Hubblyking said:
Just a tought how many filters do they sell if the car was serviced last year and their filters date 2004
I see your concern, and this would require some "Carte-Blanche" type of investigation.
I would bet my (.....) that a separate outsourced company was tasked to produce a "batch" for BMW back in 2004, they would have been given a total amount of vehicles produced and then given a multiple of (lets say) 5 representing 5 years worth of replacement on all the models that use this type of air-filter, so by example...100 000 vehicles manufactured, then five years of expected air-filter replacement, thus a "batch" of 500 000 air filters produced.
each BMW service centre was then allocated a portion of this batch to keep in their stock/spares room, and until they run out, they will keep on using this original batch that they received...even if it is now 9 years later
but I am not saying that this is the case....in your case they might have omitted fraudulently to replace the original filter....difficult one to prove.
except if you go to BMW spares as an undercover sleuth, and order over the counter an air-filter the same as this one....and if it comes out "fresh" from the spares store with the same manufacture date...then you will have your answer.
