Oil Consumption on a new M3
Discussion
I have a new shape M3 (bought from new)which has now covered 9k miles. Last week in France the oil level seemed someonewhat erratic and finally warned me I needed to stop immediately and add 1 litre. Of the 9k miles, 90% have been done on motorways (at average speeds), and have not done any track days. IMO I wouldn't expect a new V8 to use any oil after that amount of low stress driving. I am interested to know if anyone else has had the same issue and is this something I should expect ? The car has been taken back to BMW for a check up and I am just waiting for the dearler to tell me "all performance engines use oil sir".
I've put in 2 litres; in less than 9k with a small (1 visit) to the track; whihc wasn't an all dayer either.
Seems they use a bit of oil, I noticed it more when I was able to drive in a more spirited manner abroad and high revs were more common, but not sustained.
Dealer will quote you "BMW does say this engine can use up to a litre of oil every thousand miles..."
Seems they use a bit of oil, I noticed it more when I was able to drive in a more spirited manner abroad and high revs were more common, but not sustained.
Dealer will quote you "BMW does say this engine can use up to a litre of oil every thousand miles..."
-Z- said:
1 litre in 9k miles is very low consumption for a 4 litre, high performance, low friction V8!
My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Yet the 3.2 M54 uses absolutely No oil! My car has stayed at "max" since January 2009. My previous 3.0 Z4 was exactly the same. I'd guess your car has been severely abused... Was it an ex-BMW car- ie possibly a press demonstrator? (It will show up on the V5 as previously owned by BMW Leasing).My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Edited by SittingBull on Monday 14th September 17:10
Mine (also bought from new, now at 20k) uses significantly more than that - have not counted exactly, maybe a litre every 4k, but it does not worry me in the slightest. My consumption has been lower in the second 10k miles than in the first.
I carry a spare can of the expensive recommended 10-60 oil in the boot. As mentioned, far less oil consumed by the E92 M3 than by the E39 M5, even though more than the E46 M3.
I carry a spare can of the expensive recommended 10-60 oil in the boot. As mentioned, far less oil consumed by the E92 M3 than by the E39 M5, even though more than the E46 M3.
Mines about the same, approx 1 litre every 4-5k, cost is insignificant and do the same as above,just keeping a litre in the boot, (suitable elasticated stap to the left seems purpose built for it.), chat on many of the american forums is referencing the running in period and how the engine was treated causing a difference in oil consumption through it's life...
SittingBull said:
-Z- said:
1 litre in 9k miles is very low consumption for a 4 litre, high performance, low friction V8!
My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Yet the 3.2 M54 uses absolutely No oil! My car has stayed at "max" since January 2009. My previous 3.0 Z4 was exactly the same. I'd guess your car has been severely abused... Was it an ex-BMW car- ie possibly a press demonstrator? (It will show up on the V5 as previously owned by BMW Leasing).My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Edited by SittingBull on Monday 14th September 17:10
By the ime you get to 20,000 miles the oil consumption will have gone. This is the joy of using fully synthetic oils, they are so damn slippy the piston rings cannot bed into the bores as quickly as they would with mineral oil so the oil gets past until they are bedded in.
You should have spanked it when you drove it out of the show room with the running in oil, that would have bedded them in straight away. This is the reason the Press cars often seem a tad quicker that the private first owner cars.
You should have spanked it when you drove it out of the show room with the running in oil, that would have bedded them in straight away. This is the reason the Press cars often seem a tad quicker that the private first owner cars.
SittingBull said:
-Z- said:
1 litre in 9k miles is very low consumption for a 4 litre, high performance, low friction V8!
My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Yet the 3.2 M54 uses absolutely No oil! My car has stayed at "max" since January 2009. My previous 3.0 Z4 was exactly the same. I'd guess your car has been severely abused... Was it an ex-BMW car- ie possibly a press demonstrator? (It will show up on the V5 as previously owned by BMW Leasing).My old Civic Type-R used more. My Monaro used to take a litre every 2k miles.
Edited by SittingBull on Monday 14th September 17:10
Your guess is almost certainly without foundation.
I have had mine since new and have added 1.5 litres in 7.5 k miles. I ran it in "respectfully but firmly" mainly at highish motorway speeds, lots of variations in revs and load.
I did exactly the same with my E46 and it used an insignificant amount between services so I had no need to top up at all in 50k miles.
Different engines, same circumstances, different characteristics.
And the electronic oil gauge is distinctly unreliable, which means that people frequently top up needlessly....
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