Low oil light 1200 miles after first service.

dexx · 12-05-2010, 02:47 PM

I feel like adding a quart from the case bought, but I think it might be wiser to bring it in the dealer so it's documented, just in case of future warranty issues?

What does m3post think?

racedoc11 · 12-05-2010, 03:03 PM

Yes!! Bring it to the dealer ...This happened to me with 2 different dealers but I caught it in their parking lot...They told me the service guy put a quart less. I knew about this trick from before; some dealers purposely put a quart less and charge full price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexx

I feel like adding a quart from the case bought, but I think it might be wiser to bring it in the dealer so it's documented, just in case of future warranty issues?

What does m3post think?

elh0102 · 12-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexx

I feel like adding a quart from the case bought, but I think it might be wiser to bring it in the dealer so it's documented, just in case of future warranty issues?

What does m3post think?

If it indicates a quart low now, then it should have been showing way less than full immediately after the service. Did it? Before being too critical of the dealer, this might have been the result of an effort to avoid over-filling, and they just didn't get a good second check of it after a test drive and getting it up to full temp.

dexx · 12-05-2010, 04:46 PM

It was half when it left the dealer, and a quarter 500 miles after.. Still quite a bit of oil consumption.

pmeloche · 12-05-2010, 05:39 PM

Ot of the dealer, it should have read at MAX. It happened to me after the 2000km service and I returned it and they topped it off until it showed MAX.

Team Plutonium · 12-05-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmeloche

Ot of the dealer, it should have read at MAX. It happened to me after the 2000km service and I returned it and they topped it off until it showed MAX.

Yup, happens a lot... just got my oil changed again, and it showed half-full after 50 miles....

elh0102 · 12-05-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexx

It was half when it left the dealer, and a quarter 500 miles after.. Still quite a bit of oil consumption.

Yep. Not enough for any warranty action, but worth keeping documented. I'm getting ready to do my own "in-between" oil change now. After 5K miles from the first service (6.2K total), mine still shows full, and that includes a track weekend.

emthreeboy · 12-05-2010, 11:38 PM

Why are you posting this here....now? I mean, go out to your garage and pour a little more oil in, check inidcator, if it needs more, add more.

I wouldn't go back to dealer just for that, they are just going to say their sorry and add more. I bought a quart to have at home, and the M3 is gonna burn oil as you drive, always good to have some at home.

Hope everything works out for you!

dpsfm3 · 12-06-2010, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emthreeboy

I bought a quart to have at home, and the M3 is gonna burn oil as you drive, always good to have some at home.

I also recommend keeping a quart in your trunk just in case you're out enjoying a drive and then the indicator comes on and you're not close to home....just a suggestion...you can never be too attentive!

emthreeboy · 12-06-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpsfm3

I also recommend keeping a quart in your trunk just in case you're out enjoying a drive and then the indicator comes on and you're not close to home....just a suggestion...you can never be to attentive!

Thats a good idea, ill do that!

elh0102 · 12-06-2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emthreeboy

Why are you posting this here....now? I mean, go out to your garage and pour a little more oil in, check inidcator, if it needs more, add more.

I wouldn't go back to dealer just for that, they are just going to say their sorry and add more. I bought a quart to have at home, and the M3 is gonna burn oil as you drive, always good to have some at home.

Hope everything works out for you!

I believe his point is to have the oil consumption issue on record with the dealer, in the event it gets worse, which is a good idea. This amount of consumption is not "excessive" by BMW standards, but it's more than normal. These motors don't generally have oil consumption problems.

emthreeboy · 12-06-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elh0102

I believe his point is to have the oil consumption issue on record with the dealer, in the event it gets worse, which is a good idea. This amount of consumption is not "excessive" by BMW standards, but it's more than normal. These motors don't generally have oil consumption problems.

OP said the lack of oil occurred after the 12000-mile service, meaning the tech who worked on his car didn't put enough oil in his car. This has nothing to do with any ''oil consumption problems''.

Regardless, M3s burn more oil then most cars as you drive anyways, so its always good to have oil with you or in your garage, for times when it needs some.

elh0102 · 12-06-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emthreeboy

OP said the lack of oil occurred after the 12000-mile service, meaning the tech who worked on his car didn't put enough oil in his car. This has nothing to do with any ''oil consumption problems''.

Regardless, M3s burn more oil then most cars as you drive anyways, so its always good to have oil with you or in your garage, for times when it needs some.

I believe it was after the initial 1200 mile service, not 12,000. He said it was half way in the normal/add zone immediately after the service, and down to one-quarter after only 500 miles. So yes, the tech did not fill it, but that pace of consumption is greater than average, although not necessarily an indication of a problem that requires any attention. Having owned three M3's, my experience has not shown any problem with oil consumption. Even several track weekends have not generally resulted in the need to add oil. Maybe my experience is not the norm, but there you go.

emthreeboy · 12-07-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elh0102

I believe it was after the initial 1200 mile service, not 12,000. He said it was half way in the normal/add zone immediately after the service, and down to one-quarter after only 500 miles. So yes, the tech did not fill it, but that pace of consumption is greater than average, although not necessarily an indication of a problem that requires any attention. Having owned three M3's, my experience has not shown any problem with oil consumption. Even several track weekends have not generally resulted in the need to add oil. Maybe my experience is not the norm, but there you go.

