R53 MCS JCW with no oil on dipstick

[danp]

Not mine, but tried one today and apart from the above I was quite tempted.

Believe this means it's at least a litre low? It was last serviced coming up for 2 years and 5k miles ago - seller says oil warming light hasn't come on but assume some damage could have been done and it's not worth the risk?

What's the worst that could happen?! 3k rebuild?

Edited by danp on Saturday 3rd September 21:04

[fivepointnine]

Oil light only comes on with lack of oil PRESSURE, not oil level. Add oil now lol. How did the engine sound? Check it on a cold start and listen for knocking.

[bgunn]

I had a MCS (non JCW) that burnt oil almost as quickly as it did petrol. I'll bet this is similar..

Does the cam chain rattle? It's an oil pressure driven tensioner..

[danp]

It didn't sound unduly rattly or noisy. Have read that these can use some oil, guess you'll never know how much until you own it...

[fivepointnine]

My 100k R53 uses no oil besides a very slight sump leak.

[skeeterm5]

My wife has one of these and i find the dipstick almost impossible to read - the daftest design i have ever come across.

S

[Pip1968]

I have to say that I am not a great fan of the dipstick. I am sure they could have made one easier to read. Just about workable if your oil is black/black.

I have a GP Mk I and it burns oil if driven enthusiastically and let's face it why get one if you are not going to.

Pip

[Leins]

My GP1 did the same until I switched to Mobil 10W-60. Uses very little of it now

[Pip1968]

Interesting. Was that the TWS or Castrol Edge used in BMW Motorsport range?

Pip

[Leins]

I swapped over on recommendation of an indy I use for ad-hoc work Pip, who swears by this stuff (I know of a few other R53s running it with no issues and minimal consumption too):




It's back in for a service with BMW in March, so going to see if I can supply my own or they'll use the Shell equivalent 10W-60, but either way it seems to like this grade much more than the standard stuff (5W-30?)

[R53rider]

Based on my forum cruising and before deciding which Cooper S to buy, it seems R53s aren't usually too bad for using oil whereas R56s can be appalling.
I agree, the dipstick arrangement is dreadful. By the time you've dragged it back out there is oil all over it. I can't read it either.
And apparantly they snap. In the tube. Which can be difficult/expensive to fix.
There is an aftermarket steel woven wire one which won't break for about £15-£20.
There is a Youtube video on it. Probably comes up if you put in mini dipstick.

[Burridge1]

Leins said:

I swapped over on recommendation of an indy I use for ad-hoc work Pip, who swears by this stuff (I know of a few other R53s running it with no issues and minimal consumption too):



10w60??
I have 5w40 in mine atm, looking to change it within the next few months, would 10 60 be good for a higher mileage engine?


It's back in for a service with BMW in March, so going to see if I can supply my own or they'll use the Shell equivalent 10W-60, but either way it seems to like this grade much more than the standard stuff (5W-30?)

[Leins]

Burridge1 said:

10w60??
I have 5w40 in mine atm, looking to change it within the next few months, would 10 60 be good for a higher mileage engine?

Depends what you define as higher mileage, but I've 70k on my GP and it loves running on 10W-60, and consumes very little of it