How do I know the dealer changed the oil?

[e92_m3]

Originally Posted by richpuer

holy shit no dipstick? how the hell are u supposed to tell if oil level is low or dirty? i used to just look between the 2 dots on my dipstick to measure that the level was good.

Yup! It's sad, but it's true bro. I too was shocked at first because I have never had any vehicle before the M3 that had no dipstick. On my older vehicles, I can tell that the dealer did an oil change just by looking at the dipstick. Besides that, the traditional way of telling whether your oil level is low is with a dipstick. That pretty much changes when you get an M3. You rely now on electronic gauges (which I don't really trust) on the dash. To be honest, it's pretty much impossible to check the oil level on the M3 and whether you are running on clean oil or not. I prefer the dipstick OVER any electronic bullsh*t. LOL!

My dad was also shocked when I first told him that my m3 had no dipstick. IIRC, all he said was that I have a high performance car that's luxurious, but with no DAMN dipstick??

[TailHappyM3]

After years of purchasing and servicing my car at one of our local BMW dealerships, those fukcers tried to screw me out of an oil change when I purchased the car used from them. On the test drive the oil change indicator came on and both the sales guy and I noticed it. So, I asked they do the oil change before pick-up of the car and they said no problem. Well, I found out later (after getting a updated service history on the car) all they did was reset the computer but actually did not do an oil change because it had only been 11 months (low milage) since the last change anyways. I was pissed because instead of just telling me it was still not quite due for the early oil change ( low milage oil change), they pretended to have done it which means I would have gone another year without an oil change. I do not trust these stealerships anymore!! Beware guys!

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by elh0102

If you have to ask, you need to find another dealer, or do it yourself. And some customers are cynical or paranoid by nature, hopefully not you. Oil changes are simple and profitable. I think it would be one of the last places a dealer would cheat. With that said, the oil changers are not usually long-term, master mechanics, and certainly one could cheat on the invoice and sell the oil and filter out the back door. I try to develop a good relationship with the shop foreman or a senior tech, and it seems to pay off in good service.

This. If youbhave to use the "trust but verify" method then you don't really trust the dealer. If you're that concerned about it, just do it yourself. It's an oil change, not rocket science.

Also, BMW isn't the only company deleting dipsticks. Audi is removing them as well but at least they had the good sense to keep the tube in place, it's just capped off. It's there for service tech to check oil level during services but you can also buy a dipstick and put it in there for your own use.

I wonder if the M has a tube like this.

[sameh]

there should be a law to make the dealer provide a proof of service? why is it built on honesty and trust when we all know that both values are very rare or almost impossible to find at a car dealer!!
just a thought

[BKMK5]

For a company on the whole who touts "Free maintenance" on their cars for 4 years/50k they are expecting that their used cars have a much better reliability than those brands who do not offer such service.

Its possible that the individual dealerships can undermine the whole 'feature' or whatever you want to call what BMW is trying to accomplish by not providing the correct maintenance on the vehicles. There will always be a few bad apples but on the most part, why would a dealership not do the work when they are getting reimbursed from BMW? To save a few bucks on each oil change? Sounds silly.

[e92_m3]

I guess it all comes down to BMW. Why remove such a useful technology that has been helping mechanics, racing teams, and vehicle owners for as long as I can remember. Way to go BMW! As far as I am concerned, the dipstick did not bother performance at all. Then why remove it? When BMW removed the dipstick, it created speculations and doubts (like this thread) on how to check the oil level and it's cleanliness. To make matters worse, a lot of BMW owners are losing trust on their dealerships because of this dipstick issue.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but high performance cars such as Porsche and Lotus still use the dipstick to this very day! I just don't get the point on why BMW decided one day to take the dipstick out of the engine...

[volkswackin]

Heres how i look at those of you who say things aren't replaced or done when your vehicles are brought into the shop for service-i have never, and will never "fudge" or "fake" a repair to a vehicle. ever. Im probably more anal with repairs on a customers car than i would be on my own vehicles and thats saying something. That also being said-i HATE when customers come and watch me while i work on their car. I just hate having someone look over my shoulder and scrutinize my work-i do what i do because im good at it? I look at it as if you really need to come and watch me work on your car-we must have done something wrong in the past-which to me says why are you bringing your car back to me if you don't trust the work being performed?

That being said-id prefer BMW came back with the dipsticks on all their cars...its just so much easier...

[e92_m3]

Btw, lemme add that the following high performance cars STILL have a dipstick in them:
--> ZR1
--> Z06
--> GTR

[Sean05]

it runs good. i can usually feel the difference..

[racedoc11]

I just found out this week that the dealer DID NOT change my oil when I brought the car for an oil change last December (anniversary) They did it in March when I brought the car in for something else. On that day and before leaving the dealer's parking lot I checked the level and it was TOO LOW!!!!...I brought it in right away and they did put a quart. I wish I can take the car somewhere else than the dealer ....

