Dealership did not perform oil change?

_M3 · 12-20-2012, 03:19 PM

I brought my car into a local dealership for an oil change 2 days ago. The last oil change was performed just over a year ago approximately 7000 miles since the oil was last changed. When I brought the car in, the oil showed that there was 75% oil remaining. I picked up the car yesterday and it still showed 75%. Today, after driving 40 miles the oil level now shows its at 50%. I purchased the car used about 8 months ago and this was the first time bringing the car in for maintenance. This does not seem normal and I feel that the dealership did not change the oil. Any thoughts?

MA///M3 · 12-20-2012, 03:49 PM

sounds fishy for sure. are you sure it dropped from 75% to 50% after only 40 miles? that doesn't soud right. do you have a leak? Maybe the dealer didn't tighten up the bolts on the oil pan?

_M3 · 12-20-2012, 04:04 PM

No leaks, I just checked my drive way, under the car and under the hood. The oils has been at 75% for about 3000 miles before I brought it in, so 50% sounds about right where it should be given that these motors burn some oil. With that, it does appear the oil was not changed. I spoke with my SA, he said that they may have filled the car once and did not double check after filling. it does sounds fishy.

mark896 · 12-20-2012, 05:35 PM

For what it's worth, I do all of my oil changes myself and I have had the oil mark go from 75% to 100% entirely on its own. The only thing that happened was I drove it a few thousand miles.

djantlive · 12-20-2012, 10:42 PM

What color is the oil when you pull the dipstick?

Amri215 · 12-20-2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djantlive

What color is the oil when you pull the dipstick?

Chriskm3 · 12-20-2012, 11:00 PM

It's hard to believe a dealer would fail to replace the oil. It's not like we live in a3rdnworld country

_M3 · 12-20-2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriskm3

It's hard to believe a dealer would fail to replace the oil. It's not like we live in a3rdnworld country

I don't think they failed to replaced the oil accidentally. I think they just straight up did not do the change. I can't see any other reason as to why the oil level would go from 75% to 50% driving 40 miles from a oil change. Not sure why it was even at 75% after the oil change. Shouldn't it be at 100%?

Amri215 · 12-21-2012, 12:00 AM

I would drive for some miles first.. the oil level gauge could need time to read correctly especially after an oil change

Z K · 12-21-2012, 01:47 AM

They probably just didn't check the oil level after changing it and it needs to be topped off... not really a big deal.

I doubt they'd not change the oil... BMW pays them to do it.

mark896 · 12-21-2012, 04:47 PM

Not only that, but if you do a search on this subject, you'll find that the electronic dipstick is WIDELY erroneous and cannot be trusted.

Basically, if it's anywhere between the "OK" lines, I wouldn't add any. Like I said, the level will rise and fall based on what mood it is in and you (or the dealer) could very likely overfill, which is bad.

You sound afraid that they didn't do the oil change, this is why I do them myself.

meko · 12-26-2012, 09:49 AM

The dealer will not reset the service interval on a time based oil change. If the service and parts are listed in the work order than it was probably done. This does not give the answer about oil level but most likely the reading took time to give the new level. See if the odometer shows the car was driven. It's supposed to be driven so computer can measure oil level before giving the car back to the customer. I hate this procedure btw.

Da M3nace · 02-07-2013, 02:46 AM

Interesting subject because I too paid for an oil chnage at local dealership and paid roughly $200. My issue is that the oil level is at 75%, exactly as I turned it in. Secondly, the data on my display still reads 2600 MLS for the oil. I have my suspicion that they did not really change my oil because they were in a hurry to get it back to me same day as it was getting late.

Should I worry? Unfourtunetly, as all you know, the only way for me to confirm oil change would be to let some oil out pan and examine. This is truly the worst idea BMW has had...electronic oil check but with no backup dipstick method.

chibich · 02-08-2013, 09:21 PM

jack the car up and just unscrew the drain plug a little bit till some slowly drips out around the threads and check the color of it. If it looks new, your good, if not I'de go to the dealer and raise hell

Da M3nace · 03-02-2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da M3nace

Interesting subject because I too paid for an oil chnage at local dealership and paid roughly $200. My issue is that the oil level is at 75%, exactly as I turned it in. Secondly, the data on my display still reads 2600 MLS for the oil. I have my suspicion that they did not really change my oil because they were in a hurry to get it back to me same day as it was getting late.