Ops, misspelled, meant to write 1200. Must have missed that 500-miles incident. Just read it though, yeah you're right, shouldn't burn that much in just 500 miles. I'd have them take a look at it, though burning oil have alwaysed seem pretty common for M3s. Maybe you keep getting good batches of them?

elp_jc · 12-07-2010, 11:07 PM

You can't measure oil consumption accurately with a sensor in the short term folks. My car ('08) only reads -1, low, half, full, and overfilled. I think newer cars have better accuracy, adding 1/4 and 3/4 levels, but am not sure.
Anyway, my car has an accuracy of 1/2L folks. It's AWFUL. Best way to guesstimate oil consumption is to top off oil little by little until it jumps to full, write down mileage, then wait until you get the 'add +1 or your engine will explode' message

, and see how many miles it took your engine to consume 1 liter. If it's anything more than 1,000 miles, BMW considers it normal. Most likely it'll be A LOT more than that, since 1L in 1K miles is ridiculously high IMO.

FStop7 · 12-07-2010, 11:53 PM

It could be they didn't put in quite enough oil during the first service.

Have you been driving the car hard since then?

jacobe92 · 12-08-2010, 01:53 AM

They over filled mine! I had to go back there two days later and have it drained. Incompetent!!!!

Thank God they don't fly for airline.

12-05-2010, 02:47 PM	#1
dexx Second Lieutenant Drives: 05 LGT w/AVO380, '11 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA Posts: 263 iTrader: (0)	Low oil light 1200 miles after first service. I feel like adding a quart from the case bought, but I think it might be wiser to bring it in the dealer so it's documented, just in case of future warranty issues? What does m3post think? __________________ 2011 E90 M3 ZP2 ZCV ZCW ZCP (for teh fastAr) 2005 LGT, AVO380 Turbo, a zillion other mods, ECU tuning by me.
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12-05-2010, 04:46 PM	#4
dexx Second Lieutenant Drives: 05 LGT w/AVO380, '11 M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MA Posts: 263 iTrader: (0)	It was half when it left the dealer, and a quarter 500 miles after.. Still quite a bit of oil consumption. __________________ 2011 E90 M3 ZP2 ZCV ZCW ZCP (for teh fastAr) 2005 LGT, AVO380 Turbo, a zillion other mods, ECU tuning by me.

12-05-2010, 05:39 PM	#5
pmeloche Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Montréal, Canada Posts: 1,547 iTrader: (0)	Ot of the dealer, it should have read at MAX. It happened to me after the 2000km service and I returned it and they topped it off until it showed MAX. __________________ Patrice 2007 X5 4.8i Monaco Blue on Saddle Brown 2009 E90 M3 Melbourne Red on Black (June 2009)

12-05-2010, 11:38 PM	#8
emthreeboy Captain Drives: E92 M3 & E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: socal Posts: 919 iTrader: (2)	Why are you posting this here....now? I mean, go out to your garage and pour a little more oil in, check inidcator, if it needs more, add more. I wouldn't go back to dealer just for that, they are just going to say their sorry and add more. I bought a quart to have at home, and the M3 is gonna burn oil as you drive, always good to have some at home. Hope everything works out for you! __________________ -09 e92 SPACE GRAY/// m3 w/ m-dct! -06 E46 JET BLACK/// m3 6MT!

12-08-2010, 01:53 AM	#17
jacobe92 Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 e92 Space Gray Comp pkg, Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Dumaguete City, Philippines Posts: 220 iTrader: (1)	oil level They over filled mine! I had to go back there two days later and have it drained. Incompetent!!!!Thank God they don't fly for airline.

12-07-2010, 11:07 PM	#15
elp_jc Brigadier General Drives: . Join Date: May 2008 Location: . Posts: 4,912 iTrader: (0)	You can't measure oil consumption accurately with a sensor in the short term folks. My car ('08) only reads -1, low, half, full, and overfilled. I think newer cars have better accuracy, adding 1/4 and 3/4 levels, but am not sure. Anyway, my car has an accuracy of 1/2L folks. It's AWFUL. Best way to guesstimate oil consumption is to top off oil little by little until it jumps to full, write down mileage, then wait until you get the 'add +1 or your engine will explode' message , and see how many miles it took your engine to consume 1 liter. If it's anything more than 1,000 miles, BMW considers it normal. Most likely it'll be A LOT more than that, since 1L in 1K miles is ridiculously high IMO.

12-07-2010, 11:53 PM	#16
FStop7 I like cars Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 5,061 iTrader: (3)	It could be they didn't put in quite enough oil during the first service. Have you been driving the car hard since then?

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