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

[FDfranklin]

The Oil light came on when I got to work and when I checked I got this:



I won't really have time until the weekend to take it in and I drive 45 minutes to work everyday, can it wait that long? Are they just going to top it off or do an oil change? I'm at 9000 miles.

Thanks for any advice.
Fd

[2012_135i]

If it was me I wouldn't drive my car 45 minutes back and forth to work for the next two days with a low oil indicator before taking it the dealership, especially with a turbo charged engine. Oil is the life blood of your car. It's probably just a little low and might not be that big of a deal but you never know. I'd get a quart of good synthetic and top it off myself just to get through the next couple of days, then take it in. At least check it to see how low it is. Don't drive with low oil.

[Phlonx]

Ur car has a million ways to protect itself, it wont let itself get damaged, thats what the light is for, ur fist warning. It says ur a quart low from max oil. Mine came on two days in a row but only after i turned it off. I picked up a quart and put it in. Checked it and said its at max, problem solved. Its not ideal to keep driving but i dont see it being a big deal. If any other warning comes up, then stop driving.

Nonetheless, just pick up a quart and put it in there!

[Sylon]

All you need is a quart. Make a stop at the store, grab a bottle and a funnel and you're good to go. It states how long you can drive with the light on in your owner's manual. I had this pop up when I was around 9k as well. It was just a quart low. It's very common, but I wouldn't drive too long with it on.

[Boxtyp3]

I wouldn't take a chance at all.

[IDBMW]

I would not take a chance. What if you had an oil leak and oil is leaving your engine faster than you think?

To me it seems like people want to push things to the limit. Manufactures put low oil light and then you want to drive it a few more days before you look into it. That why they put a “buffer” into their designs.

Say the low oil is on for several days and your car computer stores this info. Later on you have some engine or turbo issue. Now the dealer can say it was from the low oil that was not taken care of in a timely manner. That is worst case but it is not worth going there for me so I would simply add some oil.

If it is inconvenient for you to get the oil, next time you are it the dealer get a quart and keep it in your garage.

Good luck.

[Xios135]

I always carry a quart of Mobil 1 in my trunk for this reason.

[Focusedintntions]

Stop and get a quart of Castrol Syntech 5w30 and put it in...for 8$ its worth your money to not have to worry about going to the dealer. Takes 2 minutes to pour it in, light goes off and your time is saved...

[FDfranklin]

Stopped at the only gas station before the highway and they didn't have synthetic. I will try to grab some on my lunch break.

My next question is, will BMW actually do an oil change because of this? I tried to get them to do an early oil change after my break in and they refused. I wan't to get it done before I put my downpipe on.

[135IS]

when was your last oil change? i wouldn't risk driving on low oil...

[gnpower]

Pick up a quart of oil. why do you need to go to the dealer for that?

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by 135IS

when was your last oil change? i wouldn't risk driving on low oil...

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

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by gnpower

Pick up a quart of oil. why do you need to go to the dealer for that?

Simply because I want an oil change before putting a few mods on.

[135IS]

WHAT!? did you get your car new? did they change it after break in atleast? i change my oil every 6000km max and its all black by then....

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by 135IS

WHAT!? did you get your car new? did they change it after break in atleast? i change my oil every 6000km max and its all black by then....

Yeah brand new. The car doesn't require an oil change until 12000 miles and they refused to do it after break in, I told them I didn't care what the price was..

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

Yeah brand new. The car doesn't require an oil change until 12000 miles and they refused to do it after break in, I told them I didn't care what the price was..

I've never heard of a dealer refusing to perform an "Interim" oil change. Mine routinely does them - charging about $110 or $80 with a coupon.

What does the oil level monitor on your dash say? If it is only down one quart, you're in no danger, but it sounds like you need a new dealer.

Tom

[135IS]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I've never heard of a dealer refusing to perform an "Interim" oil change. Mine routinely does them - charging about $110 or $80 with a coupon.

What does the oil level monitor on your dash say? If it is only down one quart, you're in no danger, but it sounds like you need a new dealer.

Tom

+1 on that go to a different dealer. They sound like they are giving you a hard time. 12000 miles is a LOT on the same oil. especially if you commute 45 mins every day

[icabod7]

Originally Posted by 135IS

+1 on that go to a different dealer. They sound like they are giving you a hard time. 12000 miles is a LOT on the same oil. especially if you commute 45 mins every day

Had this happen to me over the weekend two weeks ago. Manual says you have a few miles (I think it says like 50 or so?) on the "+1 qt" indicator to drive and get oil and/or go to dealership. I waited until Tuesday morning but my commute is only 2-3 miles. I'd say I drove it a total of 15-20 miles after the first "+1 qt" indicator came on to buy the oil for the oil change. Then I took it to the dealership and made them do a complete oil change. I'd go to a different dealership and get your oil changed.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

Stop and get a quart of Castrol Syntech 5w30 and put it in...for 8$ its worth your money to not have to worry about going to the dealer. Takes 2 minutes to pour it in, light goes off and your time is saved...

This...

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

Yeah brand new. The car doesn't require an oil change until 12000 miles and they refused to do it after break in, I told them I didn't care what the price was..

My car only had around 9k miles after a year and my dealer did the oil change on the 366th day from the in service date. Tell them to quit BSing.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by FDfranklin

The Oil light came on when I got to work and when I checked I got this:



I won't really have time until the weekend to take it in and I drive 45 minutes to work everyday, can it wait that long? Are they just going to top it off or do an oil change? I'm at 9000 miles.

Thanks for any advice.
Fd

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

[FDfranklin]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I've never heard of a dealer refusing to perform an "Interim" oil change. Mine routinely does them - charging about $110 or $80 with a coupon.

What does the oil level monitor on your dash say? If it is only down one quart, you're in no danger, but it sounds like you need a new dealer.

Tom

There's a picture in the first post.

[JimD]

BMW has a list of oils they support use of. If you add something else, I don't think I would bring it up. Driving it low on oil could also become an excuse later if there are engine problems. I attached what I think is BMW's list.

Your best option is to add a quart of what BMW recommends. Your other reasonable option would be to add a quart of something else and don't talk to your dealer about it. I would pick a Castrol synthetic but an argument could be made for a Mobil 1 product not on BMW's list.

My least favorite option is driving with it this way. Being a quart low should not really hurt anything but the oil temperature will go up quicker (so don't push it) and if it came out quickly you could get low enough to have a decrease in oil pressure. Mostly I don't like this because the dealer might bring it up later if there is a problem.

Jim