Should I worry? Unfourtunetly, as all you know, the only way for me to confirm oil change would be to let some oil out pan and examine. This is truly the worst idea BMW has had...electronic oil check but with no backup dipstick method.

Finally got around to checking oil. I wound up unscrewing the oil filter cover which is to my surprise located right at top of engine. A little oil spills out so I had to place a rag around opening. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE FILTER AND OIL WAS NOT REPLACED. the filter looks dirty and the oil does not look like it was replaced just four weeks ago.

How should I proceed? Raise all hell and ask for a refund or just suggest that maybe in their rush they didn't do a full drain n flush of old oil. And hope that they recommend another oil change....

chris3g · 03-02-2013, 02:27 PM

i think you guys are misinterpreting the oil level readout a bit. it's not meant to show 50%,75%,100%, etc. Any value between the 2 arrows means you are at an acceptable level of oil for driving. Above the top arrow means you are overfilled, and below the bottom arrow means you are low, somewhere between .5 and 1 quart.

This means that you aren't necessarily going to see the indicator at the very top after an oil change, it just means the dealer filled the car to the midpoint of the acceptable range.

Da M3nace · 03-02-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris3g

i think you guys are misinterpreting the oil level readout a bit. it's not meant to show 50%,75%,100%, etc. Any value between the 2 arrows means you are at an acceptable level of oil for driving. Above the top arrow means you are overfilled, and below the bottom arrow means you are low, somewhere between .5 and 1 quart.

This means that you aren't necessarily going to see the indicator at the very top after an oil change, it just means the dealer filled the car to the midpoint of the acceptable range.

The level is not my concern as much as the fact that the oil appears dirty as well as filter when I checked it today. The reason i brought up the level is because I find it more than just coincidence that I got back the car at exactly same level and that the oil life monitor still shows 2600 miles left till service.

HighandDry · 03-02-2013, 09:25 PM

I highly doubt that the dealer didn't change the oil.

Often times the synthetics will look "dirty" even after a couple of weeks.

Think about it, you really have no proof. You're just basing it on the oil level reading being the same (doesn't sound that strange to me). If you're that worried about it, just change it again. However, I don't think you have anything that would justify the dealer doing it again for free.

Da M3nace · 03-04-2013, 08:34 PM

Update: I spoke to the dealership service rep and of course they refuse to admit any wrong doing. Ive decided to change the oil myself.

Could I have the oil analyzed for age or usage? Maybe I can at least save the filter to show the dealer how beat up it is. Either way I plan to give them a really bad service survey and will ask for corporate to contact me.

