Oil levels

[bryce]

Whats the acceptable levels, and what do you run yours at?

Mine has never budged from 0.6l.

[SMD]

0.6 is fine mine is 0.8! :beer:

[Mark CSL]

I try and keep mine at 0.8 :thumbs:

[Windowlicker]

Are these figures showing on the dash with a + sign in front of them,as mine is + 0.7l ??
Thank ya smelly crutch :-D

[NZ_M3]

I use the dipstick and make sure it's at the top level marking all the time. And yes it takes 20 minutes to check oil due to the stupid BMW design in putting the dipstick underneath the airbox ...

[Roland]

I use the dipstick and make sure it's at the top level marking all the time. And yes it takes 20 minutes to check oil due to the stupid BMW design in putting the dipstick underneath the airbox ...

sounds like a fast one! :-D
i keep it on 0,6

[Windowlicker]

so do all the figures people are mentioning have a+ in front of them ?? :119:

[rs32]

mine was always at 0.8 so I put 0.2 extra in to get it to a round +1.0

It went to 1.0 after 50 miles, then 100 miles later it's gone back to 0.8 and just stayed there.

Is the electronic measurement regarded as highly accurate or not to be trusted ?

[Windowlicker]

So if mine says +0.7 , does that mean there is 700ml too much in mine??

[Mark CSL]

So if mine says +0.7 , does that mean there is 700ml too much in mine??
No thats what it should read +0.1 up to +1.1 is max if it is over +1.1 you wont know as that is the max reading :thumbs:

[Windowlicker]

So if mine says +0.7 , does that mean there is 700ml too much in mine??
No thats what it should read +0.1 up to +1.1 is max if it is over +1.1 you wont know as that is the max reading :thumbs:

Excrement ! :-D thanks for that mark :thumbs:

[rs32]

more goings-on with the oil level today.

had the oil changed halfway through the interval to keep it fresh.

after the change the display updated to +0.7 and left it for 30-40 miles to settle. Wanted to get it to around +1 so stuck in between 0.2 and 0.3 of top-up.

100 miles later it went to +1.1, then within 20 miles it cycled down through +1.0 then +0.9 - so I ended up with an extra 0.2 as planned.

I'm just wanting to check the computer's ability to measure the oil - have 1500+ miles coming up to Scotland and back and need the car to be fully on song.

It looks like the computer is highly accurate, but should I trust it 100% ?

thanks.

[benCSL]

I don't look the computer. I have change oil the first time and look the dipstick. 5.7 liter of tws 10w60 = + 0.7 l on dashboard = max level on dipstick.
so when I go to my bmw center for the service i want 5.7 litre of oil...

[RichW]

I run mine at +1.0 :)

[rs32]

all is fine - stayed at +0.9 for another 150 miles.

[benCSL]

I run mine at +1.0 :)

if you look your dipstick, you are over the maximum....it's not very good for a motor.

[Trawler]

3 oil changes & level checked using dip stick. Electronic reading 0.7 every time & no change in normal or track driving. I would not like to see +1.0 on my car as I would suspect it has been over filled. Does anyone know how the system works (temp, time, level?) as it gives odd results e.g. it fails if you only drive short distances.

[NZ_M3]

if you look your dipstick, you are over the maximum....it's not very good for a motor.

Not true on the S54B32 ... it's a semi dry sump system ... so being slightly full doesn't actually do anything - i.e. not a wet crank situation.

As for the accuracy of the computer read outs ... NOT VERY ACCURATE. On mine at least .. the short term readings are slightly more accurate than the long term readings in my opinion. But I personally never trust it and simply pull the airbox if I really wanted to check - can't beat a dipstick for accuracy. :thumbs:

[rs32]

ok so another question.......

the manual says to check using the computer when the oil has been warmed to normal temp, then left for a minute or so to settle. The long-term reading is taken reguarly be sensors in the engine (I think).

But what does the dipstick level show at max - cold or hot ?

[md23]

My level was showing at +1.0 l which I thought OK, then after fiddling about with the dash buttons at the weekend to put the clock forward I noticed it is now showing -.- l. Have I managed to reset something? I also checked using the idling quick check and it shows +1.1 l. Should I be worried? Was going to get an oil change soon in any case.

Thanks

Mark

[glendog74]

They do fluctuate occasionally by a small amount.

[bryce]

It does that every now and then md, I think its just re-calibrating / checking levels for a long term reading.

[md23]

Cheers guys

I had heard about the recalibrating and possible issues if doing short trips (which I mostly do). Off to buy some oil now and will keep an eye on.

Mark

[Mark CSL]

Watch you dont over fill it

0.1to 1.1 is 1L OF OIL :thumbs:

[shimmy]

oftens reads -/- after track days but not too much later it recalibrates and goes back to +0.7 etc

I have never had to add a drop of oil between services even after a fair few days on track:thumbs:

E39 M5 used to burn 1.0 litres every 900 miles on road:bigcry:

[CSLjimmy]

Mine got an oil service recently, when I drove it out of the dealer it was at 1.0 then slowly it dropped to 0.6, has stayed at that ever since now.

James

[fergusgo]

My electronic oil reading is showing -/- and has been for a couple of days now. I have tried to get a momentary reading, by holding the sport button for a few seconds but it refuses to read anything but the -/-.

I am pretty confident that there is plenty of oil in the car, last reading I remember was 0.9L but am now becoming slightly nervous about running the car if it is low.

I know I could check the dipstick thanks to Mark's DIY video but was wondering if anyone has experienced this before or knows how to reset so save me the bother!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Mark CSL]

My electronic oil reading is showing -/- and has been for a couple of days now. I have tried to get a momentary reading, by holding the sport button for a few seconds but it refuses to read anything but the -/-.

I am pretty confident that there is plenty of oil in the car, last reading I remember was 0.9L but am now becoming slightly nervous about running the car if it is low.

I know I could check the dipstick thanks to Mark's DIY video but was wondering if anyone has experienced this before or knows how to reset so save me the bother!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Sounds like a faulty oil level sensor
Get it checked at bmw if you have bmw warranty :thumbs:

[sailorbaz]

I have never had to add a drop of oil between services even after a fair few days on track:thumbs:


Was going to mention that too. In the 3 years I've had mine, I've never had to put any oil into her. I've done around 20K in those 3 years, not moon miles but not a garage queen either. :thumbs:

The -:- thing seems familiar, I think I had a fault like that in my E36 once, and it was a faulty sensor that cost £100 to fix...unless you have BMW Warranty of course, :smt055

[md23]

My electronic oil reading is showing -/- and has been for a couple of days now. I have tried to get a momentary reading, by holding the sport button for a few seconds but it refuses to read anything but the -/-.

I am pretty confident that there is plenty of oil in the car, last reading I remember was 0.9L but am now becoming slightly nervous about running the car if it is low.

I know I could check the dipstick thanks to Mark's DIY video but was wondering if anyone has experienced this before or knows how to reset so save me the bother!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Mine was like this for about 10 days which I assumed was due to the low mileage I do (< 10 per day) and the computer not having the data to calculate a long term reading. Now back to + 1.0L which is what it was at before.

Try going for a longer run (that's when mine seemed to reset) although I could be talking utter p*sh!

I had issues in the recalibration state ( -.-L ) generating a short term reading as well but all OK now (fingers crossed). Is going in for an oil service this week in any case.

[Jaw_F430]

Mine was reading +0.5 and because I was doing short trips then went to -/-. Checked it using the sport button and it says +0.8 so didn't bother topping it up. May check it on the dipstick to see where it actually is though.