[greatbm]

I have owned BMW's for many a year and found recent engines take oil at some point before first service, last 2 cars took 2 litres. I now have the 325 engine with no dipstick (Direct injection) and the display shows max at 8000 miles, has any one topped up their oil before this mileage ? Just a little concerned relying on a electronic level

[beemerbird]

My E90 330i had the electronic oil level reader and no dipstick - strange feeling I agree. Mine had 11k on when I sold it and I never had to top up the oil according to the idrive info etc. Modern synthetic oils may help perhaps.

BMW's job to make sure their equipment is upto it?

[Serjames]

In reading others experiences with this, the electronic gauge tends to not move at all... and then will all at once drop by at least a litre or so. It should warn you at this point though..

So this is the thread where in theory we find out who thrashed them from day one, and probably won't burn a puff of oil for 10000k and those who followed BMW's advice about gentle running in... lol

[DaveC]

Gah lets not start the whole running in thread, there is no evidence whatever to support the "run it in hard" theory whatever and not a lot to support the "run it in gentle" theory (other than every manufacturer in the world). If you want to cane your new car and feel smug about it then feel free, if you want to pussy it and feel smug about it then also feel free. Its not a rite of passage.

Personally I've built engines and I know just how compression and oil control rings work and most things I've read on the subject are utter utter crap along with the theory that if you dont bed in the rings when the engine is new they will never bed in ... what does metal on metal stop wearing? does it suddenly become smoooooooooth and frictionless? its UTTER tosh. Believe it and believe in Slick 50 too - that sounds pretty convincing too if you read up on it.

*shakes head*

[Serjames]

The engines I rebuilt, (severel times cos I forgot bits ) always showed incredible wear for the first 100 or so miles and then stopped any more visible signs of change?

Was a high revving bike though so maybe your experience was different.



Promise not to mention it again, even tongue in cheek.

SJ

[dxb335d]

You mashed yours right out of thr box eh james, as did I.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Serjames

In reading others experiences with this, the electronic gauge tends to not move at all... and then will all at once drop by at least a litre or so. It should warn you at this point though..

I think this is how most e9*s work out. Virtually no oil consumption for the first few thousand miles, then almost a full litre between say 7000 and 10000 miles, then nothing since.

[Z4 Beemer]

I usually check the oil about once a week (using the on board computer), and it has always been right at the max mark (maybe just a slither below it). This morning the car chimes at me when driving along, and the level is now showing below the min mark and it says to add 1 litre - see attached pic.

Does this sound normal behaviour or could I have an oil leak? The car is 13 months old, done about 3500 miles (2.5, 6 cylinder petrol) so I expect it might be due oil... just surprised the way that the electronic oil gauge is behaving.

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

I usually check the oil about once a week (using the on board computer), and it has always been right at the max mark (maybe just a slither below it). This morning the car chimes at me when driving along, and the level is now showing below the min mark and it says to add 1 litre - see attached pic.

Does this sound normal behavior or could I have an oil leak? The car is 13 months old, done about 3500 miles (2.5, 6 cylinder petrol) so I expect it might be due oil... just surprised the way that the electronic oil gauge is behaving.

I was concerned with mine not dropping as all my previous BMW have used oil initially. Now at 9000 miles and last night when I checked oil level (electronic) the gauge shows under max a little way. I am a little relieved the gauge is working but I would be concerned if the gauge suddenly goes from max to min, when was the last time you checked oil level ? by the way same engine 2.5i SE E93 (3 litre).

[Z4 Beemer]

Last checked it about a week ago. To be honest for a while its been about 1mm under the max mark and always been there since the car was new. It is almost as if it has gone from max to min in a week or so. Mine is actually a true 2.5i litre engine... its only the newer 325i E92 and E93 models that have the 3.0i

Can anyone else confirm if the electronic gauge does actually decrease in the level it shows over time?

[SoYank]

Mine dropped steadily until it told me to add a quart; could have been a litre, I don't recall.

[ShereKhan]

Mines' 15 mths old with 39k i've topped it up twice with 1ltr at a time. Sounds about right. I've managed to avoid a third top as the first oil service was due at the time.

[mjh93sa]

Sounds like it's worth giving the dealer a call as such a sudden drop could indicate a sensor problem as opposed to oil level.

[Z4 Beemer]

Did a quick site search (Sorry Viv ) and Serjames actually says here that it seems pretty common for the electronic gauge not to move at all, then to suddenly drop all at once!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...86&postcount=3

I'll pop into the dealers at lunchtime on Monday

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Did a quick site search (Sorry Viv ) and Serjames actually says here that it seems pretty common for the electronic gauge not to move at all, then to suddenly drop all at once!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...86&postcount=3

I'll pop into the dealers at lunchtime on Monday

No problem, Gordon.

I thought you'd find your own answer at some point, oh, & thanks for finding the thread into which I'm going to shift this!

Viv

[Z4 Beemer]

That's ok Viv, apology accepted.

[mgarvey]

My 320d seems to go through about a litre every 10k miles - I usually end up topping it up between services as a result.

Not sure if this is normal, my E46 and Volvo S40 used a lot less than this, and the Golf GTI I had before that used more.

I bought my car as ex BMW management with 3.5k on the clock, so who knows how it was run in.

[networkguy]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

car is 13 months old, done about 3500 miles (2.5, 6 cylinder petrol)

Such a machine is clearly wasted on you. You really should get out more.

[Z4 Beemer]

With work I'm often away for long periods at a time, so mileage for me will never be particularly high. Low mileage does have its benefits at trade in time though

[botti335i]

I bought my 335i with 4k on the clock; at 5k it needed 1ltr of oil, then again at 8.5k....not sure if thats normal or not but the car seems fine!

[Z4 Beemer]

Ok, bought a 1 litre bottle of Castrol SLX Longlife-04 at the dealers today. Put it in the car, went for a long drive, and ... BOING... the oil warning comes up and tells me to add 1 litre... and its still showing as below the min.

Guess its a phone call to the dealers in the morning.

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Ok, bought a 1 litre bottle of Castrol SLX Longlife-04 at the dealers today. Put it in the car, went for a long drive, and ... BOING... the oil warning comes up and tells me to add 1 litre... and its still showing as below the min.

Guess its a phone call to the dealers in the morning.

I think your car has an oil sensor problem, Gordon.

Viv