DIY How to check your oil level w/o iDrive...

[Dackelone]

Hi Guys,

I thought I would put together some photos on how to use the bc (board computer) to check your oil level: aka the electronic dipstick. My car does not have iDrive. It is very easy to check the oil level...



First start the engine...


Use the thumb wheel on the turn signal stalk to scroll thru the BC menu...


dashboard light brightness...


car maintenance...


THIS is the screen you want... oil level...


Use the button on the end of the turn signal stalk to enter into this menu setting...



IF the engine is not fully warmed up this is what you will see. A clock with the arrrow handing moving to let you know the engine still needs time to warm up fully.



This is what the oil level gauge looks like when the oil level is full - to the top electronic dipstick mark...



This is what it looks like when the oil level is slightly low...




Enjoy!
Dackel

[Dackelone]

Just in case anyone needs to know how much oil our cars hold, when changing the oil and filter...

6.5 liters or 6.9 quarts.

[bluecat]

Thanks Dackel, helpful info as always.

[EDDY_YIYI]

Dackel, are we able to check oil visually to see how dirty it is?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by wudi13

Dackel, are we able to check oil visually to see how dirty it is?

New BMW do not have a traditional dip stick, so no. But you could unscrew the oil filter cap(when the engine is cold!) and take a look at the oil color.

Since our car's use direct injection... it does noyt take very long to turn new oil black though. SO you won't be able to tell much by the color. You could take an oil sample this way though.

I always change my oil every 6K miles(max) or every four months. That is my OCI.

[EDDY_YIYI]

Thanks for you information, Dackel. It help me decide to change my engine oil, lol

[DitchPickler]

I know this Thread is old. I'm trying to use the up and down toggle and BC button. But for some reason i can't get it to work until i drive for awhile. Is that normal? I mean i can't check anything at all.

Does the car have to run for a certain distance before you can go through the options. Service,Clock,Oil etc? Sorry agian for reviving an old thred but i can't seem to find anything online.

[Petro135]

It should come right up. There is no warm up time.

[Cobra1956]

I know this is a very old thread but addresses what I am experiencing with the photos. I just converted a 135 over to track only use. I installed the Mosselman dual oil coolers. Question I have is can you overfill your pan? Will the oil level show it as overfilled?

Details: Did oil change and have Moroso oil accumulator. I drained the oil coolers. Does the thermostat allow any oil flow by? Would the coolers fill slowly? I did not drain the sump and prior to first start up after the change pressure on the unit was about 80 psi. I added about 7.5 quarts. If the information posted here is correct I should be slightly underfilled. Larger cooler plus additional cooler.

My thoughts are to add an additional quart of oil to this as I have a 12ft feed hose that should also need about 1 ounce per foot.

Am I thinking this through correctly?
Thank you!