1200 mile service complete - M3 Forum 2010 2009 BMW M3 2008 BMW M3 BMW E90 M3 E92

m3larson · 04-16-2008, 11:53 AM

Just picked up the M from her first service. One thing, when I purchased the car the oil level reading was from the top of the readout and now its in the middle. Is this normal??

She seems like a different monster now. Maybe it's all in my head thinking now I can open her up fully. That car is one of the coolest cars I have ever owned. Plus the smell of the full extended leather package is amazing.

I drive a X5 every day to work and I find myself coming home and jumping in the M just to drive it after reading this forum all day.

!Xoible · 04-16-2008, 12:02 PM

yes it's normal. my CA told me and gave me a quart of oil to fill in. M3 was like that too. my buddy's M6 like that.

MDCTFTW · 04-16-2008, 12:53 PM

So if this thing drinks oil, what is the recommended oil change interval? Or do we have to keep adding oil in between changes?

!Xoible · 04-16-2008, 12:56 PM

i was told it only eats oil within break-in, then it'll be fine. unless there's an unexpected oil consumption problem with the motor

i will get you the oil specs that i was given by the dealer later

m3larson · 04-16-2008, 12:57 PM

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

!Xoible · 04-16-2008, 01:00 PM

i'd put a quart in there and watch it over a week

lucid · 04-16-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3larson

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

That doesn't mean the oil is at "half way". That is the operational range, and according to your description, it is reading dead center of the "operational range", so what is the problem? I would NOT add any more oil to the engine. It might have been delivered at the high end of the operational range since they figure the engine will consume more than the normal amount of oil during break-in (more friction), but that does NOT mean the factory overfilled your car. It was not overfilled if the reading was within the operational range when you took delivery, and according to your description, it was in that range. So, you have no issues.

m3larson · 04-16-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucid

That doesn't mean the oil is at "half way". That is the operational range, and according to your description, it is reading dead center of the "operational range", so what is the problem? I would NOT add any more oil to the engine. It might have been delivered at the high end of the operational range since they figure the engine will consume more than the normal amount of oil during break-in (more friction), but that does NOT mean the factory overfilled your car. It was not overfilled if the reading was within the operational range when you took delivery, and according to your description, it was in that range. So, you have no issues.

Thats my thought also. Thanks.. Just wanted another opinion.

ase2dais · 04-16-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3larson

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

I believe the dealer was just hestitant to overfill the thing. You're gong to have to fill it to the max if that is your desire....

If these e92/90s M3 is like a regular e90, there are no dipstick and the only way to check the fill level is to check is after awhile when the engine is warmup/running

I bet they are the same way. Check your owners manual under capacities

AZ-BMW · 04-16-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3larson

I drive a X5 every day to work and I find myself coming home and jumping in the M just to drive it after reading this forum all day.

I want to work where you work! Reading/Posting on BimmerPost all day?

Davinhci · 04-16-2008, 11:01 PM

i hope I don't have to add oil myself

GregW / Oregon · 04-16-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

i'd put a quart in there and watch it over a week

You're only supposed to put in that much when it is totally at the bottom. I miss the days of the old dipstick.

BK · 04-17-2008, 10:33 AM

At least on the regular E9x, the electronic oil reading graph is only the "last quart." So you add a quart only if it is at the very bottom of the graph (the car should also give you a yellow warning light at this point to tell you it's low enough that you should add oil).

04-16-2008, 11:53 AM	#1
m3larson Second Lieutenant Drives: 2008 M3 2008 X5 4.8I Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 289 iTrader: (0)	1200 mile service complete Just picked up the M from her first service. One thing, when I purchased the car the oil level reading was from the top of the readout and now its in the middle. Is this normal?? She seems like a different monster now. Maybe it's all in my head thinking now I can open her up fully. That car is one of the coolest cars I have ever owned. Plus the smell of the full extended leather package is amazing. I drive a X5 every day to work and I find myself coming home and jumping in the M just to drive it after reading this forum all day.

04-16-2008, 11:01 PM	#11
Davinhci Colonel Drives: 2008 AW M3 Coupe Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,373 iTrader: (0) View Davinhci's Garage	i hope I don't have to add oil myself __________________ 08 E92 AW M3 \| Breyton GTS Race 19's \| APE Air Filter \| Premium \| Sports \| Cold Weather \| Premium Sound \| F1 Pinnacle Tint \| V1 Hardwire \| Dinan Performance Software \| Gintani Exhaust \| H&R Sports Springs \| H&R Spacers \| RPI Scoops

04-17-2008, 10:33 AM	#13
BK Smiling politely Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 7,756 iTrader: (0) View BK's Garage	At least on the regular E9x, the electronic oil reading graph is only the "last quart." So you add a quart only if it is at the very bottom of the graph (the car should also give you a yellow warning light at this point to tell you it's low enough that you should add oil). __________________ 330i \| Black Sapphire \| Beige + Burl \| Sport \| Premium \| Cold \| Nav \| CA \| Sat prep

04-16-2008, 12:02 PM	#2
!Xoible Banned Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . Posts: 1,669 iTrader: (4) View !Xoible's Garage	yes it's normal. my CA told me and gave me a quart of oil to fill in. M3 was like that too. my buddy's M6 like that.

04-16-2008, 12:53 PM	#3
MDCTFTW Lieutenant Colonel Drives: E92 DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 1,790 iTrader: (0)	So if this thing drinks oil, what is the recommended oil change interval? Or do we have to keep adding oil in between changes?

04-16-2008, 12:56 PM	#4
!Xoible Banned Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . Posts: 1,669 iTrader: (4) View !Xoible's Garage	i was told it only eats oil within break-in, then it'll be fine. unless there's an unexpected oil consumption problem with the motor i will get you the oil specs that i was given by the dealer later

04-16-2008, 12:57 PM	#5
m3larson Second Lieutenant Drives: 2008 M3 2008 X5 4.8I Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 289 iTrader: (0)	What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

04-16-2008, 01:00 PM	#6
!Xoible Banned Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . Posts: 1,669 iTrader: (4) View !Xoible's Garage	i'd put a quart in there and watch it over a week