Originally Posted by gr8000

other than trusting them or being there watching?

Any way to check this?

This engine doesn't have a dipstick to see the colour of the oil immediately afte the change....

[elp_jc]

Originally Posted by racedoc11

I wish I can take the car somewhere else than the dealer ....

How about your garage ? I'm doing my own oil changes, even though I have to pay for the oil and filter. If you're not so inclined, I'd keep doing it at a dealership, but check that the cap was put 'right' before you leave, and DO NOT allow them to drive your car outside the dealer's lot. By 'right' I mean remove cap, coat the gasket with oil (like a regular oil filter), and put it back on. The cap is a POS, and if not done that way, gasket will bunch up and make a royal mess out of your engine compartment and garage floor. Oh, and also feel all around the oil filter cap, and try to unscrew it by hand to make sure it was installed correctly (with new gaskets), and tightened properly. And finally, you can always watch the guy doing it outside the service bay . Good day.

[drvai]

As mentioned before, why would a dealer risk so much for just an oil change?

[kingfish01]

How complicated is this? You find out the same way your proctologist does: with your finger.
Warm the car up, shut off, remove the oil cap and carefully, hot oi remember, wipe a sample out on your finger. If its new, it'll be clear and golden. If never changed, it'll be close to black or pitch black.

[kingfish01]

Originally Posted by e92_m3

I guess it all comes down to BMW. Why remove such a useful technology that has been helping mechanics, racing teams, and vehicle owners for as long as I can remember. Way to go BMW! As far as I am concerned, the dipstick did not bother performance at all. Then why remove it? When BMW removed the dipstick, it created speculations and doubts (like this thread) on how to check the oil level and it's cleanliness. To make matters worse, a lot of BMW owners are losing trust on their dealerships because of this dipstick issue.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but high performance cars such as Porsche and Lotus still use the dipstick to this very day! I just don't get the point on why BMW decided one day to take the dipstick out of the engine...

Because, believe it or not, not everyone is as mechanically inclined as you. I personally know a guy who checked his girlfriends oil, while car was running, and read it as too high. Later, her engine burned out from lack of oil. This digital dipstick is easy for ANYONE to read. Whats so hard about waiting 5 min for the car to warm up and then read the oil?

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by drvai

As mentioned before, why would a dealer risk so much for just an oil change?

Perhaps its more a case of not purposely skipping the oil change but maybe the particular 'tech' forgot or overlooked it etc

[saeedg48]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

Mark your filter with a sharpie. If they don't change the filter, they don't change the oil.

good idea.

[Krozi]

Just put a piece of tape over the drain bolt, if it's torn, there you go.

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by kingfish01

How complicated is this? You find out the same way your proctologist does: with your finger.
Warm the car up, shut off, remove the oil cap and carefully, hot oi remember, wipe a sample out on your finger. If its new, it'll be clear and golden. If never changed, it'll be close to black or pitch black.

After about 500 miles that "new" oil will look just like oil that's been in there for 5 or 6 thousand miles. This would be a good check to do at the dealership though, assuming you still distrust them enough to feel the need to check.

[kingfish01]

No, it wont. If you've got black oil 500 miles after an oil change then you are running on the old filter. In my experience, it gets "black" after about 4-6 k miles. This goes especially true if the car is relatively new and the oil changes done in a timely manner.

Originally Posted by quality_sound

After about 500 miles that "new" oil will look just like oil that's been in there for 5 or 6 thousand miles. This would be a good check to do at the dealership though, assuming you still distrust them enough to feel the need to check.

[kingfish01]

And if what you say is true, it'll be even easier to tell. It would be absolutely black the day after an alleged oil change which is surely improper.

Originally Posted by quality_sound

After about 500 miles that "new" oil will look just like oil that's been in there for 5 or 6 thousand miles. This would be a good check to do at the dealership though, assuming you still distrust them enough to feel the need to check.

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by kingfish01

No, it wont. If you've got black oil 500 miles after an oil change then you are running on the old filter. In my experience, it gets "black" after about 4-6 k miles. This goes especially true if the car is relatively new and the oil changes done in a timely manner.

That's what I said.

Originally Posted by kingfish01

And if what you say is true, it'll be even easier to tell. It would be absolutely black the day after an alleged oil change which is surely improper.

I said this too. If you check at the dealership then yes, it's a good test. As we've both said color, after a few thousand miles, if even that far, isn't a good measure of anything.

[kingfish01]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

That's what I said.



I said this too. If you check at the dealership then yes, it's a good test. As we've both said color, after a few thousand miles, if even that far, isn't a good measure of anything.

You say a lot.