E60 Oil level question

[FredBasset]

Hi all, I'm a little confused with this, I've done over 2.5k now since I got the car and not needed any oil yet, for a long time it was on 1.1, then dropped to 0.9 and now its 0.2

I didn't see it move it between 0.9 and 0.2 because for a while it was telling me it could not get a reading with the -.- message. Most days my journeys are around 16 miles mostly on flowing roads with less than a mile of town, but again free flowing driving.

I don't think I've got problem but don't understand why it did not measure for quite a while and then when it did then it had dropped a lot.

Any advice much appreciated.

Regards
Fred

[ecain63]

If you're journeys are generally quite short and slow the oil useage is pretty low. Mine averages 3k between topups. If the car was a fast motorway muncher you could expect it to need a litre every 1.5k or so. Your car sounds normal. You know the car has to be at a standstill to take a reading, and warmed up?

[andygtt]

around 3k miles seems about right for 1litre of oil... fill it up when it tells you and only put 1litre in at a time

[FredBasset]

Thanks guys, no I had overlooked it needed to be at a standstill, both of my other cars that have a similar system do it as you drive but they are both properly dry sumped unlike the system used on the M5.

Knowing this I now understand why it measured it yesterday, normally it is never stationary for long enough.

Thanks once again

Regards
Fred

[Jazzer]

Fill up when it tells you too, but only add 750 ml!!

[ecain63]

Jazzer said:

Fill up when it tells you too, but only add 750 ml!!

???

Why only 750mls? The book / BMW etc all say add exactly 1ltr.

[Jazzer]

It's to do with calibration factors.....

[skeeterm5]

Jazzer said:

It's to do with calibration factors.....

I would add 1 litre as per BMW says, afterall they spent billions developing the car so I would rely on them to know what they are talking about; what did you spend on your research to reach your conclusion that BMW are wrong?

S

[ecain63]

Jazzer said:

It's to do with calibration factors.....

The calibration process only needs addressing in the event of a full oil change, as per what BMW would do. Add all but 0.9ltr, recalibrate and then add the final bit. If the car asks for 1ltr, add 1ltr.

[Jazzer]

My dealer and local independent both recommended adding 750 ml when asked to add a litre, so I accept their advice, on the basis that they know more about this than I do, and act accordingly.

Is that OK?

[ecain63]

Jazzer said:

My dealer and local independent both recommended adding 750 ml when asked to add a litre, so I accept their advice, on the basis that they know more about this than I do, and act accordingly.

Is that OK?

Yeah, thats fine. Its not an argument, just in case you were wondering. All that we wanted to know was why you are adding 0.75ltr of oil when asked for 1.0ltr. It wont harm your car doing things your way, its just different practice and you are entitled to your opinion and to do things as you wish. I'll stick to adding 1.0ltr as i dont personally see any benefit of adding less. Adding more than 1.0ltr obviously would be stupid.

Eddie

[Boogsie]

The first time I was told to fill up I overfilled it.
The iDrive said add a litre. The bit in the middle said I had 0.2l.
In the end, after adding 1 litre (as requested by the iDrive) the bit in the middle said I had 1.1l and along with a look at the manual suggested I should take it to a BMW garage ASAP.
My next refill will be less than 1l