1200 mi service done. Is this the right oil level?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Understand that "most" techs know how much oil the engine should take and they put in the required quantity. Check on your invoice how many litres were charged out to your car (the TWS 10W60 only comes in litre bottles unlike the other BMW oils which can be in bulk) Although not fool proof this will at least tell you how much oil was billed to the car. The Techs don't want customers coming in and complaining so they will usually try and fill the car to the correct level if they are even a half decent tech.

I have changed my oil twice and both times it has taken 9 litres to show full. I just add 8 Litres, start the car up and let it warm up and get a reading and both times it has given the message to add 1 Litre.

The first time I changed the oil it stayed at the full mark for the duration of the oil change interval. The second time I changed the oil I used the exact same procedure and drained for the same amount of time with the car level and 9 litres brought it to the full mark again. After 2 days the level sensor read about the same as yours, Half way down or a little less. I added a half litre of oil and the level sensor never moved first or last. I have a funny feeling that if I added another half litre it would be over full........ just leave the car alone and it will be fine. The oil level sensor seems very finicky to me and from now on I am going to do oil changes by quantity...... 9 Litres, regardless of where the oil level sensor sits as long as it is within the Min and Max marks.

I recommend you add a quart/Litre only when the message prompts you to.

Thanks for your help and advice

I checked the RO and it says Qty 9

I didn't drive the car today so I was unable to check it

I'll wait until it tells me to add :P

[Trier Germany]

Take your car for a nice long drive. Park it on a nice flat area, hit oil reset to get an accurate level. From My expierence half on the I drive screen will take .5 of liter to get you to the full mark. Me personally I would only add .25 and I never let mine drop below half. Just me I like it that way

[persian54]

Going to take it in today for a top off

Hopefully it'll be free as my service was done earlier this week and I've only driven 100 miles

If they want to charge me, I'll be polite and state my claim,

If the won't do it for free, then o well.
I have 5L at my house.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by persian54

Going to take it in today for a top off

Hopefully it'll be free as my service was done earlier this week and I've only driven 100 miles

If they want to charge me, I'll be polite and state my claim,

If the won't do it for free, then o well.
I have 5L at my house.

Hope when they top it off it shows full and stays there. Last time I changed my oil I put in 8 L started it and waited for the car to get a reading and sure enough it said to add a litre. I added the litre like it told me and it showed full. After driving the car around the next day it showed it was down about half way between min and max. I parked the car in a nice level spot, took a reading and it never changed. I added 0.5 litre of oil took another reading and it never changed..... still half way between the min and max. Drove the car for another week or so taking readings at least every day and it still stayed half way between min and max.

So with 9.5 Litres of oil in my car and the car still showing halfway between min and max I won't be adding oil unless it asks for a litre. Obviously the car don't need another 0.5 Litre of oil for a total of 10 Litres in the sump. It didn't move for the 800KM (500Miles) of use between the oil change and when I stored the M for the winter so I am quite sure the level is good. I understand that a lot of BMW owners never go under their hood to check oil hence the electronic oil level sensing system, but you think they could have put a dipstick on the car for the folks who do check their own oil. It would really be nice to have a stick to compare the oil level sensor to.

Hopefully with this long post you can see why I don't like the oil level sensing system and don't recommend adding oil till it asks you to. It seems pretty easy to overfill the car if you don't know how to use your head.

[persian54]

After 1l was added earlier this week, the oil gauge was at full and had note moved

Thank you for your help

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by jbtco

The oil check function seems very poor in some cars. I found on my last E92 that on long drives (2 hours plus) it would give a low oil reading and sometimes a warning but next day would be back to full.

Mine does the same thing however as elp_jc has eluded to quite a few times i'd ignore the reading until I got home where I could check the oil level with a reset and in my 'usual' parking place.

[racedoc11]

Same here but I caught it in their parking lot they ended adding 1 quart

Hope when they top it off it shows full and stays there. Last time I changed my......................

[BayBayBay]

It's been about a week since my 1200 service and when I checked my oil level the green bar is sitting right under the "MAX".

On the worker order sheets, it shows they put in 9 quarts.

[Georgeair]

Unless I work next door to the dealer, there is simply no way it makes anything like sense to go through the time and hassle of taking it to them for a top off when I've got oil in the house. And the trunk, for that matter.

To each their own, but I just don't get the rationale behind this at all. Check your tires too, they might be able to top those up as well!

[ChrisK]

This is what your center dash indicator should look like when the 1200 mile service is done correctly.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Georgeair

Unless I work next door to the dealer, there is simply no way it makes anything like sense to go through the time and hassle of taking it to them for a top off when I've got oil in the house. And the trunk, for that matter.

To each their own, but I just don't get the rationale behind this at all. Check your tires too, they might be able to top those up as well!

Well I actually live 3 mi from my local dealer

and they're right next to the major freeway in my area

I pretty much have to pass by if I ever want to go anywhere :P

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

This is what your center dash indicator should look like when the 1200 mile service is done correctly.

That level shown is down a bit on oil. It should be up at the top arrow.

[ChrisK]

I was told by my tech that the top line is the max, not "normal".

[elp_jc]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I was told by my tech that the top line is the max, not "normal".

The correct maximum level is the top ARROW, and that's where I'd demand it to be . Have a good one folks.

[ChrisK]

Based on the level of my gauge, what am I down? 1/2 quart?

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Based on the level of my gauge, what am I down? 1/2 quart?

Yes, but to be safe, put in a 1/4 quart first. Give it a few days of use, then check the level. If it still shows the midway point, then give it another 1/4 quart. That should bring it to the max level.

[elp_jc]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Based on the level of my gauge, what am I down? 1/2 quart?

From 1/8 to 1/2. That's the bad side of sensors; they're not very accurate. But very consistent when you know how they work. Use Bob's method described below.

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

Yes, but to be safe, put in a 1/4 quart first. Give it a few days of use, then check the level. If it still shows the midway point, then give it another 1/4 quart. That should bring it to the max level.

That's the way to do it . No need to wait 'a few days'; just 'reset' the sensor (car idling, level surface) when the engine has been running fully hot (temp needle in/near the middle) for about 10 miles, and it'd be fully repeatable.

[11' AW M3]

Hey guys, how dangerous is it to drive with the oil level too high? I had oil level at the minimum, so I added a quart as it stated neccesary, but the oil sensors showed that it only went up midway (between min and max). This was a day later. So I decided to add another quart, and now today it showed that its over the max. I wish this car just had a normal dipstick! I guess the reading after the first top off wasn't accurate. I have driven approx. 20 miles with the oil at this level, and I need to drive another 30 before I can get to the dealer- is it safe to do so? I was told by a buddy of mine to just drive cautiously and shift early...

[11' AW M3]

Originally Posted by 11' AW M3

Hey guys, how dangerous is it to drive with the oil level too high? I had oil level at the minimum, so I added a quart as it stated neccesary, but the oil sensors showed that it only went up midway (between min and max). This was a day later. So I decided to add another quart, and now today it showed that its over the max. I wish this car just had a normal dipstick! I guess the reading after the first top off wasn't accurate. I have driven approx. 20 miles with the oil at this level, and I need to drive another 30 before I can get to the dealer- is it safe to do so? I was told by a buddy of mine to just drive cautiously and shift early...

Guys the dealer wants $148 just to drain some of the oil out- is this normal or are they trying to rip me a new one? Isn't it just a simple process- get the car on the lift, open the gasket from the bottom, let a bit drain, and done? 8 minutes of work at the most, no??

[jimmy ny]

That guage is wrong it should be filled to the MAX arrow. NOT all the way to the top. Add a 1/4 liter at a time, drive and get it right over a 2 or 3 day period. DONT overfill it. And use a funnel and make you put the cap back on the right way. These dealers are stupid. For the most part we no more than them.

[blittle887]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

This is what your center dash indicator should look like when the 1200 mile service is done correctly.

That's how my oil level looked after I picked it from the Welt in Munich and after my 1200 mile service last week.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by 11' AW M3

Guys the dealer wants $148 just to drain some of the oil out- is this normal or are they trying to rip me a new one? Isn't it just a simple process- get the car on the lift, open the gasket from the bottom, let a bit drain, and done? 8 minutes of work at the most, no??

if i remember right, they need to drain it completely and add oil (basically an oil change)