BMW's with no dipstick, how do you approach topping up?

[eltax91]

Hi guys

I have just picked up a 530i (e61) as a daily hack, and iDrive now shows that the car is one 'dash' of oil from the max. The previous owner said it used a touch so I'm not worried, but.... What about these cars without a dipstick?

Some will say of course that the dipstick is missing from my car when I'm not in it.;) however, how does one know how much to put in for one 'dash' on iDrive?

Is it a case of half a litre at a time and check the screen, or can it be measured easier? Seems fking batst stupid to not have a dipstick to me!

I guess its irrelevant at oil change time as I stick the nominated amount in that its meant to hold?

Jeez, this car is too clever for its own good

[eltax91]

premio said:

I've got this on my Z4 and when the indicator on I drive drops the first segment I add 1/4 litre and this puts it back to being displayed as full.

Thanks. Is yours the same engine as mine? Just realised I had a mind fk for a second, I bought a 525i!

[eltax91]

stevesuk said:

With our E91, we were told that when the yellow oil warning light appears, it means the car would like 1 litre of oil.

I never normally check iDrive until then, but when I do, putting in 1L of oil at that point always seems to restore the level to max.

Of course, this is fine all the time the various sensors are working properly :-)

I see. So, the amount from 'min' to 'max' is on litre, which is pretty similar to every car I've ever owned with a dipstick! So, by that measure, its 1/4 litre per 'bar' on iDrive. ste design.