Oil Level ?

[nw28840]

Gents,

2005 BMW 630i Convertible.

Oil level in iDrive is showing a different level each time i drive (sensor issue ?). I've googled and searched this forum for similar issues but couldn't find anything.

Yesterday morning "Initialiazing in iDrive for about 10 minutes and then showing below minimum level and RED "add 1 litre of oil"
Drove 9 miles
Later in the day the oil level in iDrive was half full and GREEN.
Drove 10 miles
Next it showed "Initialiazing in iDrive for about 10 minutes and then was above minimum level and GREEN.
Drove 10 miles
Then in the evening "Initialiazing in iDrive for about 10 minutes and then showing below minimum level and RED "add 1 litre of oil"

Popped to the local independent garage and have added 1 litre of oil to be on the safe side.

Garage suggested its the sensor , any idea how to confirm and what the part number is ?

Thanks,
Nick

[E-bmw]

I suspect you will find the laws of physics having at least some hand in this.

Cold - low
Hot - OK
Cooling - border-line
Cold again - low.

Your addition of 1 litre will be fine.

[gf15]

I had this on my 2005 650. Oil level would be fine, then I would get the "add 1 litre of oil message out of the blue. If I added 1/4 litre, level would be back up to full. My specialist drained all the oil and found precisely the correct amount to make the sensor read full.
Be careful as adding 1 litre of oil when it is already full is not recommended.
They replaced the oil level device and it has been perfect since, this was done over a year ago. From memory it was less than £100 for checking the oil and supplying and fitting the new sensor.

A classic case of making a perfectly reliable solution (dip stick) more complicated and less reliable. Progress eh?