BMW's with no dipstick, how do you approach topping up?
Discussion
premio said:
I have zero interest in the workings of my engine, I have no need to and just get a mechanic to do that for me. As for having little or no interest in driving or improving driving skills, how exactly does a dipstick do that? Maybe it's you that doesn't have a clue about engines if you think a metal rod makes a difference to driving skills.
You've already demonstrated you're clueless when it come to the workings of an engine as in your previous post you implied that you should check the oil level when the engine's cold! I obviously don't think a dipstick improves driving skills per se and if you re-read my post that's not what I said. What I was getting at was that people who take an interest in their car and how it works often tend to have an interest in driving whereas those that have no interest in the car tend in my experience to be the ones that take the attitude "my car's just a method of getting from A to B", "I passed my driving test and that's all I ever need to know", etc. Obviously a generalisation to some extent but the people I know who are most interested in driving and maintaining/improving their driving skills also have at least some interest in the car itself; that doesn't mean they're mechanics but equally they're not the sort of people to just rely entirely on the on-board computer either. For want of a better way of putting it, it's a distinction between car people as opposed to people who just have the money to afford a car!
JNW1 said:
You've already demonstrated you're clueless when it come to the workings of an engine as in your previous post you implied that you should check the oil level when the engine's cold!
I obviously don't think a dipstick improves driving skills per se and if you re-read my post that's not what I said. What I was getting at was that people who take an interest in their car and how it works often tend to have an interest in driving whereas those that have no interest in the car tend in my experience to be the ones that take the attitude "my car's just a method of getting from A to B", "I passed my driving test and that's all I ever need to know", etc. Obviously a generalisation to some extent but the people I know who are most interested in driving and maintaining/improving their driving skills also have at least some interest in the car itself; that doesn't mean they're mechanics but equally they're not the sort of people to just rely entirely on the on-board computer either. For want of a better way of putting it, it's a distinction between car people as opposed to people who just have the money to afford a car!
You are actually meant to check the level when either cold or warm as the oil needs time to settle in to the sump when using a dipstick. Which is another reason why the check feature on Idrive is so good because it takes an accurate reading when the engine is hot and at optimum temperature whilst driving as the oil expands. I obviously don't think a dipstick improves driving skills per se and if you re-read my post that's not what I said. What I was getting at was that people who take an interest in their car and how it works often tend to have an interest in driving whereas those that have no interest in the car tend in my experience to be the ones that take the attitude "my car's just a method of getting from A to B", "I passed my driving test and that's all I ever need to know", etc. Obviously a generalisation to some extent but the people I know who are most interested in driving and maintaining/improving their driving skills also have at least some interest in the car itself; that doesn't mean they're mechanics but equally they're not the sort of people to just rely entirely on the on-board computer either. For want of a better way of putting it, it's a distinction between car people as opposed to people who just have the money to afford a car!
I'm still struggling hard to work out the actual problem with Idrive oil readings, but then maybe I'm being a dipstick (please don't tell me I'm a dipstick it would be heartbreaking)!
premio said:
You are actually meant to check the level when either cold or warm as the oil needs time to settle in to the sump when using a dipstick. Which is another reason why the check feature on Idrive is so good because it takes an accurate reading when the engine is hot and at optimum temperature whilst driving as the oil expands.
I'm still struggling hard to work out the actual problem with Idrive oil readings, but then maybe I'm being a dipstick (please don't tell me I'm a dipstick it would be heartbreaking)!
You can check oil stone cold but a common practice is to get the car to normal operating temperature, switch the engine off and then check the level after about 5 minutes or so. However, you don't have to "wait for a cold engine" which is what you said in your original post!I'm still struggling hard to work out the actual problem with Idrive oil readings, but then maybe I'm being a dipstick (please don't tell me I'm a dipstick it would be heartbreaking)!
In terms of idrive readings, they're ok as far as they go and if they were avaiable as well as a conventional dipstick that would be fine. However, IMO you gain more information from checking via a dipstick (oil condition not just level) and personally I prefer to look at things like that as part of my weekly check; tyre pressures and screen wash level also form part of the ritual. I'm sure many owners wouldn't be bothered and would just wait for a warning light to come on before looking at these things; however, it's hardly a big deal (10 minutes a week) and for me it's time well spent - each to their own!
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