# 2009 BMW 328 - My to do list **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 26, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443 "2020-09-26T15:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RayO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5e9695/32.png) [@RayO](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RayO)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443/1 "2020-09-26T15:16:36Z")
I need to fix: Belt n tensioner Expansion tank n cap Oli filter housing gasket Front struts and mounts 4-wheel alignment Rear shocks ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443/2 "2020-09-26T16:06:22Z")
Are you asking permission? ---
**Author:** ![cdaquila](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cdaquila/32/18089_2.png) [@cdaquila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdaquila)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443/3 "2020-09-26T17:10:51Z")
A post was merged into an existing topic: [Ask Someone: 2009 BMW 328 #1601133581](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ask-someone-2009-bmw-328-1601133581/170445) ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443/4 "2020-09-26T22:27:32Z")
Having owned a BMW, I think that if you take this case to the dealer for that list you may as well light the car on fire. A local mechanic is your best bet ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-bmw-328-my-to-do-list/170443/5 "2020-09-27T14:04:26Z")
If you visit a BMW owner’s forum, you will discover that other than the alignment, these are all routine tasks that owners of older BMWs do themselves with parts that they buy from on-line vendors. I have owned a number of 3-series BMWs and have done all these tasks. If you don’t like working on your car, an 11-year-old BMW is not a very practical car to own. The only job I would caution you about is the front struts because if you don’t have/rent a really good spring compressor, or buy struts with new springs already installed on them, that can be a dangerous job. The bad news is that your list is probably a lot longer than you think. While you are doing the belt tensioner and cooling system, you probably need all new tensioner and idler bearings, and new hoses and very likely a new radiator. Be sure to do the oil filter housing gasket while all that stuff is off the front of the engine so you have room to work. A BMW owners forum can give you a good list specific to your model and mileage. It is a big expense but if you drive BMWs 300+k miles like I do, that is what is needed. As for alignment, that is rarely needed unless you have damaged it. My daily driver is a 2004 3-series with 250k miles and it has never been aligned. I recently sold a beautiful 1997 3-series with 335k miles and the only alignment it ever got was me touching up the tie rod adjustment when I noticed uneven wear on the front tires. My daughter’s boyfriend had a 2008 3-series and we just finished doing a job like this recently, then some kid ran a red light and totaled the car, because life is like that. No one injured!