Oil Level Checking - 3.0 M54
Discussion
It would seem that I am an inept idiot. I didnt think it was, but... hmm..
So.
The 3 litre M54 engine. How do YOU check the oil?
The handbook says to park the vehicle on flat, level ground, switch the engine off from full operating temperature, wait approximately 5 minutes and use the dipstick to check the oil.
I can handle this. It's not that hard, or so I thought. I've been doing it for years in my 530i. Always seems to work fine although seems a bit of a faff.
So the oil light came on on the Z4 after the car was turned off. This means low oil level.
Checked it, according to the handbook. It was above half way between the high and low point on the dipstick. The level was fine. I checked it THREE TIMES in succession, the level was the same each time.
Continued using car. Light comes on after every journey.
I have since checked the oil on a further THREE seperate occasions, each time in line with the recommended way of checking it. Each time it has been at least half way up the dipstick.
Faulty sensor then right? Booked it into BMW.
They've just called me to tell me the reason the light came on is because the car requires an oil topup. Apparently, it's on the minimum.
Now, I'm going to feel like a complete wally when I go and pick the car back up but what on earth did I do wrong? How are they getting a different level reading to me?
It's not as if I've never checked it before as I've been doing it for years on my 5!
So.
The 3 litre M54 engine. How do YOU check the oil?
The handbook says to park the vehicle on flat, level ground, switch the engine off from full operating temperature, wait approximately 5 minutes and use the dipstick to check the oil.
I can handle this. It's not that hard, or so I thought. I've been doing it for years in my 530i. Always seems to work fine although seems a bit of a faff.
So the oil light came on on the Z4 after the car was turned off. This means low oil level.
Checked it, according to the handbook. It was above half way between the high and low point on the dipstick. The level was fine. I checked it THREE TIMES in succession, the level was the same each time.
Continued using car. Light comes on after every journey.
I have since checked the oil on a further THREE seperate occasions, each time in line with the recommended way of checking it. Each time it has been at least half way up the dipstick.
Faulty sensor then right? Booked it into BMW.
They've just called me to tell me the reason the light came on is because the car requires an oil topup. Apparently, it's on the minimum.
Now, I'm going to feel like a complete wally when I go and pick the car back up but what on earth did I do wrong? How are they getting a different level reading to me?
It's not as if I've never checked it before as I've been doing it for years on my 5!
I had this on mine. I got the wrning light, checked it and it was halfway up. Rang my local Main Stealer (who, incidentally and unexpectedly, have been really very good throughout my ownership of the car), explained the problem and was told that it needs to be kept near the top of the dipstick. So thats what I do.
Just a theory, but I suspect the dipstick design may have varied, as mine looks nothing like the one in the manual. If it had it would explain how the low-level marker is meaningless.
Just a theory, but I suspect the dipstick design may have varied, as mine looks nothing like the one in the manual. If it had it would explain how the low-level marker is meaningless.
Right. Got the car back.
First thing I did was check the oil (I asked them not to top it up as I've got plenty of Castrol Edge).
Parked car on the flat. Waited for 5 minutes. Checked oil. Guess what - level is HALF WAY. It's NOT on minimum at all. I checked it three times, each time, it was HALF WAY.
So I tried something else. Went for a drive. Stopped car on flat and immediatly checked the oil level without bothering to wait 5 minutes. Oil on Min. Well no suprise, thats probably why you need to wait 5 minutes before checking, to allow the oil to drain back into the sump.
At this point I suspected the tech had simply driven the car into the workshop, immediatly checked the oil, found it on min and advised it needs a litre added. Surely this is wrong, so I went back to clarify. Explained as above (Without accusing the tech of doing it wrong!).
'The oil level light is sensitive on the Z4. It comes on when its half full'
But the same engine in my 530i has the light come on when its on min, as you'd expect?
'But the Z's dont tend to for some reason'
So the service guy who phoned and said it needed 1 litre of oil, does it? Because surely if I put a litre into a car showing half full on the dipstick it'll be overfilled?
'Yea, I'd just put half a litre in'
Great.
