Z4 Oil light again..

[ian in lancs]

Fox- said:

ian in lancs said:

Fox- said:

ian in lancs said:

Put some oil in

It doesn't need any oil. Thats the point.

oil to the full mark - no light
oil approx half - light
put more oil in - no light

not really difficult is it?

Thanks for the patronising reply, but this is not how the handbook explains it and neither is it how my 530i, with exactly the same M54B30 engine, works either.

The light is supposed to come on when the oil level is on minimum, not when its half way up the dipstick completely within safe normal tolerances.

What is the point in having a dipstick if the light comes on when the oil is half way between min and max? Surely thats not how it is supposed to work?

Edited by Fox- on Wednesday 25th February 23:32

It appears your somewhat paranoid about oil & water levels! If it asks for oil put some in. What difference does it make? I would never rely on the electronic level indicator anyway. Certainly not on my Z4M. If the consumption is high after monitoring (recording litres/1000mls not time) then BMW and I guess posters will tell whether its within acceptable limits. It is either burnt (worn engine - unlikely)or a leak. As for coolant loss that can only be through leaks. My Z4 dropped steadily so I got it pressure checked under warranty. It was fine so I just checked every now and again.

[Fox-]

tomTVR said:

If its not broken then where is all the new oil going? On the other hand if it was burning that much you would surely be able to see/smell it?

It's not using that much oil. This is not my concern, my concern is only that the light comes on far, far too early.

Call it paranoia if you like but when you have two cars with exactly the same engine block you would expect them to behave in exactly the same way. Then they don't its only natural you start asking questions.

[Zeek]

I'd prefer it to come on well before it reaches min...It's a warning, not an instruction to put oil in there and then, which if it came on when it reached the minimum, it would be.

It isn't changing the range between top ups at all. Just because the light comes on, doesn't mean you can't keep driving it until the oil reaches min, which seems to be where you'd prefer the warning to appear?

[Fox-]

The handbook even says add oil once the level reaches minimum - its clearly geared to putting a litre in each time it hits minimum. The light prevents this, especially as for reasons which entirely escape me on the Z4 the light is accompanied with a ridiculously loud BEEEP which makes people look as you park it with the roof off, whereas the 530i light discreetly glows and makes no sound at all.

[ian in lancs]

Fox- said:

Call it paranoia if you like but when you have two cars with exactly the same engine block you would expect them to behave in exactly the same way. Then they don't its only natural you start asking questions.

Ah, if only any, let alone all engineering was like that. Unfortunately it isn't!

[KENZ]

My 2.2 used to get thru a fair bit of oil.. Lot more than my 3.0 or 3.2M