Help : Overfilled and the Oil Level Sensor

[D88]

So my oil level was about 25% down between Max and Min lines and I decided to fill it. I put in a quart of TWS and afterwards I'm getting a too much oil warning. So I did what a lot people recommended and drained the front sump. I took out about .5L to .75L. (Just an eyeball guess). Fire the car back up and again same warning.

I was down some oil already and since I practically took out what I put it I thought it would be below the max threshold but the warning is still up.

Here's the part I'm unsure of should I try taking out more and see if the light will go off or does that sensor need to be reset after getting that warning? Will I be fine driving it even after doing all the draining and with the light still on?





I wish BMW had a gauge showing how many liters/quarts you have in the car instead of this Max and Min crap.

[Boostin FD]

Try cleaning the oil filler cap.

[SuckaGDog]

Use the BC button and cycle through the options on gauge cluster till you see the oil level measurement and then hold BC button till it shows the clock which means it's resetting. Can only be done while car is idling and at operating temp.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong it's been a few weeks since I've had to check the oil level of an M3 at work.

[D88]

Originally Posted by Boostin FD

Try cleaning the oil filler cap.

Forgive my ignorance but what would cleaning the cap do? Is the sensor affected by the cap?

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by D88

Forgive my ignorance but what would cleaning the cap do? Is the sensor affected by the cap?

Simple. Use a turkey baster to suck the oil out from the oil filter reservoir.

[BMRLVR]

The oil gauge signifies a litre/quart from min to max. It is not like a gas gauge where when it is on min it is empty. Once the car gets to the min it tells you to add 1L. BMW doesn't recommend adding oil until you get to the min line and the car asks you to add.

[4corners]

I add a little every time the indicator shows the next level down. Usually less than a quart between oil changes. Why wait for the 1L warning? It's a machine like any other. I would guess BMW says not to add until the 1L indicator shows to avoid overfilling warnings. But with rod bearing issues, why wait.

[D88]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

The oil gauge signifies a litre/quart from min to max. It is not like a gas gauge where when it is on min it is empty. Once the car gets to the min it tells you to add 1L. BMW doesn't recommend adding oil until you get to the min line and the car asks you to add.

Thanks for the info. It's good to know. Hard lesson to learn I'm just so anal about the car and I over reacted to a little drop in oil.

[D88]

So I was on my way to drain some more oil and held down the BC button to reset on the way (as SuckaGDog suggested). After the reset it cleared the warning and my oil was at Max level.

So if anyone gets the warning and drains the oil. You have to reset the oil level sensor. It seems as though once that excessive oil warning is set off it won't just go away after draining. You have to reset or it will still show the warning.

So case closed... Thanks for everyone who chimed in.

[meko]

Based on what OP stated. The one liter added put you over perhaps a quarter of a liter. This is nothing to worry about. I had this discussion with BMW. I was advised from a solid source, that BMW will be changing the limit for overfill because it is too sensitive to overfill. Apparently a liter over will not trigger an overfill in the future. Just what I heard. Honestly, even if this were not true, a quarter or a half a liter over is nothing. Also it takes a number of measurements to get a good reading. If only they invented a thing to check oil with, like a dipstick thing.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by meko

Based on what OP stated. The one liter added put you over perhaps a quarter of a liter. This is nothing to worry about. I had this discussion with BMW. I was advised from a solid source, that BMW will be changing the limit for overfill because it is too sensitive to overfill. Apparently a liter over will not trigger an overfill in the future. Just what I heard. Honestly, even if this were not true, a quarter or a half a liter over is nothing. Also it takes a number of measurements to get a good reading. If only they invented a thing to check oil with, like a dipstick thing.

This applies primarily to the N20 and N/S63 engines. The S65 will not hesitate to tell you it's over filled. Driving the engine over filled is more dangerous than under filled since it is possible cause foaming.
OP- you can also drive the car after a draining and/or filling and let the car recalculate its oil level next time. Holding the BC button is a short term measurement which isn't quite as accurate as the long term performed while driving. I believe it automatically done every 5km, but I could be mistaken. Also make sure your car is on level ground when measuring or in will be inaccurate.

[D88]

Originally Posted by meko

If only they invented a thing to check oil with, like a dipstick thing.