another reason to HATE on the no dipstick engine.

[sayemthree]

so I get my car back from the dealer - the 1200 mile service. I leave the dealer and press the oil check in i-drive. it takes a full 20 minutes for a reading. by then I am home already..... then ......OVERFILLED!!!! I call the dealer - they say oh it must be a software problem. I say then why is the oil temp reading high? so I take it back and waste another 3 hours of my day while they drain and refill the oil.

when the dealer overfilled my e46? I sinply stuck my Griots pump in the dipstick tube and sucked out a 1/2 qt.

[Lil. Lucas]

I still don't get why it cant give a reading even before the engine is on, it knows what temp the oil is at and you would assume could compensate for how high or low the reading is. Also, why does it take soo long to give a reading after the oil is a temp?


Really my only complaint with the E9x M3..

[hellrotm]

I am use to the no dipstick, been dealing with it in my last to Bimmers.

[sayemthree]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

I am use to the no dipstick, been dealing with it in my last to Bimmers.

so you go to the dealer 2 or 3 times for one oil change?

[Big Windy]

yeah, that sucks sayemthree. this is a poor design. no doubt about it.

[ideliver]

What I don't get about this design is...how is this better???

What is the problem or drawback to having a dipstick??? It just makes no sense to me...

[Darkclaw13]

BMW has been having lots of issues with the Oil Level Sensor. They were backordered awhile ago because they couldnt keep up with the number that they were replacing. I've never had any issues with the one on my 335 but I know people that have had so many issues they just live with the light being on and just make sure they know how much oil is put into their car.

[J08M3]

My car is leased and with 4 year 50,000 mile warranty I don't really care about looking under the hood to check the oil. Plus it's part of the reason I bought a $70k BMW, I'm tired of working on my own car. I keep my eye on the electronic dipstick periodically to make sure everything is ok. But I'd imagine this must cause the service departments tons of time and money since they are the ones responsible for changing the oil. they have no quick check to see if they did it right, they send you home with too much or too little oil cause they didn't wait half hour for the new reading and then it costs them a bunch of time fixing your car.

Really even if I'm not going to look under the hood at the dipstick at least it should be there to for whoever is servicing the car.

[rai]

Originally Posted by ideliver

What I don't get about this design is...how is this better???

What is the problem or drawback to having a dipstick??? It just makes no sense to me...

yes, what's wrong with having a dipstick? Even if it costs more what about it? I'd pay an extra few bucks for a dipstick on an $20K engine.

Also it takes a long time to get a reading. Even when it's already warm if I turn it off and on a few minutes later why do I have to wait another 10 minutes to get a reading?

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by ideliver

What I don't get about this design is...how is this better???

What is the problem or drawback to having a dipstick??? It just makes no sense to me...

YOU are 100 percent right with this comment. It is not better. It is the fruitless result of BMW's hope for electronic integration.

[icemang17]

when I 1st got my M3 the oil level was "over full"...both the dash and I drive levels showed over full, but not to the point of a central warning light...after about 200 miles it went back to normal

After my 1200 mile service the oil level is about 75% full which I thought is odd....I might have them add a bit of oil to make it 100% full...

temps have been normal, even in the extreme heat recently

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Big Windy

YOU are 100 percent right with this comment. It is not better. It is the fruitless result of BMW's hope for electronic integration.

+100. Having a physical dipstick in addtion to the electronic one has great advantages, IMO.

[gadget]

Originally Posted by rai

yes, what's wrong with having a dipstick? Even if it costs more what about it? I'd pay an extra few bucks for a dipstick on an $20K engine.

+1

If it was a stand onle option and cost a couple hundred bucks, I'd go for it. By the time the computer realizes the oil level is of, you may have already sone some serious damage to the engine.

[Sedan_Clan]

It took an hour on one occasion to get a reading on my 330i. Thank goodness my S54 has the good 'ol dipstick.

[psuwcc112]

+1

[JIO]

I think that if more and more people take their cars back to the dealer every time they overfill it, maybe BMW would get the idea. It's amazing I have two ways to check gas mileage.....look at the on-board computer of the car or use my calculator when I gas up. Why can't we get BOTH a computer and dipstick to check the oil level?

Maybe it's BMW's way of telling us how stupid we are for buying a $70K from them.....The dipstick is driving the car...he he.

[sayemthree]

according to the manual driving with it overfilled can casue engine damage.

[RealSanaii]

Originally Posted by sayemthree

according to the manual driving with it overfilled can casue engine damage.

My older car, Audi A4 2.0T, was overfilled by the stupid stealership as well for the 15k service. There were smoke coming out of the hood so badly that I thought my car was on fire.

I know that they are two different engines, one high performance and one slow-poke 4 cylinder turbocharged, but I had no problem occured after that.

Don't stress yourself, sayemthree. "IF" the engine is damaged, dealership has lot of explaning to do to BMWNA.

[sayemthree]

not worried about damage - I got it back the same day and the refilled it. but the lack of a dipstick cost me four hours and $15 in gas.

[M-bitious]

I would be more concerned about a dealer overfilling oil. That is lame! The only downside to the dash reading, is you keep checking your oil more often than you would with a dip stick. And people start filling up oil when it isn't necessary yet. Personally I don't have a problem not having the dip stick. It works for me.

[BMW3R]

Originally Posted by J08M3

My car is leased and with 4 year 50,000 mile warranty I don't really care about looking under the hood to check the oil. Plus it's part of the reason I bought a $70k BMW, I'm tired of working on my own car. I keep my eye on the electronic dipstick periodically to make sure everything is ok. But I'd imagine this must cause the service departments tons of time and money since they are the ones responsible for changing the oil. they have no quick check to see if they did it right, they send you home with too much or too little oil cause they didn't wait half hour for the new reading and then it costs them a bunch of time fixing your car.

+1

I have the same system in my 335. I really have never thought much about it since it is a lease and if I get a light I call my SA for advice. On the three occasions that my 335 has been at the dealer, I just take their loaner and run errands. I imagine that with my M3 that is ON THE SHIP as we speak, I will go through the same routine with service issues.