[thenew3]

Was driving home late last night and suddenly got a pop up warning about oil level unknown and to drive moderately.

I pulled off the highway and tried to measure oil, it would get to about 55% progress then stop measuring.
Tried it a few times and it kept doing the same. Shut the car off, locked it, walked away to get the kids something to eat, came back 20 minutes later hoping it would reset itself but it still had the same.

So we continued driving the remaining 150 miles home, keeping engine rpms below 3k, (most of the time below 2k).
Tried to measure it again when I get home and it still stops at 55% progress.

Anyone seen this before? Any way to reset/fix it without a dealer trip?

Car was at dealer last month for an oil change. I wonder if they under or over filled it.

I check oil level weekly and last week it was fine showing level at full.

Thanks!

Oil level measurement

[jmciver]

Well, barring you seeing any oil spots under your X7 parking spot at your house and/or work, I will speculate you have a faulty oil level sensor. While theoretically possible, I doubt the dealer under filled your X7 - or did not tighten the drain plug - as the X7 would have warned you right away (and the BMW factory oil service procedure requires a level check once complete). That said, stranger things have happened at the dealer before. But either way you are covered so I would take it back to the dealer sooner rather than later to get it checked. Lack of a dipstick makes it almost impossible to check your oil level (outside of a drain and re-fill) and you don't want to be driving around with oil level at 55% (even though that is unlikely your situation here).

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Well, barring you seeing any oil spots under your X7 parking spot at your house and/or work, I will speculate you have a faulty oil level sensor. While theoretically possible, I doubt the dealer under filled your X7 - or did not tighten the drain plug - as the X7 would have warned you right away (and the BMW factory oil service procedure requires a level check once complete). That said, stranger things have happened at the dealer before. But either way you are covered so I would take it back to the dealer sooner rather than later to get it checked. Lack of a dipstick makes it almost impossible to check your oil level (outside of a drain and re-fill) and you don't want to be driving around with oil level at 55% (even though that is unlikely your situation here).

Ok so it's not oil level at 55%, it's the oil measuring progress hits 55% then stops (see video link in original message).
I had checked the oil level just a week ago and it was at max. I check oil level weekly, and it's been 5 weeks since the oil change so I've checked it 5 times and it's always shown full.

There are no oil spots in my garage.

Trying to get an appt with the dealer, been on hold for 1.5 hours and still haven't been able to speak to a live person yet.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Ok so it's not oil level at 55%, it's the oil measuring progress hits 55% then stops (see video link in original message).
I had checked the oil level just a week ago and it was at max. I check oil level weekly, and it's been 5 weeks since the oil change so I've checked it 5 times and it's always shown full.

There are no oil spots in my garage.

Trying to get an appt with the dealer, been on hold for 1.5 hours and still haven't been able to speak to a live person yet.

Making me feel inadequate against your weekly checks. You may be wiping off more oil the car would consume.

This certainly makes me feel good about my small-town servicing dealer, though. I could email, text, or call my SA at will. If I had to wait at all I would have thought about switching brands more seriously.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

Making me feel inadequate against your weekly checks. You may be wiping off more oil the car would consume.

This certainly makes me feel good about my small-town servicing dealer, though. I could email, text, or call my SA at will. If I had to wait at all I would have thought about switching brands more seriously.

Not sure how weekly checks of oil level in idrive would wipe off oil. I'm just in the habit of frequent oil checks because my wife's X3 sometimes will burn oil like crazy and I have to fill it once a week.

I live in a relatively small town as well. The next closest BMW dealer is nearly an hour away. And for one reason or another, the ratio of BMW/MB to other brands is extremely high in the surrounding towns. Local BMW dealer is bigger and busier than the local ford/honda/toyota dealers. Plus apparently many of the local BMW dealer's staff is taking vacation during the summer and the usual Monday morning rush. I was finally able to speak to someone after over 1.5 hours on hold. They can't see me till Friday but they don't think I need to park the car as the warning only said to drive moderately and not to shut the car off.

I wish BMW would bring back the dipstick! That is one fail proof way to check engine oil level.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Not sure how weekly checks of oil level in idrive would wipe off oil.

I live in a relatively small town as well. The next closest BMW dealer is nearly an hour away. And for one reason or another, the ratio of BMW/MB to other brands is extremely high in the surrounding towns. Local BMW dealer is bigger and busier than the local ford/honda/toyota dealers. Plus apparently many of the local BMW dealer's staff is taking vacation during the summer and the usual Monday morning rush. I was finally able to speak to someone after over 1.5 hours on hold. They can't see me till Friday but they don't think I need to park the car as the warning only said to drive moderately and not to shut the car off.

