09-17-2012, 01:33 PM | #1 |
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oil level down a bit
Hi,
I've got ~15K kms (10k mi) on the car w/ the next scheduled visit in December. Last week, on the ride in to work, I noticed the oil level was down a bit. If the MIN mark = 0% and the MAX mark = 100%, the level's at ~80% (so down 20%). iDrive reports engine oil level as "OK". I've checked a couple times since and it's holding there. Note: the car was at 100% 'til now. So the question is, should I bother to top it off (and if so w/ what - e.g. BMW synth 5W-30??) or wait 'til the regularly scheduled time (when they'll do all of that and more). I continue to monitor it either way. Thanks, --Antonio |
09-17-2012, 02:47 PM | #2 |
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It's regular BMW synth 5w 30. I would top it off at the dealer the first time so they can show you how much to add since there is no "@$)( dipstick. Yes it can tell you to add a quart but the guys that deal with it can share insights. On a different note, 15k miles is a looooooong time. You are probably the only one waiting that long. Remember it's 15k miles OR 1 year for free change in us. If a year has gone by just change it now IMO. This car has TWO turbos cooking the oil in the bearings. If you can't find BMW oil, Castrol long life syntec 5w-30 should work also. Good luck.
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09-17-2012, 05:59 PM | #3 | |
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09-18-2012, 05:33 AM | #5 |
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Mine was down to the halfway mark when I changed the oil after a year (14,500 miles). A litre every 3,000 miles sounds like a lot.
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09-18-2012, 06:31 AM | #6 |
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i always drive slow until the oil gets upto 100c, oil never goes over the 125c, i don t hit the limiter or anything and it doesnt leak or smoke so im not sure why it uses so much either?
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09-18-2012, 01:01 PM | #7 | |
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No, don`t bother to top it off..........the system tells you the level is whit in save margins (OK=OK !), also the system tells you when to add oil and in what amount. If the level is low a yellow oil warning light will light up, it warns you you to add some oil ( most cases 1Liter), the I drive will show it also on screen. Constantly monitoring is what the system will do automatically, you just drive and enjoy the ride.......... |
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09-18-2012, 02:56 PM | #8 |
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I changed mine at the 1200 mile run-in service. Since then, after driving the next 3800 miles (a total of 5,000) I got the warning light saying I needed to add a quart.
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09-18-2012, 07:08 PM | #9 | |
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I then changed the oil at 6000 miles and have gone 3000 since then with a lot of spirited driving and two autocrosses. It is just now getting to be 1/2 quart low. I probably will change the oil again before I need to add any. |
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09-18-2012, 08:10 PM | #11 | |
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09-19-2012, 02:21 PM | #13 | |
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I think it also really depends on how you drive. If you are really driving hard and on boost all the time... you'll go thru more oil than just cruising around at speed. At least that is what I have noticed when driving on the Autobahn. Also the longer you go with OCI... the more chance there is to go thru some oil. I think this is due to oil dilution with D.I. fuel injection. That is why I change my oil more often that BMW says too.
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09-19-2012, 03:17 PM | #15 | |
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09-19-2012, 05:48 PM | #17 |
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They are both approved oils, together with 0-30 if i remember correctly (check the manual), this means that you can safely try any of them and see which one fits your driving/car better. The car comes from the factory with 5-30 but here in Chile we have only Mobil 1 0-40 as BMW approved oils (LL-1) easily available and after the first oil change I found the car function and stay in optimum temperature better with the 0-40, not worse. Like I said as long as it is a LL-1 oil just go ahead and try any of them, there is no absolute better in this, at least not for every type of climate.
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09-20-2012, 05:04 PM | #18 | |
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09-20-2012, 05:13 PM | #19 |
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You better check if the oil you will use actually has LL-1 (long life) rating that makes it BMW approved, for example not every 0-40 has that rating and therefore not BMW approved. Maybe not a huge issue but if you want to stay safe you need to check that. I would go with Castrol brand myself if it would be available here but Mobil 1 is all we got and that's doing the job.
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09-20-2012, 06:19 PM | #20 |
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I had a similar issue with the display saying that the oil was below minimum. I spoke to the Service guys and minimum is actually at 5L of oil with 6L as max. Hope that helps
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09-20-2012, 09:58 PM | #21 | |
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http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=541486 |
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09-21-2012, 10:50 AM | #22 |
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You know that the N54/N55 engine holds 6.5L of oil.
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