[toicy4ya]

Sup guys,

This morning as i was driving to work my car indicated low oil. When i pulled up the message on idrive, it stated "Add one quart as soon as possible". However, after parking the car for several hours (while at work) i turned on the car and it indicated "Engine Oil Level Ok". Is this normal? This is my first bimmer and im not entirely sure if i should add the oil or disregard it? These are the screen shots,





On another note, when i purchased my car two months ago i noticed the status on all the service requirements listed "ok". Could the dealer have intentionally selected "ok" without the service being done? Is there any way that I can confirm that the status on all the service requirements is accurate?



Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

[Meeni]

Hi, look here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=10

[BKV122]

That happens to me for a week or 2 i get the add 1 quart then is disappears for a few days then comes back. Its at the stage were youre going to have to add a quart sooner or later.
And yes the dealer could just reset your services and not preform the service, i doubt they would as they got to much reputation to hold up but u cant really check unless you put a mark on whatever has to be changed and see if its a new one or if its been touched

[toicy4ya]

Thanks, I'll add some oil. Without turning this into a oil debate thread, wants the recommended oil?

Additionally, while i did a search and read the sticky I found some conflicting information that I need clarification on. My manual indicates to use 5w-40 or 5w-30 and makes no mention of synthetic or LL1 type oil. However the consensus on the forum is to use 0w-40 or 0w-30 LL1 oil. Although for the most part it was in reference to the 335 model while I have a 330 model.

[Meeni]

Oil weight depends on temperature, but all the one you cited are good for the N52. You are probably filled with 5-30 BMW oil, which is not too overpriced, so for a top off you should just use that for the top off.

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by toicy4ya

Sup guys,

This morning as i was driving to work my car indicated low oil. When i pulled up the message on idrive, it stated "Add one quart as soon as possible". However, after parking the car for several hours (while at work) i turned on the car and it indicated "Engine Oil Level Ok". Is this normal?

You're a bit ambiguous here.

If you RTFM you'll see that there are two separate oil level checks. One is a "sufficient oil to safely start engine" check which can be performed before starting the engine and for a few minutes afterwards. After the oil is warmed and sufficient time has passed, the more accurate "dynamic oil level" test will give you a more precise and accurate reading of your oil level.

You say you "turned on the car and it said it's OK". I read this as meaning that you checked immediately, thus the readout is only telling you that you have enough oil to safely start the engine.

I believe that you still need to add oil, and you should judge the current level in the crankcase after the engine has been warmed up and running for some time and you can see the proper dynamic oil level test results.

As for which oil - if you're under some sort of warranty then get something that says "LL-01" on the label (Mobil1 0W40 or Castrol Edge 0W30 European formula or BMW 5W30 though that's my least favourite of those choices). If you're outside of warranty then you have more options.

[Tom K.]

Since your car holds 7 quarts, I wouldn't add any oil unless the warning returns. And if it again cycles on and off, I'd have it checked by a dealer for a bad oil level sensor. Naturally, continue to monitor the level.

If you insist on adding oil, your best bet is BMW branded 5w30 synthetic. If you can't get to a dealer to buy BMW oil, Mobil 1 0w40 (but not 5w30) is approved by BMW.

Tom

[toicy4ya]

Thank for the feedback. I think I will wait until I get the warning again. However, for those experienced with Idrive, does the second picture on the first post appear as if the oil is at the half way mark?

Btw, I contacted BMWUSA to get some feedback on the subject and was advised to purchase the BMW oil of course or Castrol Syntex 5w-30 for top up. They made no mention of the Mobil 1 0w - 30? As a result I purchased this one,

[Surly73]

That is NOT the right Castrol

It's the 0W30 which says "Made in Germany" on the back and "European Formula" on the front. It's a lot thicker at operating temperature than the 5W30 and is designed for LL-01 long service intervals.

Again, it's Mobil1 0W40 (you can't go changing numbers "just 5 or 10") not 0W30. Total different product, again.

[toicy4ya]

No one is going around changing numbers. As i mentioned previously, this is my first bimmer. I understand the general consensus on the forum is Mobil 1 0W-30. However, why would BMWUSA recommended Catrol Syntec 5W-30? Btw, after receiving Surly's response, I contact BMWUSA again and ask what oil should I used that I can pick up locally. After receiving his response I explained the debate between Mobil 1 0W-30 & Castrol 5W-30 and he still recommended Castrol Syntec.

Is this some kind of conspiracy? Who would have thought purchasing a quart of oil would be such a task.

Btw, while at PepBoys I noticed the Mobil 1 0W-30 was $9.19 while the BMW oil is $7.99 online, wouldnt it be better to go with the BMW brand oil?

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by toicy4ya

No one is going around changing numbers. As i mentioned previously, this is my first bimmer. I understand the general consensus on the forum is Mobil 1 0W-30.

This is what I meant by changing numbers. I typed "Castrol 0W30" and "Mobil1 0W40" and you've twice interpreted that as "Castrol 5W30" and "Mobil1 0W30" respectively.

However, why would BMWUSA recommended Catrol Syntec 5W-30?

They do not. They recommend BMW 5W30 which happens to be made by Castrol, but is not Syntec 5W30.

Btw, after receiving Surly's response, I contact BMWUSA again and ask what oil should I used that I can pick up locally. After receiving his response I explained the debate between Mobil 1 0W-30 & Castrol 5W-30 and he still recommended Castrol Syntec.

Again:

Castrol 0W30 (Made in Germany, LL-01)
or
Mobil1 0W40 (LL-01)

Is this some kind of conspiracy? Who would have thought purchasing a quart of oil would be such a task.

Btw, while at PepBoys I noticed the Mobil 1 0W-30 was $9.19 while the BMW oil is $7.99 online, wouldnt it be better to go with the BMW brand oil?

[F32Fleet]

LL01 = BMW oil cert given to oil companies which have passed the applicable engine tests.

Other OEM have similar (Benz = 229.5, AUDI/VW = 507/504, etc).
For top off you can probably run any synthetic that's 0/5w-30/40 and be Ok.

Previous BMW certs.
LL98, LL01 FE

Newer cert (diesel only in North America): LL04

[Meeni]

Is LL04 superseding LL01 or is it totally different?

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Is LL04 superseding LL01 or is it totally different?

LL-04 "supercedes" but isn't to be used for gasoline engines in North America due to ethanol and other issues. LL-04 is proper spec in North America for diesels. LL-04 is proper spec for all BMWs outside of North America.

LL-04 is a "low SAPS" oil formulation and it has trouble handling North American fuel issues (especially when combined with direct injection and the overly rich North American fuel maps).

[toicy4ya]

Surly, while I appreciate your feedback, I won't waste anyone's time debating with you on what was said or the information I received.

Getting back to the initial post, I found some information on another forum i thought would be beneficial for anyone who might find themselves in the same situation I was in.

The following link offers a pdf which describes the oil condition sensor and how it relates to the engine oil level on the iDrive displayhttp://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...9&d=1303512707

Additionally, the oils listed below meet BMW's Long-life rating and are acceptable for use in BMW Passenger vehicles in the US market with gasoline engines.

•Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30


•Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40


•Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30


•Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30


•BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil SAE 5W-30

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by toicy4ya

Surly, while I appreciate your feedback, I won't waste anyone's time debating with you on what was said or the information I received.

I don't see any debate here. Your series of pictures shows the right oils.