Ah, thought you were manually checking the oil somehow. I still have yet to use the feature in iDrive, I figure it's just some ambiguous range at best and trust it will tell me if it needs something.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

Ah, thought you were manually checking the oil somehow. I still have yet to use the feature in iDrive, I figure it's just some ambiguous range at best and trust it will tell me if it needs something.

I wish manually checking was still possible. I haven't had a BMW that had a dipstick in over 10 years.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by thenew3

I wish manually checking was still possible. I haven't had a BMW that had a dipstick in over 10 years.

I saw a reference to a mechanical gauge a dealer had to order to measure the level manually when I searched for your error initially. I'm not sure if that's referring to an external pressure gauge, or something else.

[mitch57]

With all the oil consumption issues with the previous generation V8 engines BMW finally woke up and smelled the coffee. They put a dipstick on the V8 engines but not on the inline 6 engines.

So, in reality, BMW only woke up and smelled the coffee but failed to get out of bed and actually drink the coffee. Talk about pinching pennies! What does it cost to put in dipstick tube and a dipstick? Next to nothing.

BMW seems to like skimping on the important things in lieu of nice to have frivolous options.

As much as I love my X7 all of these little dumb ass things that BMW engineers/designers do give me pause to purchasing another BMW. Especially with the new designs they are coming out with. Just plain BUTT UGLY!

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by mitch57

With all the oil consumption issues with the previous generation V8 engines BMW finally woke up and smelled the coffee. They put a dipstick on the V8 engines but not on the inline 6 engines.

So, in reality, BMW only woke up and smelled the coffee but failed to get out of bed and actually drink the coffee. Talk about pinching pennies! What does it cost to put in dipstick tube and a dipstick? Next to nothing.

BMW seems to like skimping on the important things in lieu of nice to have frivolous options.

As much as I love my X7 all of these little dumb ass things that BMW engineers/designers do give me pause to purchasing another BMW. Especially with the new designs they are coming out with. Just plain BUTT UGLY!

Agree! I would gladly pay the few $ more for a dipstick!

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by thenew3

I wish manually checking was still possible. I haven't had a BMW that had a dipstick in over 10 years.

BMW offers them but at a price point of a vehicle north of $107k. Apparently $85k doesn’t deserve such opulent amenities like a dipstick.


Here is what you get. I will say I did check it after my last big road trip and couldn’t detect any oil loss.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by mitch57

With all the oil consumption issues with the previous generation V8 engines BMW finally woke up and smelled the coffee. They put a dipstick on the V8 engines but not on the inline 6 engines.

The S63 V8 engines in the latest M (M5, M8, X5M, X6M) vehicles still don't have an oil level dipstick.

[thenew3]

Heard back from the dealer. They have no idea what's wrong. They said oil is full, nothing wrong with sensor or wiring.
They are keeping the car and will open a support case with BMWUSA on Monday.
Hopefully they can get it figured out and fixed by mid next week as I've got a family road trip coming up end of next week and the kids and gear won't fit in the loaner X3.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Heard back from the dealer. They have no idea what's wrong. They said oil is full, nothing wrong with sensor or wiring.
They are keeping the car and will open a support case with BMWUSA on Monday.
Hopefully they can get it figured out and fixed by mid next week as I've got a family road trip coming up end of next week and the kids and gear won't fit in the loaner X3.

Did they replace the sensor or do a software update for the X7? Sometimes the modules in these cars can get a "glitch" that an update or reset/reboot can fix, like for your phone or computer. As far as the oil level sensor failing, while not that common, it can and does happen in these cars. It is not uncommon for a sensor to test fine (and look fine), but have an internal material defect that causes a slow/intermittent failure.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Heard back from the dealer. They have no idea what's wrong. They said oil is full, nothing wrong with sensor or wiring.
They are keeping the car and will open a support case with BMWUSA on Monday.
Hopefully they can get it figured out and fixed by mid next week as I've got a family road trip coming up end of next week and the kids and gear won't fit in the loaner X3.

