Add 1 quart? Already?!?

Zeus69 · 07-21-2010, 09:50 AM

So I had the 1200 mile service performed at my local dealership three days ago. I have a 6MT so they changed oil, tranny/rear diff fluids. I adhered to a meticulous break-in period so was excited to spool up the V8 over the weekend. Didn't go nuts, just a few runs up to around 7K RPM after proper warm-up.

Today on my way to work, I'm driving at leisurely pace and a warning display chimes that "Engine Oil is low" and that I need to add a quart "immediately" or "risk engine damage", etc...

WTF?? I've read about the M3 needing to have oil topped off every few thousand miles perhaps, but this seemed odd right after the service was performed. I will be taking over to the dealer later this morning, but wanted to run it by the forum. I didn't look for an oil spot on my garage floor b/c the warning came after I was already on my way to work.

Any thoughts? Loose oil-pan screw? Underfilled from the start? Did I actually "burn off" a quart with my limited weekend rev-ups (that would suck)??

drey · 07-21-2010, 10:04 AM

Barring any leaks or major screwups my guess would be that your car was underfilled from the start. Seems that the fancy electronic 'dipstick' is confusing even for dealership personnel.

After my initial service the oil was reading a little low - put in a half quart and it was fine. Let the dealer know I did not appreciate spending five bucks a quart only to use it immediately after a scheduled service because THEY underfilled.

Could be the specs tell them to put in a very specific amount of oil which under some circumstances is not enough? Just seems like BMW makes this way more complicated than it has to be...

Zeus69 · 07-21-2010, 10:12 AM

Thanks, Drey--makes sense. I'll post back after my trip to the dealer in awhile.

Scoobe · 07-21-2010, 10:31 AM

Yeah i had my 1200 done Monday and noticed yesterday my oil level is just above minimum. Guess its the dealer being cheap.

Mr C · 07-21-2010, 11:14 AM

I am only at 200 miles on the clock. It came from the factory a little UNDERFILLED, but when I asked one of the main service guys, he stated that almost all M3s will be UNDERFILLED a little because even the slightest OVERFILL on an M3 is really bad.

Slpnbyu · 07-21-2010, 11:43 AM

Mine was exactly halfway between Min and Max after my 1,200 mile service. I added a half liter and now she is good-to-go.

I would much rather have them underfill it and then I top it off then have them overfill. Keeping a liter of oil in the garage has always been standard practice for me, not a big deal in my books.

Zeus69 · 07-21-2010, 12:42 PM

What oil brand do you guys use to top off??

Mr C · 07-21-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus69

What oil brand do you guys use to top off??

10w 60 Castrol

Price is anywhere from around $11 -17 (17 at some dealers) a quart.

I bought a case during an accessory fest for $100 (12 quarts.)

elp_jc · 07-21-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drey

Let the dealer know I did not appreciate spending five bucks a quart

Try $28.50 here

. I obviously buy it from Tischer, at around $13 shipped.

Some dealers are only using 8 liters, hence the low level from the start. You need to check oil level after every oil change. Search for the proper way to check it with this stupid sensor. It's pretty consistent once you get the hang of it.

By the way, if you drain the oil long enough (and suck the oil filter hosing dry

), you'd need 9.5L. I just changed mine, and that's what I needed. And yes, I always keep level topped off in all my vehicles, but hasn't been necessary to add anything to the M3 yet. Hope it stays that way. Later.

Zeus69 · 07-21-2010, 03:03 PM

Just got back from a quick stop off at dealer. They confirmed oil was about a quart low and that everything else was ok. Filled it up and now reading is just where it should be. Not sure why the underfill, but from others on here it doesn't sound like I'm the only one

Slpnbyu · 07-21-2010, 04:58 PM

Liters people, liters!!!!!!

You are driving a German car, not an American car. The bottles of Castrol 10W60 are 1L.

1 L = 1.05668821 QT

erio · 07-21-2010, 05:35 PM

Had the same issue at my last oil change. Oil light came on about 2 miles after I left the dealership. They miscalculated the ammount of oil it needed. It only took about half a liter to top it off.

Mr.Metak2you · 07-21-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slpnbyu

Liters people, liters!!!!!!

You are driving a German car, not an American car. The bottles of Castrol 10W60 are 1L.

