Low oil light. How long can I drive like this?

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

There's a picture in the first post.

You are correct - sorry I missed it.

If you are near a dealer, stop in and pick up a couple of quarts of BMW branded synthetic 5w30 and add it yourself. Or if you are not near a dealer, one of the others on the list JimD provided will work as well. And since the sump carries 7 quarts, I wouldn't worry about driving a few more miles when down by only one.

Also, you are entitled to a free oil change after one year if your mileage does not yet call for it.

Tom

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

That icon is sort of confusing shouldn't it say -1?

I think it's trying to say time to add 1.

[FDfranklin]

Put a quart of moible 1 5w30 in today. Still going to try and get BMW to change the oil, the car doesn't say I need it until September though.

[sparkyblue]

There might be a leak somewhere as others have stated, roll into service and at the least they can top you off with a quart.

[Sylon]

I doubt there is a leak, although it doesnt hurt to look for one. There are countless threads on here about the low oil notification. I had it, put oil in, been fine since. So, although its fine heed on the side of caution, this is a common thing.

[ZIPNBYE]

Your car has 6.5 litres of oil in it, and, is designed in terms of the on-board systems to do oil analysis to determine the change interval (distance based, or at1yr intervals per the dealer) AND monitor oil level and notify you when 1 litre / quart down so you can top it off.

New motors will always burn oil due to a number of reasons, as will the car when pushed hard on a track. This is normal. Adding a litre / quart at the mid-point between changes is within normal operating parameters...which is why your car comes with a single bottle of oil in the trunk from new (or should have...mine did).

This is not a reason to demand a free oil change, as the dealer won't give it, due to BMW considering this normal operation...hence why your car will tell you to add oil. You can. Ertainly pay for a mid-cycle change, but that'll be your dime.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

Put a quart of moible 1 5w30 in today. Still going to try and get BMW to change the oil, the car doesn't say I need it until September though.

As that is not a BMW approved oil, next time get BMW 5w30 or check JimD's list.

And BMW will change it - but you will have to pay. Make sure you specify an "Interim Oil Change" with no other service and the cost shouldn't be much more than $100.

Tom

[Lester]

Back in the day, I was about 17 yrs old working at the neighborhood filling station after school and on weekends. I don't want to say what year, but let's just say muscle cars were "in".

Every once in a while a nice looking blonde would come in a get a few dollars worth of gas in her yellow Mustang Fastback coupe. It was a beautiful car, and I was dying to catch a glimpse of the engine so I would always ask her if I could check the oil.

One day she finally said 'Yes".

With raging anticipation, I raised the hood and there sat an amazing Ford 390 cu in V8, with chrome valve covers and air cleaner! What an engine!

Like the professional I was, I pulled out the dipstick to wipe it off before inserting it again (you needed to do this to make sure the engine oil hadn't spashed up the tube while driving and you would get an incorrect reading).

Much to my surprise, the dipstick was dry. So I wiped it off and plunged it back in and pulled it out again. Dry once more!

With grave concern, I made sure sure it wasn't twisting down the tube the wrong way, and forced it in again, making sure it was in fact seated all the way. This time when I pulled it out, there was in fact an indication of oil, although it was black and foamy and only about 1/16" at the very end of the dipstick, not quite enought to cover the tapered point at the end.

My heart almost had stopped beating at this point.

I said to her, "ma'am, you engine is almost empty of oil and you should top it up immediately"

To which she replied "I let my husband take care of it".

I never seen her come in again, and I often wonder whatever happened to her and that beautiful yellow Mustang fastback.

[Tweeked SRT4]

My car has 12,700 miles and still says I have 200 miles or 4/2012 for my first oil change. My oil bar is sitting around the 3/4 mark.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

Never. The first scheduled oil change is at 12,000 miles and BMW refused to do it early even if I paid for it.

The free maintenance won't happen until the ECU triggers it, or it's been a year since the last oil change, or you've been driving it for a year from new.

BTW, if you go to your dealer just ask for a quart of free oil since your light is on.
Maintenance is supposed to be free for 4/50K, and having to add a quart between changes is maintenance.
If they won't give you the oil for free, make sure you have a service ticket written up where is notes that a free quart of oil was denied. If there is a problem later, its on the dealer.

Still, if it were me I would put a quart in even if I had to pay for it.

My 135i has 27K miles and it's never been a quart low, even after the first oil change. My oil level is reading 100% full and it's been about 13K miles since it's fist oil change.
Red line break in has been very good to my engines.