As long as it has oil in it is all that matters. Everything else is just sensors for measuring. If the sensor is intermittent, it’s just more annoying and aggravating than anything. The actual health of the engine will be just fine on a long trip.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Did they replace the sensor or do a software update for the X7? Sometimes the modules in these cars can get a "glitch" that an update or reset/reboot can fix, like for your phone or computer. As far as the oil level sensor failing, while not that common, it can and does happen in these cars. It is not uncommon for a sensor to test fine (and look fine), but have an internal material defect that causes a slow/intermittent failure.

It was in the shop last month for oil change and some other issues where they ended up updating all the software in the car.

When the issue first started last Saturday night, it popped up oil level unknown but would let me run the oil measurement but it would reach 55% progress and end.
Then this week it won't even let me measure oil at all. the start measurement button is greyed out.

They think it's a software issue and have opened a case with BMWUSA. They said they hope to hear back Monday on a work around or solution.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

As long as it has oil in it is all that matters. Everything else is just sensors for measuring. If the sensor is intermittent, it’s just more annoying and aggravating than anything. The actual health of the engine will be just fine on a long trip.

It's not intermittent, started last Saturday night while I was on the highway, it popped up an oil level unknown message. I pulled over to check oil and it would get to 55% progress then stop measurement. This week it won't let me measure it at all (start measurement is greyed out).
It pops up warning every time car is started now.

They said they checked the oil and it is full (not sure how they were able to do that since it doesn't have a dip stick).

[gsobol]

I think jmciver is right, it looks like a ECU glitch. If sensor and wiring is fine, the only issue most probable is software related. Hopefully the dealer can just flush the software and that will clear it up - unless there is something screwy with the ECU itself - that will require a new one.

Ahh, you are in CA, I think you should abandon your BMW wherever it's sitting now and run to your closest Tesla location ....

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by gsobol

I think jmciver is right, it looks like a ECU glitch. If sensor and wiring is fine, the only issue most probable is software related. Hopefully the dealer can just flush the software and that will clear it up - unless there is something screwy with the ECU itself - that will require a new one.

Ahh, you are in CA, I think you should abandon your BMW wherever it's sitting now and run to your closest Tesla location ....

I wonder if it's something in the 03/2021.57 software. That was installed a month ago.

Have to wait till Monday to see what BMW usa says.

As far as Tesla, wife would kick me out of the house if I bought a Tesla. She absolutely hates them.
I know several current and former Tesla owners, they would not recommend them either.
Plus the cost of electricity here in CA is so high, it doesn't really save much compared to our high gas prices. And Tesla doesn't have anything in the size of the X7.

[thenew3]

Mystery continues. So BMWUSA told the dealer to replace the oil level sensor anyway. Part was ordered yesterday, installed this morning. Still get the same error. BMWUSA says no new software available, and apparently re-flashing the same version software didn't resolve issue either.
Hopefully the get it figured out soon. Got a road trip coming this weekend and our stuff will not fit in the loaner x3.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by thenew3

Mystery continues. So BMWUSA told the dealer to replace the oil level sensor anyway. Part was ordered yesterday, installed this morning. Still get the same error. BMWUSA says no new software available, and apparently re-flashing the same version software didn't resolve issue either.
Hopefully the get it figured out soon. Got a road trip coming this weekend and our stuff will not fit in the loaner x3.

Dealers in my area put a cap on mileage for loaner vehicles not to exceed 100 miles per day. You might want to check your loaner paperwork before you make that road trip in a loaner vehicle.

If your dealer doesn't have a problem with you making a road trip in the loaner vehicle maybe you could ask nicely for a larger vehicle if you have to use a loaner vehicle.

Good luck and I sincerely hope they resolve the issue before you head out on your road trip.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Dealers in my area put a cap on mileage for loaner vehicles not to exceed 100 miles per day. You might want to check your loaner paperwork before you make that road trip in a loaner vehicle.

If your dealer doesn't have a problem with you making a road trip in the loaner vehicle maybe you could ask nicely for a larger vehicle if you have to use a loaner vehicle.

Good luck and I sincerely hope they resolve the issue before you head out on your road trip.

I told them about my road trip when I dropped it off last week. They said if they can't get it fixed before my trip that they would not hold the mileage or extra days against me. (they require the return of loaner within 24 hours of being notified of completion of repairs otherwise it's $90/day rental fee).
The gal that normally handles loaners was out on vacation last week when I dropped off my car. If dealer won't have my car ready by end of tomorrow, I plan to give the lady a call to have her get me the X5 they loaned me last month (that's the biggest loaner they have). She has been very nice to me the last 6 years we've done business with them.