1 L = 1.05668821 QT

Thanks for the conversion lesson. Most people know the difference. My German car says add +1qt!

WillC310 · 07-21-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E82Pilot

I am only at 200 miles on the clock. It came from the factory a little UNDERFILLED, but when I asked one of the main service guys, he stated that almost all M3s will be UNDERFILLED a little because even the slightest OVERFILL on an M3 is really bad.

Mine came filled up to the top from the factory. When I took it in to get a door lock fixed (kept getting stuck) 300 mi, they did the 1200 mi service and filled it to the middle.

Slpnbyu · 07-21-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Metak

Thanks for the conversion lesson. Most people know the difference. My German car says add +1qt!

My lesson was directed towards the posts above like:

Quote:

Originally Posted by E82Pilot

I bought a case during an accessory fest for $100 (12 quarts.)

Out of curiosity, what happens if you change the units in the settings menu when you have that message? My bet is that the qt changes to L and the 1 is just fixed (i.e., the car doesn't do the conversion when the units are not metric).

elp_jc · 07-21-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Metak

My German car says add +1qt!

TWS is probably the only exception of oil sold in the US in liters, rather than quarts. It's okay to think in quarts; it's almost the same

.

808elise · 07-29-2010, 04:20 AM

same thing just happened to me. Glad I found this tread. Go figure I just had a service done about 300 miles ago.

Moe's M3 · 07-31-2010, 06:52 AM

I believe that the dealer (service dept.) failed to fill your M3 accordingly and as they should. Me, I do my M3's oil/filter changes myself, even when it's free at the BMW dealers. Would you trust them messing around with your investment? Not me. I've been there, done that. Heard many stories about what's going on at many car service establishments, and lived many service deceptions myself in the past. It's not "rocket science" to do and oil/filter yourself. And the best of all, at the end you'll feel satisfied that the job was done properly, without having to think what someone could have done incorrectly to your M3. Take the challenge, my friend...

elp_jc · 08-01-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe's M3

I do my M3's oil/filter changes myself, even when it's free at the BMW dealers. Would you trust them messing around with your investment? Not me. I've been there, done that. Heard many stories about what's going on at many car service establishments, and lived many service deceptions myself in the past. It's not "rocket science" to do and oil/filter yourself. And the best of all, at the end you'll feel satisfied that the job was done properly, without having to think what someone could have done incorrectly to your M3.

You can say that all over again

. That makes at least the 2 of us

. Anybody else doing his own service?

07-21-2010, 09:50 AM	#1
Zeus69 Private First Class Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 176 iTrader: (0)	Add 1 quart? Already?!? So I had the 1200 mile service performed at my local dealership three days ago. I have a 6MT so they changed oil, tranny/rear diff fluids. I adhered to a meticulous break-in period so was excited to spool up the V8 over the weekend. Didn't go nuts, just a few runs up to around 7K RPM after proper warm-up. Today on my way to work, I'm driving at leisurely pace and a warning display chimes that "Engine Oil is low" and that I need to add a quart "immediately" or "risk engine damage", etc... WTF?? I've read about the M3 needing to have oil topped off every few thousand miles perhaps, but this seemed odd right after the service was performed. I will be taking over to the dealer later this morning, but wanted to run it by the forum. I didn't look for an oil spot on my garage floor b/c the warning came after I was already on my way to work. Any thoughts? Loose oil-pan screw? Underfilled from the start? Did I actually "burn off" a quart with my limited weekend rev-ups (that would suck)?? __________________
	Tweet

07-21-2010, 10:12 AM	#3
Zeus69 Private First Class Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 176 iTrader: (0)	Thanks, Drey--makes sense. I'll post back after my trip to the dealer in awhile. __________________

07-21-2010, 10:31 AM	#4
Scoobe Lieutenant Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan SSII/SN/DCT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 561 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [5.00]	Yeah i had my 1200 done Monday and noticed yesterday my oil level is just above minimum. Guess its the dealer being cheap. __________________ 08 GT500 convertible red package (Black w/ Red stripes) /Ford Racing Exhaust /Cold Air Induction 560hp 10 Porsche Cayenne GTS Black w/ Black Wheels 408hp 11 M3 Silverstone w/ Silver Novillo Leather /Tech /Premium /19" /DCT /Ipod 414hp

