at around 30K miles.

Have not owned any automatic equipped vehicles long enough to get them to 30K miles. The Hellcat had 27.5K miles on it but I decided to trade it in on a 2020 Scat Pack equipped with a 6-speed manual.

[wj100]

Yep, went for my break-in service on Friday but have to go back again tomorrow for the diff oil that was supposedly being delivered later that day.

[KevM2]

Yep same thing happened to me and I posted about it… back ordered everywhere in Canada. So I ordered my own diff fluid online from US and took her in for the diff fluid change this past week. To make matters worse, my dealers fill syringe decided to leak out so they had to use 3 bottles instead of 2.

[Trogster]

Originally Posted by KevM2

Yep same thing happened to me and I posted about it… back ordered everywhere in Canada. So I ordered my own diff fluid online from US and took her in for the diff fluid change this past week. To make matters worse, my dealers fill syringe decided to leak out so they had to use 3 bottles instead of 2.

I've found that the diff fluid shortage has been reported for at least 2-years. FFS, how hard can it be for BMW to find a reliable source of diff fluid?

And what does it say about their contempt for their customers to think we all can waste half a day going back to the dealer to complete a simple service.

How much longer will the industry blame covid for their poor performance?

[ExplodingFires]

I just had my M2 break in service on Friday and there was no mention of an issue! Maybe my dealership has some extra lying around?

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by ExplodingFires

I just had my M2 break in service on Friday and there was no mention of an issue! Maybe my dealership has some extra lying around?

This seems to only be affecting Canada

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by Trogster

I've found that the diff fluid shortage has been reported for at least 2-years. FFS, how hard can it be for BMW to find a reliable source of diff fluid?

And what does it say about their contempt for their customers to think we all can waste half a day going back to the dealer to complete a simple service.

How much longer will the industry blame covid for their poor performance?

Agree! I work in health care and the number of random things that suddenly decide to go on back order because of “global supply chain” issues is just mind blowing and inexplicable. I don’t buy the Covid excuse at this point and I think there is another reason which I won’t go into here. As far as bmw goes, I don’t understand why they can’t offer an alternate brand for a simple diff fluid when they clearly cannot meet standard break in service when this is clearly needed for their own warranty. Mind you a week or two on the dirty diff fluid is probably not going to kill the diff but having to go book time twice for a simple service is a pain in the ass and I always try to keep my dealership visits down to a minimum simply because I do not trust them. I’ve had way too many issues with them screwing up something with other cars.

[apez]

Originally Posted by KevM2

Agree! I work in health care and the number of random things that suddenly decide to go on back order because of “global supply chain” issues is just mind blowing and inexplicable. I don’t buy the Covid excuse at this point and I think there is another reason which I won’t go into here. As far as bmw goes, I don’t understand why they can’t offer an alternate brand for a simple diff fluid when they clearly cannot meet standard break in service when this is clearly needed for their own warranty. Mind you a week or two on the dirty diff fluid is probably not going to kill the diff but having to go book time twice for a simple service is a pain in the ass and I always try to keep my dealership visits down to a minimum simply because I do not trust them. I’ve had way too many issues with them screwing up something with other cars.

I have no idea what is going on with BMW supply chain, but as I sort of work in supply chain I will say the issue I see are typically personnel related.

Eg can't get enough folks in the manufacturing facilities, can't find truck drivers, people not showing up in distribution centers. These jobs are often critical to the business, but as they are unskilled they are low wage and don't attract a ton of reliable help. Repeat this down the chain from finished goods to suppliers to raw materials where a hitch in any step effect the customer and you start to see how fragile it really is.

I don't have a solution, but I do empathize with those folks doing such demanding low wage work. Without bringing politics, policy and voting into the equation all I can really do is be understanding when these situations crop up.

[2SG5]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

It appears to be a thing for at least the M cars. I don't know about the M SUVs. (FWIW, a family member has a new 2023 X4 M40 and I don't think there is a break in service called for.)

M40i's are not "real" M cars. They don't need it. They come with normal Dif and engine oil from factory. I have an X3MC it required a break-in service.

About to schedule the break-in for my G87 tomorrow. Hopefully the shortage is just a Canada thing.

[Trogster]

Today was the day!!!

Headed down to the Dealer for 1/2 of my 'Break-In' service. Traffic was light and I arrived early. Was very pleased when they took me in right away.

As I waited for them to complete the engine oil change, I visited their parts department to ask them when they expected differential oil to be back in stock.

Imagine my surprise when the tech told me he had 8-bottles on the shelf!!!

I raced back to the service agent and told him they had oil in stock and I wanted my differential serviced today.

Which they did!!!

I also picked up an oil filter for my 'personal' 6-month oil change. (No way am I waiting a year for the 'free service').

I also received confirmation that the G87 engine oil capacity is 7-liters (with filter change).

[Scottydont1414]

Called for my break in service (Calgary, Canada) and they said they haven’t had diff fluid for over 6 months.

They offered to do the rest of the service and leave the diff unchanged.

Wtf. So is the car good to open up after this or are we supposed to permanently wait for the fluid before we can go WOT?

It’s pretty much parked for the winter anyway but I wanted to take advantage of some nice weather.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by Scottydont1414

Called for my break in service (Calgary, Canada) and they said they haven’t had diff fluid for over 6 months.

They offered to do the rest of the service and leave the diff unchanged.

Wtf. So is the car good to open up after this or are we supposed to permanently wait for the fluid before we can go WOT?

It’s pretty much parked for the winter anyway but I wanted to take advantage of some nice weather.

They don’t need a PhD to phone other dealers.

[Resoelg]

'24 G87. Bought 10 days ago.
1200 mile break in service this past Friday dealer in NJ. DIff oil changed with rest of the service. No issues.

[xtougher]

Originally Posted by Resoelg

'24 G87. Bought 10 days ago.
1200 mile break in service this past Friday dealer in NJ. DIff oil changed with rest of the service. No issues.

1200 miles in a week?

Nice!

[Resoelg]

Originally Posted by xtougher

1200 miles in a week?

Nice!

She ain't no garage queen...👁️👁️

[Trogster]

Originally Posted by Scottydont1414

Called for my break in service (Calgary, Canada) and they said they haven’t had diff fluid for over 6 months.

They offered to do the rest of the service and leave the diff unchanged.

Wtf. So is the car good to open up after this or are we supposed to permanently wait for the fluid before we can go WOT?

It’s pretty much parked for the winter anyway but I wanted to take advantage of some nice weather.

That's unacceptable!!

Tell then you'll source the oil yourself (from the god ole USA) and back-charge them.

[tommycr]

Originally Posted by Trogster

Anyone else experiencing this?

Today I booked my break-in service only to be told that the replacement diff-oil is back-ordered to November / December.

WTH?

Is BMW using some Unicorn Pixie-dust oil in their diffs? How hard can it be to source differential oil?

In any case, it looks like my break-in service will take 2-trips to the Dealer.

Same thing happened to me… when it was being serviced they called to tell me it was back ordered. I was annoyed at first but they assured me the car will be fine and it’s in the notes if anything happens.

Got a call a few weeks that the fluid came in and I went the next day.