Garage refuses to admit overfilled oil
Discussion
We bought a 2018 420d from a well known chain.
The principle way of checking the oil for this engine is electronic, upon doing so, the car states it has been overfilled and to take it to service centre immediately. I check it manually using the dipstick, and it is indeed over the max marker.
So my Mrs takes it back. The garage now says that the electronic warning is irrelevant, and the only way to determine if the car is overfilled, is if the engine is cold and the manual dipstick still reads over.
I am somewhat aggrieved by this as I do not believe it is correct.
The easiest way to settle the discussion, would be for me to turn up (which I will) with the dipstick procedure from BMW which will state the operating temperature to take it, but this isn't in the manual as it only describes the electronic procedure.
Does anyone know where I can find the BMW approved dipstick oil level procedure for this engine?
Or am I completely wrong, and this is the norm? You ignore all the electronic warnings, and you don't wait for an engine to get to temp before checking your oil for this car.
Cheers.
The principle way of checking the oil for this engine is electronic, upon doing so, the car states it has been overfilled and to take it to service centre immediately. I check it manually using the dipstick, and it is indeed over the max marker.
So my Mrs takes it back. The garage now says that the electronic warning is irrelevant, and the only way to determine if the car is overfilled, is if the engine is cold and the manual dipstick still reads over.
I am somewhat aggrieved by this as I do not believe it is correct.
The easiest way to settle the discussion, would be for me to turn up (which I will) with the dipstick procedure from BMW which will state the operating temperature to take it, but this isn't in the manual as it only describes the electronic procedure.
Does anyone know where I can find the BMW approved dipstick oil level procedure for this engine?
Or am I completely wrong, and this is the norm? You ignore all the electronic warnings, and you don't wait for an engine to get to temp before checking your oil for this car.
Cheers.
Mod edit to avoid name and shame
Not checked it cold, no.
The literature says you run the test at operating temperature (you physically cannot do it otherwise)I did this, it says it’s been over filled.
I presumed as the oil level needs to be at temp for the e-test the dipstick would be same.
It could be a number of other issues, but for now I’m focusing on the oil level.
If the sensor has failed, again, it is their issue as was defective when sold.
I’ll call BMW tomorrow.
The literature says you run the test at operating temperature (you physically cannot do it otherwise)I did this, it says it’s been over filled.
I presumed as the oil level needs to be at temp for the e-test the dipstick would be same.
It could be a number of other issues, but for now I’m focusing on the oil level.
If the sensor has failed, again, it is their issue as was defective when sold.
I’ll call BMW tomorrow.
It could easily have changed for the newer cars, but for whatever it's worth, the E46 manual says to get the engine to its regular operating temperature, switch it off, wait 5 minutes and then check using the dipstick.
The E90 manual says basically the same thing, but adds that "regular operating temperature" means you should have been driving continuously for at least 10 km or 6.5 miles.
(There will be a certain amount of cooling after 5 minutes, but I question how much.)
The E90 manual says basically the same thing, but adds that "regular operating temperature" means you should have been driving continuously for at least 10 km or 6.5 miles.
(There will be a certain amount of cooling after 5 minutes, but I question how much.)
Porsche did this with my wife's 911 last year.
Charged £500 for an oil change, overfilled it so it lit a warning light.
When we took it back they wanted to change the sensor for few hundred pounds more.
I insisted they took out half a litre of oil first
Warning went away and car quite happy.
Charged £500 for an oil change, overfilled it so it lit a warning light.
When we took it back they wanted to change the sensor for few hundred pounds more.
I insisted they took out half a litre of oil first
Warning went away and car quite happy.
Check the oil after standing for 5 mins manually with the stick. If its over drain out half to 1 litre , job done.
Will save your time having to return to the garage and argue over it .
17mm spanner or socket. The whole undertray doesn't have to be removed just the hatch in the cover, it's a 5 minute job.
Will save your time having to return to the garage and argue over it .
17mm spanner or socket. The whole undertray doesn't have to be removed just the hatch in the cover, it's a 5 minute job.
Edited by Draxindustries1 on Thursday 28th July 20:09
If the DIM (Driver Information Message) says it's overfull, it's overfull. Your dipstick reading also confirms this.
We spend a lot of time calibrating oil level sensing before product release as incorrect messages piss customers off. Is the chain a BMW franchise or all make?
If BMW, take it back straight to the service manager, ask him to perform the procedure and if he says it's irrelevant ask him to call BMW UK and for them to confirm that in writing.
If not BMW, ask them why they think they know better than BMW.
We spend a lot of time calibrating oil level sensing before product release as incorrect messages piss customers off. Is the chain a BMW franchise or all make?
If BMW, take it back straight to the service manager, ask him to perform the procedure and if he says it's irrelevant ask him to call BMW UK and for them to confirm that in writing.
If not BMW, ask them why they think they know better than BMW.
Prof Prolapse said:
We bought a 2018 420d from a well known chain.
The principle way of checking the oil for this engine is electronic, upon doing so, the car states it has been overfilled and to take it to service centre immediately. I check it manually using the dipstick, and it is indeed over the max marker.
So my Mrs takes it back. The garage now says that the electronic warning is irrelevant, and the only way to determine if the car is overfilled, is if the engine is cold and the manual dipstick still reads over.
I am somewhat aggrieved by this as I do not believe it is correct.
The easiest way to settle the discussion, would be for me to turn up (which I will) with the dipstick procedure from BMW which will state the operating temperature to take it, but this isn't in the manual as it only describes the electronic procedure.
Does anyone know where I can find the BMW approved dipstick oil level procedure for this engine?
Or am I completely wrong, and this is the norm? You ignore all the electronic warnings, and you don't wait for an engine to get to temp before checking your oil for this car.
Cheers.
If you've just bought the car, reject it and buy one from somebody competent.The principle way of checking the oil for this engine is electronic, upon doing so, the car states it has been overfilled and to take it to service centre immediately. I check it manually using the dipstick, and it is indeed over the max marker.
So my Mrs takes it back. The garage now says that the electronic warning is irrelevant, and the only way to determine if the car is overfilled, is if the engine is cold and the manual dipstick still reads over.
I am somewhat aggrieved by this as I do not believe it is correct.
The easiest way to settle the discussion, would be for me to turn up (which I will) with the dipstick procedure from BMW which will state the operating temperature to take it, but this isn't in the manual as it only describes the electronic procedure.
Does anyone know where I can find the BMW approved dipstick oil level procedure for this engine?
Or am I completely wrong, and this is the norm? You ignore all the electronic warnings, and you don't wait for an engine to get to temp before checking your oil for this car.
Cheers.
Mod edit to avoid name and shame
What else have they got wrong?
My F36 showed an overfull oil message on the IDrive, BMW made me stop the car, collected it on a recovery truck, changed the oil and filter, did a software update and returned t the next day. The overfull reading was as I was up to temp and on the motorway, so I would say believe the IDrive.
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