07-21-2010, 11:14 AM	#5
Mr C Captain Drives: E92 Dakar and E90 AW Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 754 iTrader: (0)	I am only at 200 miles on the clock. It came from the factory a little UNDERFILLED, but when I asked one of the main service guys, he stated that almost all M3s will be UNDERFILLED a little because even the slightest OVERFILL on an M3 is really bad. __________________ 2011 E90 M3 Alpine White M-DCT 2011 E92 M3 Individual Dakar 6MT

07-21-2010, 11:43 AM	#6
Slpnbyu Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 E90 M3 (ED) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: VA Posts: 264 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 M3 Sedan [0.00]	Mine was exactly halfway between Min and Max after my 1,200 mile service. I added a half liter and now she is good-to-go. I would much rather have them underfill it and then I top it off then have them overfill. Keeping a liter of oil in the garage has always been standard practice for me, not a big deal in my books. __________________ STOCK /// ED '11 E90 M3 : Space Grey/Fox Red/4MY : 2MT : ZPP : ZTP : 6NF : 6FL : 465 : 494 : 5AC : 639 : 655 : 752 /// MODS /// Painted Reflectors : OEM Gloss Black Kidneys : VentureShield : 18" Winter Pkg ///

07-21-2010, 10:04 AM	#2
drey Second Lieutenant Drives: 2009 M3 Sedan, JZB/BB Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Norcal Posts: 221 iTrader: (0)	Barring any leaks or major screwups my guess would be that your car was underfilled from the start. Seems that the fancy electronic 'dipstick' is confusing even for dealership personnel. After my initial service the oil was reading a little low - put in a half quart and it was fine. Let the dealer know I did not appreciate spending five bucks a quart only to use it immediately after a scheduled service because THEY underfilled. Could be the specs tell them to put in a very specific amount of oil which under some circumstances is not enough? Just seems like BMW makes this way more complicated than it has to be...

07-21-2010, 12:42 PM	#7
Zeus69 Private First Class Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 176 iTrader: (0)	What oil brand do you guys use to top off?? __________________

07-21-2010, 03:03 PM	#10
Zeus69 Private First Class Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 176 iTrader: (0)	Just got back from a quick stop off at dealer. They confirmed oil was about a quart low and that everything else was ok. Filled it up and now reading is just where it should be. Not sure why the underfill, but from others on here it doesn't sound like I'm the only one __________________

07-21-2010, 04:58 PM	#11
Slpnbyu Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 E90 M3 (ED) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: VA Posts: 264 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 M3 Sedan [0.00]	Liters people, liters!!!!!! You are driving a German car, not an American car. The bottles of Castrol 10W60 are 1L. 1 L = 1.05668821 QT __________________ STOCK /// ED '11 E90 M3 : Space Grey/Fox Red/4MY : 2MT : ZPP : ZTP : 6NF : 6FL : 465 : 494 : 5AC : 639 : 655 : 752 /// MODS /// Painted Reflectors : OEM Gloss Black Kidneys : VentureShield : 18" Winter Pkg ///

07-21-2010, 05:35 PM	#12
erio Captain Drives: e92 JB M3, 2012 GTR Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: GA Posts: 751 iTrader: (0)	Had the same issue at my last oil change. Oil light came on about 2 miles after I left the dealership. They miscalculated the ammount of oil it needed. It only took about half a liter to top it off.

07-29-2010, 04:20 AM	#17
808elise Private First Class Drives: CB E46 and SG E92 M3s Join Date: May 2010 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 180 iTrader: (1)	same thing just happened to me. Glad I found this tread. Go figure I just had a service done about 300 miles ago.

07-31-2010, 06:52 AM	#18
Moe's M3 Enlisted Member Drives: 2010 BMW M3 Sedan Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 37 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW M3 Sedan [0.00]	I believe that the dealer (service dept.) failed to fill your M3 accordingly and as they should. Me, I do my M3's oil/filter changes myself, even when it's free at the BMW dealers. Would you trust them messing around with your investment? Not me. I've been there, done that. Heard many stories about what's going on at many car service establishments, and lived many service deceptions myself in the past. It's not "rocket science" to do and oil/filter yourself. And the best of all, at the end you'll feel satisfied that the job was done properly, without having to think what someone could have done incorrectly to your M3. Take the challenge, my friend...

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