Now i've no idea whats going on really. Why does the warning light on my 530i come on when the dipstick is on the minimum yet the warning light on the identical engined Z4 3.0 comes on when its half full?
I still think the answer to the whole thing is: a) The sensor is duff and b) the tech didnt check the level properly, personally. But how I get them to acknowledge this I've no idea. Apparently there are no fault codes - do faulty oil level sensors always throw up fault codes?
First thing I did was check the oil (I asked them not to top it up as I've got plenty of Castrol Edge).
Parked car on the flat. Waited for 5 minutes. Checked oil. Guess what - level is HALF WAY. It's NOT on minimum at all. I checked it three times, each time, it was HALF WAY.
So I tried something else. Went for a drive. Stopped car on flat and immediatly checked the oil level without bothering to wait 5 minutes. Oil on Min. Well no suprise, thats probably why you need to wait 5 minutes before checking, to allow the oil to drain back into the sump.
At this point I suspected the tech had simply driven the car into the workshop, immediatly checked the oil, found it on min and advised it needs a litre added. Surely this is wrong, so I went back to clarify. Explained as above (Without accusing the tech of doing it wrong!).
'The oil level light is sensitive on the Z4. It comes on when its half full'
But the same engine in my 530i has the light come on when its on min, as you'd expect?
'But the Z's dont tend to for some reason'
So the service guy who phoned and said it needed 1 litre of oil, does it? Because surely if I put a litre into a car showing half full on the dipstick it'll be overfilled?
'Yea, I'd just put half a litre in'
Great.
Now i've no idea whats going on really. Why does the warning light on my 530i come on when the dipstick is on the minimum yet the warning light on the identical engined Z4 3.0 comes on when its half full?
I still think the answer to the whole thing is: a) The sensor is duff and b) the tech didnt check the level properly, personally. But how I get them to acknowledge this I've no idea. Apparently there are no fault codes - do faulty oil level sensors always throw up fault codes?
I would get the last 7 digits of the vin number of the z4 and a 530, If you cant get the vin you will have to manually select the car
Goto realoem.com and have a look for the oil level switch in the sump and compare part numbers.
I'd also check the sump part number as well, just incase the switch is higher up in the sump on the z4 engine.
The e34 m50 engines are the same as the e36 engines however the sump is different something to do with the steering rack.
Goto realoem.com and have a look for the oil level switch in the sump and compare part numbers.
I'd also check the sump part number as well, just incase the switch is higher up in the sump on the z4 engine.
The e34 m50 engines are the same as the e36 engines however the sump is different something to do with the steering rack.
on the E46's the oil level sensors are a common failure and flash up low oil level all the time even whens its not. the sensor is about 90 quid to replace though.
when the light comes on after youve stopped the engine if you turn the ignition off then on again, then off again does it go out?
when the light comes on after youve stopped the engine if you turn the ignition off then on again, then off again does it go out?
Sorry to hijack the topic, but rather than start a new one I hope you don't mind if I ask here?
My 3.0si Z4 said last night it needed an extra litre of oil, but even though I've looked through the manual I can't see what grade I ought to be putting in. Castrol says 0W-30 - anyone know if this is the right grade, or should I just give the main dealer who I bought the car from a ring?
Ta!
My 3.0si Z4 said last night it needed an extra litre of oil, but even though I've looked through the manual I can't see what grade I ought to be putting in. Castrol says 0W-30 - anyone know if this is the right grade, or should I just give the main dealer who I bought the car from a ring?
Ta!
Edited by Fondue on Wednesday 29th October 09:55
Edited by Fondue on Wednesday 29th October 09:55
No, its not such a faff. But if something is defective and there is warranty I'd rather it was replaced than I simply worked around it.
We are already having to 'work around' the ridiculously noisy handbrake and the drivers door lock which fell apart becuase apparently the warranty doesnt cover either of those, so I'd rather not add a third bodge to the list.
We are already having to 'work around' the ridiculously noisy handbrake and the drivers door lock which fell apart becuase apparently the warranty doesnt cover either of those, so I'd rather not add a third bodge to the list.
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