Oil Consumption for S65

[Hi Rev V8]

I've been looking for an E90 M3 for some time. While I am new to the M3 world I have owned and worked on many high performance cars. I am aware that M3s use some oil, and am trying to get an idea if a car I am looking at has average oil consumption. The car in question is a 2008 E90 M3 6MT with 42 K miles. It is an immaculate one owner car and the older gentleman who owns the car has been meticulous in service. Oil and filter are changed every year (Castrol TWS 10W60). The owner is now only putting on about 4 K miles per year. Oil consumption is about 1 L per 2500 miles, which seems on the high side to me, but perhaps this is typical. From my experience with 911s and Corvettes using Mobil 1 0W40 typical oil consumption is of the order of 1 L per 6000 miles. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

[Agent-GHQ]

Are you expecting a high rev V8 engine not to burn oil at all? Just put two quart bottles in the trunk and enjoy the performance.

[8_is_enough]

My '08 burned almost a quart every 1500 miles, but my '11 hardly burns any

[dreamspeed]

1qt of oil every 3-4k seems to be the average for the M3. Some have reported more, some less. One issue I've has is the horrible electronic dipstick. Usually I'll see the oil consumption be really high right after I change the oil. I'll see the dipstick read a quarter low, half low....1 qt low within 1k miles. After I add 1qt of oil I won't see the dipstick move for a good 5k miles or so.

I can only assume the incorrect amount of oil was put in (unlikely since I measure out 8.8qts when I change the oil)... Or the dipstick is reading correctly.

Either way you should plan to change the oil around every 7500 miles, not the crazy 15k miles interval suggested by BMW. Within the 7500 miles you should only need to add 1-1.5qts. YMMV of course.

[M3 Pilot]

My 08 which I owned for 2 years clocking 10,000km with some track time burns 0 oil.

My 2013 with 0 track time has seen 1 quartz of top up at about 9000km

[GVIFlyer]

I had a E93 M3 and have a E92 M3. I do 7,500 mile oil changes. Neither car needed oil between oil changes.

[coloradoe92m3]

70k plus miles and I don't burn an ounce. Never have had to add. I broke car in hard quickly and sealed rings nicely IMO . The fact you describe an old guy barely driving car likely was babied way too much especially early and had poor ring seating. Id find a M3 that's newer too few miles over 5 years isn't good in my view

[yoelev]

in a pinch, what 1 qt of oil would you add if no ability to get the 10w-60, and sorry for the jack

[mjposner]

My 08 burned a quart every 5k miles, my 11 never seems to burn enough oil between changes to matter. Just by one quart at the dealer and keep in trunk. They even sell a fancy BMW bag for it.

http://new.minimania.com/images_temp...001bim3679.jpg

[Someone?]

My 2011 burns zero oil, i went 9k and it was all still there.

[alee0729]

Originally Posted by yoelev

in a pinch, what 1 qt of oil would you add if no ability to get the 10w-60, and sorry for the jack

I just keep a quart of oil in a bag in my trunk. That oil is otherwise an expensive unicorn to find in a pinch.

I burned 1 quart during European delivery over 1425 miles.

[MKE_M3]

My oil is changed every 5000 miles, and I've never had to add any between changes.

[MKE_M3]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

1qt of oil every 3-4k seems to be the average for the M3. Some have reported more, some less. One issue I've has is the horrible electronic dipstick. Usually I'll see the oil consumption be really high right after I change the oil. I'll see the dipstick read a quarter low, half low....1 qt low within 1k miles. After I add 1qt of oil I won't see the dipstick move for a good 5k miles or so.

I can only assume the incorrect amount of oil was put in (unlikely since I measure out 8.8qts when I change the oil)... Or the dipstick is reading correctly.

Either way you should plan to change the oil around every 7500 miles, not the crazy 15k miles interval suggested by BMW. Within the 7500 miles you should only need to add 1-1.5qts. YMMV of course.

I've never had a single vehicle that required the full oil capacity be added after an oil change. You may be adding too much.

[yoelev]

Originally Posted by alee0729

I just keep a quart of oil in a bag in my trunk. That oil is otherwise an expensive unicorn to find in a pinch.

I burned 1 quart during European delivery over 1425 miles.

what are the details of said oil

[to///m]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

1qt of oil every 3-4k seems to be the average for the M3. Some have reported more, some less. One issue I've has is the horrible electronic dipstick. Usually I'll see the oil consumption be really high right after I change the oil. I'll see the dipstick read a quarter low, half low....1 qt low within 1k miles. After I add 1qt of oil I won't see the dipstick move for a good 5k miles or so.

I can only assume the incorrect amount of oil was put in (unlikely since I measure out 8.8qts when I change the oil)... Or the dipstick is reading correctly.

Either way you should plan to change the oil around every 7500 miles, not the crazy 15k miles interval suggested by BMW. Within the 7500 miles you should only need to add 1-1.5qts. YMMV of course.

+1 on this... between my last oil change interval i added about 1 qt

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Hi Rev V8

I've been looking for an E90 M3 for some time. While I am new to the M3 world I have owned and worked on many high performance cars. I am aware that M3s use some oil, and am trying to get an idea if a car I am looking at has average oil consumption. The car in question is a 2008 E90 M3 6MT with 42 K miles. It is an immaculate one owner car and the older gentleman who owns the car has been meticulous in service. Oil and filter are changed every year (Castrol TWS 10W60). The owner is now only putting on about 4 K miles per year. Oil consumption is about 1 L per 2500 miles, which seems on the high side to me, but perhaps this is typical. From my experience with 911s and Corvettes using Mobil 1 0W40 typical oil consumption is of the order of 1 L per 6000 miles. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

I think that is a bit on the high side, but if the rate of consumption is consistent, I wouldn't worry too much. Some motors just burn a bit of oil and some do not.

[Andy_H_E92_M3]

YMMV, but on my '08, 0.5L every 7500 mi.

[dreamspeed]

Originally Posted by MKE_M3

I've never had a single vehicle that required the full oil capacity be added after an oil change. You may be adding too much.

You could be right but personally in every car i've ever owned i've always just put in whatever the instructed amount is and never had an issue. Afterwards i've always been able to verify the oil level with a PHYSICAL dipstick.

I believe the instructed amount to use is ~9qts, which is what I put in.

I've had this issue with adding 1qt of oil within the first 1k miles after an oil change even when the dealership was doing my oil changes so I dunno what's up.

[dreamspeed]

Originally Posted by yoelev

in a pinch, what 1 qt of oil would you add if no ability to get the 10w-60, and sorry for the jack

The car takes 9qts of oil, if the light comes on indicating you are low on oil that means you are short only 1qt (unless you are hemorrhaging oil somehow).

You don't have to pull over to the side of the road and add oil when the light comes on, just drive to your dealership within a reasonable amount of time and get more oil

[yoelev]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

The car takes 9qts of oil, if the light comes on indicating you are low on oil that means you are short only 1qt (unless you are hemorrhaging oil somehow).

You don't have to pull over to the side of the road and add oil when the light comes on, just drive to your dealership within a reasonable amount of time and get more oil

sorry I should have been more specific. what substitutes for 10w60 can the s65b40 take if you can't find 10w60 at say your local autozone

[phrozen06]

Originally Posted by Agent-GHQ

Are you expecting a high rev V8 engine not to burn oil at all? Just put two quart bottles in the trunk and enjoy the performance.

[redpriest]

I've burned about 300 mL in the last 3000 miles, mostly "spirited" highway driving. I keep at least a quart of it in my trunk at all times now.