12-20-2012, 03:19 PM	#1
_M3 Private First Class 20 Rep 163 Posts Drives: E92 M Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Gabriel, CA iTrader: (3)	Dealership did not perform oil change? I brought my car into a local dealership for an oil change 2 days ago. The last oil change was performed just over a year ago approximately 7000 miles since the oil was last changed. When I brought the car in, the oil showed that there was 75% oil remaining. I picked up the car yesterday and it still showed 75%. Today, after driving 40 miles the oil level now shows its at 50%. I purchased the car used about 8 months ago and this was the first time bringing the car in for maintenance. This does not seem normal and I feel that the dealership did not change the oil. Any thoughts?
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12-20-2012, 03:49 PM	#2
MA///M3 Banned 16 Rep 344 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 DCT COUPE Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: BOSTON, MA iTrader: (0)	sounds fishy for sure. are you sure it dropped from 75% to 50% after only 40 miles? that doesn't soud right. do you have a leak? Maybe the dealer didn't tighten up the bolts on the oil pan?
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12-20-2012, 04:04 PM	#3
_M3 Private First Class 20 Rep 163 Posts Drives: E92 M Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Gabriel, CA iTrader: (3)	No leaks, I just checked my drive way, under the car and under the hood. The oils has been at 75% for about 3000 miles before I brought it in, so 50% sounds about right where it should be given that these motors burn some oil. With that, it does appear the oil was not changed. I spoke with my SA, he said that they may have filled the car once and did not double check after filling. it does sounds fishy.
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12-20-2012, 05:35 PM	#4
mark896 Warrant Officer 42 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335is Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama iTrader: (0)	For what it's worth, I do all of my oil changes myself and I have had the oil mark go from 75% to 100% entirely on its own. The only thing that happened was I drove it a few thousand miles.
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12-20-2012, 10:42 PM	#5
djantlive Private 2 Rep 65 Posts Drives: E46 Vert Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	What color is the oil when you pull the dipstick?
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12-20-2012, 11:00 PM	#7
Chriskm3 Colonel 59 Rep 2,186 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	It's hard to believe a dealer would fail to replace the oil. It's not like we live in a3rdnworld country
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12-21-2012, 12:00 AM	#9
Amri215 Banned 12 Rep 161 Posts Drives: 2012 Alpine White M3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I would drive for some miles first.. the oil level gauge could need time to read correctly especially after an oil change
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12-21-2012, 01:47 AM	#10
Z K Major General 1887 Rep 5,506 Posts Drives: E90 M3, G20 M340i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (3)	They probably just didn't check the oil level after changing it and it needs to be topped off... not really a big deal. I doubt they'd not change the oil... BMW pays them to do it.
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12-21-2012, 04:47 PM	#11
mark896 Warrant Officer 42 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335is Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama iTrader: (0)	Not only that, but if you do a search on this subject, you'll find that the electronic dipstick is WIDELY erroneous and cannot be trusted. Basically, if it's anywhere between the "OK" lines, I wouldn't add any. Like I said, the level will rise and fall based on what mood it is in and you (or the dealer) could very likely overfill, which is bad. You sound afraid that they didn't do the oil change, this is why I do them myself.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-26-2012, 09:49 AM	#12
meko First Lieutenant 177 Rep 387 Posts Drives: E92 M3 - 535i Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (3)	The dealer will not reset the service interval on a time based oil change. If the service and parts are listed in the work order than it was probably done. This does not give the answer about oil level but most likely the reading took time to give the new level. See if the odometer shows the car was driven. It's supposed to be driven so computer can measure oil level before giving the car back to the customer. I hate this procedure btw. __________________
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02-07-2013, 02:46 AM	#13
Da M3nace Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Interesting subject because I too paid for an oil chnage at local dealership and paid roughly $200. My issue is that the oil level is at 75%, exactly as I turned it in. Secondly, the data on my display still reads 2600 MLS for the oil. I have my suspicion that they did not really change my oil because they were in a hurry to get it back to me same day as it was getting late. Should I worry? Unfourtunetly, as all you know, the only way for me to confirm oil change would be to let some oil out pan and examine. This is truly the worst idea BMW has had...electronic oil check but with no backup dipstick method.
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02-08-2013, 09:21 PM	#14
chibich Private First Class 9 Rep 139 Posts Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: VA iTrader: (1)	jack the car up and just unscrew the drain plug a little bit till some slowly drips out around the threads and check the color of it. If it looks new, your good, if not I'de go to the dealer and raise hell
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03-02-2013, 02:27 PM	#16
chris3g Major 1531 Rep 1,234 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 xdrive Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (4)	i think you guys are misinterpreting the oil level readout a bit. it's not meant to show 50%,75%,100%, etc. Any value between the 2 arrows means you are at an acceptable level of oil for driving. Above the top arrow means you are overfilled, and below the bottom arrow means you are low, somewhere between .5 and 1 quart. This means that you aren't necessarily going to see the indicator at the very top after an oil change, it just means the dealer filled the car to the midpoint of the acceptable range.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-02-2013, 09:25 PM	#18
HighandDry Private First Class 7 Rep 108 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	I highly doubt that the dealer didn't change the oil. Often times the synthetics will look "dirty" even after a couple of weeks. Think about it, you really have no proof. You're just basing it on the oil level reading being the same (doesn't sound that strange to me). If you're that worried about it, just change it again. However, I don't think you have anything that would justify the dealer doing it again for free.
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03-04-2013, 08:34 PM	#19
Da M3nace Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Update: I spoke to the dealership service rep and of course they refuse to admit any wrong doing. Ive decided to change the oil myself. Could I have the oil analyzed for age or usage? Maybe I can at least save the filter to show the dealer how beat up it is. Either way I plan to give them a really bad service survey and will ask for corporate to contact me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote