[dishy]

I checked my oil level on the computer the other day and it is now approx. half way between min and max lines. When I picked up the car in July, the level was around 3/4 way between min and max lines. The service is due in 8000 kms which will take it to July 2016. The oil level would probably be around 1/4 way between min and max.

What's the general opinion? Do I leave it and keep an eye on it, or do I get a 1 litre bottle from BMW and top it up? Or do I get oil change done now or even oil and filter?
The manual says that the volume between minimum and maximum lines is 1 litre. So, in around 6 months the car has used 0.25 of a litre of oil.

[No one]

Originally Posted by dishy

I checked my oil level on the computer the other day and it is now approx. half way between min and max lines. When I picked up the car in July, the level was around 3/4 way between min and max lines. The service is due in 8000 kms which will take it to July 2016. The oil level would probably be around 1/4 way between min and max.

What's the general opinion? Do I leave it and keep an eye on it, or do I get a 1 litre bottle from BMW and top it up? Or do I get oil change done now or even oil and filter?
The manual says that the volume between minimum and maximum lines is 1 litre. So, in around 6 months the car has used 0.25 of a litre of oil.

When I picked up my car the oil level was at max.

Whether to add or to change depends on the kilometres behind rather than ahead and how hard they were: cruising on a highway, standing in jams or high-revving hard all the way. Locals insist on 10000 km oil change, condemning the computer and posting pictures of jam-like oil stuck in a disassembled engine. I choose 12000 km of mostly motorway cruising but I feel it's rather often, 15000 km should be fine perhaps.

The computer should issue a preliminary warning when the oil is at minimum and you have about 200 km to solve that (see the manual). Yet you might choose to buy a 1 litre bottle beforehand and keep it in the boot: I saw one complaint of the last warning ("Add oil immediately!") popping up at once, without the prior notification.

It should be convenient to wait for the call and add the whole 1 litre at once (exceeding the max is forbidden). Yet I noticed handy 0.1(?) marks on the bottle. They should also give/sell you a nice bag to store the bottle in.

Oil is supposed to be changed along with the filter.

[ttimbo]

I had a similar experience with mine, and just popped into the dealer, who added the small amount of oil necessary to bring it back to the Full mark. It's probably not necessary, but I'm mindful that the N55 motor is susceptible to oil starvation issues, so keeping it up to level is one way an owner can manage that risk.

[dishy]

Previous cars have been old Toyotas. 1 turbo petrol and 2 turbo diesels. Oil change is every 5000kms and at 10,000kms you then do the oil again along with the filter. My family are mechanics and I have many friends who are mechanics and they tell me it's pointless only changing the oil. I can see both points.

BMW advise every 15000kms.. I reckon I'll pop into the dealer soon and ask for a bit of oil to keep it topped up because I'm also aware of the starvation issue. (although for what it's worth, the garage I used here in Australia for my Supra messed up something and I didn't know I had an oil leak on my 7MGTE engine which kills itself when on low oil. One day I decided to check the oil and the level was less than a nats cock on the dip stick - luckily no problems.

Being in WA, most of my driving is boring freeway miles on cruise control. It's a bit sad, really because I might as well be sitting on a train. I've only done 8000kms since owning it but the ODO has just ticked over 15000. Before I picked her up BMW done a service, and she's an ex-demo model.

Thanks for your help

[Ben_M135i]

Let me know if you go to autoclassic or westcoast and what their response is.

[matthewcornish]

Good to know this gauge works for others - I check mine every couple of weeks and the system shows:
"full"
"full"
"full"
"yeah, still full... stop checking me so often"

Then while doing a long trip I'll get a "OMG I'M EMPTY FILL ME UP NOW!!!"

BMW didn't seem overly concerned when I complained. This has happened twice now in 20,000 miles.

[Ben_M135i]

That's a bit rough hahahaha

[dishy]

I emailed Autoclassic but didn't get a response. I measured the level on the screen and it's a bit over halfway full so I'm just going to keep monitoring it. Since I've used approx. 250ml in 6 months, if the use is the same then I will get to service time with the level still clear above the minimum line.

My manual says I have a dipstick... Although I likely don't have one I'd much prefer to do a dipstick check.

[harkes]

Add oil when the computer tells you to add oil. There is a reason it's called max and min - because everything within those limits is ok.

[harkes]

Originally Posted by matthewcornish

Good to know this gauge works for others - I check mine every couple of weeks and the system shows:
"full"
"full"
"full"
"yeah, still full... stop checking me so often"

Then while doing a long trip I'll get a "OMG I'M EMPTY FILL ME UP NOW!!!"

BMW didn't seem overly concerned when I complained. This has happened twice now in 20,000 miles.

Kindda the same for me. I NEVER check the oil level - I just drive around with an extra liter and add it when the computer tells me to. Do as told and you dont do anything wrong.

[dishy]

In previous years, the oil lamp on the dash meant that there was no oil. I'm still feeling as though when you're told of an oil problem, it's too late

- I'm only 30 but I think I'm beginning to feel like all those old people that didn't get new technology. :'(

[caballos]

Hello; I got the same warning yesterday at 9000kms. I need to go to service at 10000 but the indicator says "oil level is at minimum, put 1 liter of oil". I went to the nearest gas station, bought 1lt oil and put it. Then continue driving. I'll go to service after 1k kms.

[dishy]

Originally Posted by caballos

Hello; I got the same warning yesterday at 9000kms. I need to go to service at 10000 but the indicator says "oil level is at minimum, put 1 liter of oil". I went to the nearest gas station, bought 1lt oil and put it. Then continue driving. I'll go to service after 1k kms.

tbh I probably would have taken it for a service a little early, 1000km isn't much really.. Just make sure you have put the correct oil in which is stated in the manual. I'm leaving mine alone for a number of reasons:

1. You're not really supposed to mix old and new oil, although I have done it on all my old cars this is the first new car I've owned
2. I'm wary about buying oil from a motorfactors or petrol station and it being incorrect
3. Normally when I try and fix things that aren't broke, they break on me
4. And, my level is still just over mid-way between min and max and so it is fine to run like this

[ovekvam]

Adding new oil into used oil is perfectly safe. That is one of the requirements for engine oil, that they must be compatible.

[matthewcornish]

Originally Posted by harkes

Kindda the same for me. I NEVER check the oil level - I just drive around with an extra liter and add it when the computer tells me to. Do as told and you dont do anything wrong.

That's what I do now. I'd just rather have a heads up "you're getting low" first so it doesn't feel such a dramatic moment.

[StrangeWorld]

How often do you guys change oil?
Maybe because of temperature differences oil changes are required more often, but my car asked for it's first oil change after 39.000kms.
After oil change and reset of the comp, it is telling me next change in 35.000kms. Nothing near you guys are changing...

[ttimbo]

I know it's supposed to be "condition-based", but 39,000k on the same oil is a tad too long for me. I wouldn't use the same oil for more than 15,000k, max

[johnnydad]

Mine was saying to change at the two year mark timewise.

I'd already changed it at 14,000km, but they didn't enter it in the car's history as an oil service as that affects the timing of other items. When it did then have its next change at 24,000km it was officially a month "late'' (whereas actually was 11 months early) so it appears in my service history as being done late

I'll keep the receipts but it grates a little!