[northcountry]

So I've been driving for 4500 miles so far and check the oil level indicator about every time I drive. It has always been right on the max fill mark - right down to the very pixel. So much the same that I wondered whether it was actually measuring anything. Well, this weekend I checked and it shows about a fourth quart low (one fourth of the way from max to min). Maybe not a big deal but it seems to have happened overnight. Almost as if it just now started measuring. I've watched it since and don't think its moved. Anyone else? I'm also not sure how the thing measures oil level because it only works after youve been driving for some time. Can anyone explain how it works?

[segfault]

I am 99% sure it is not measuring the oil level "to the pixel." I don't think it's that accurate. I'm guessing the sensor has a range of outputs indicating 1/4 quart low, 1/2 qt. low, 3/4 qt. low, and 1 qt. low.

Edit: I'm at 4000 miles and still show a full oil level.

[E90Fleet]

BMW dont say exactly how the sensor works

except that for a accurate reading you have to have a engine temp above 60'C, rpm above 1000RPM and transverse andd longitudinal acceleration greater than 4m/s2

It takes about 5min to update the indicator the first time, and the indicator is then updated every 20min, but the system monitores it continuously

It also seems that it goes down per block, not per pixel, as said before

[The_MGC]

I have a stupid question but how do you see the oil level indicator ???

I have looked in the book but found nothing about it !

[Tierfreund]

It´s in the book. Look again.

[Broken1]

Originally Posted by The_MGC

I have a stupid question but how do you see the oil level indicator ???

I have looked in the book but found nothing about it !

There is no oil level sensor on diesel cars (if you maybe have a diesel car) - we still have a trusty old dipstick!

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by The_MGC

I have a stupid question but how do you see the oil level indicator ???

I have looked in the book but found nothing about it !

What car doe you have ?

Do you have Idrive or not ?

[The_MGC]

Thanks a lot, In fact I have a diesel car with a good old dipstick !!! :-)

[Broken1]

hehe :-)

Enjoy driving it!

[gr8sho]

Originally Posted by segfault

I am 99% sure it is not measuring the oil level "to the pixel." I don't think it's that accurate. I'm guessing the sensor has a range of outputs indicating 1/4 quart low, 1/2 qt. low, 3/4 qt. low, and 1 qt. low.

Edit: I'm at 4000 miles and still show a full oil level.

One thing that's interesting about this setup over traditional dipstick is that the BC really needs the engine to be warmed up to deliver a reading whereas with conventional setup you read the oil with engine cold.

Anyway, what is the longest anyone has gone before the reading starts going down? I have 3200 miles and still reads max. Has anyone made it to the full 15000 mile milestone with a full reading?

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by gr8sho

One thing that's interesting about this setup over traditional dipstick is that the BC really needs the engine to be warmed up to deliver a reading whereas with conventional setup you read the oil with engine cold.

Anyway, what is the longest anyone has gone before the reading starts going down? I have 3200 miles and still reads max. Has anyone made it to the full 15000 mile milestone with a full reading?

FYI..With the E46, oil was measured at operating temp but was given about 5 mins to drain back into the pan once engine was turned off.

[Oz]

My car only had one bar of oil left after 4500 miles. I went to the dealer and my salesman filled it up and gave me an extra quart in case I need it. He told me it's normal and it took a while for a the car to measure the oil after putting a new quart...

[gr8sho]

Originally Posted by Oz

My car only had one bar of oil left after 4500 miles. I went to the dealer and my salesman filled it up and gave me an extra quart in case I need it. He told me it's normal and it took a while for a the car to measure the oil after putting a new quart...

Did you follow the recommended break-in? Do you redline your car a lot? Also, did you notice if the consumption was gradual or all at once.

[TheEvilandCharismaticMr.X]

I recently needed to add a quart last week at around 8600 miles - mix of normal driving and revving up the engine...
The indicator would have never been at max unless there was too much oil in the engine.
Brand new - my oil level was in the middle.

Got the first oil low indicator around 7k, but it was intermittent and it only showed up 2 more times betweekn 7k and 8500, and that was only after driving the car especially hard, so driving style is a factor.

Once I got the warning chime everytime I drove after 1 day i went and got 1qt of oil added.

I'm leaving it up to the car & bmw reccomendations on the oil - tho i hadn't planned on keeping the car outside of warranty

[ben1364]

The electronic oil level sensor is another BMW answer to a question that wasn't asked. It's another case of BMW and DB trying to out gadget the other. I'm glad to hear that current BMW diesel fuel vehicles still have conventional dipsticks.

[gr8sho]

Originally Posted by TheEvilandCharismaticMr.X

I recently needed to add a quart last week at around 8600 miles - mix of normal driving and revving up the engine...
The indicator would have never been at max unless there was too much oil in the engine.
Brand new - my oil level was in the middle.

Got the first oil low indicator around 7k, but it was intermittent and it only showed up 2 more times betweekn 7k and 8500, and that was only after driving the car especially hard, so driving style is a factor.

Once I got the warning chime everytime I drove after 1 day i went and got 1qt of oil added.

I'm leaving it up to the car & bmw reccomendations on the oil - tho i hadn't planned on keeping the car outside of warranty

This is only FYI. When my car was delivered, it read at MAX. Now at 5600 miles, the first sign of consumption with it going down a quarter of the meter which i read as one quarter of a quart of oil down. The one year anniversay will be in 3 months at which time I am to get my oil changed by the dealer. I suspect I will not need to add any by then, but we'll see if the consumption is linear or not.

[jc777]

I changed my oil at 7500 Miles. The indicator was still showing full.

Originally Posted by gr8sho

One thing that's interesting about this setup over traditional dipstick is that the BC really needs the engine to be warmed up to deliver a reading whereas with conventional setup you read the oil with engine cold.

Anyway, what is the longest anyone has gone before the reading starts going down? I have 3200 miles and still reads max. Has anyone made it to the full 15000 mile milestone with a full reading?

[billgti]

both my coworker and i have a 330 and we both got the +1 quart warning at around 11K miles. the meter only goes down 1/4 at a time. make sure when u do top it off, only add as much as the computer tells u to. i added half a quart at first to be safe..after 5 mins of driving, the meter still showed "+1 quart". about 10 more mins later the meter finally jumped to "half".

[alpinewhite3]

This happened to me at around 3,200 miles. But i floor the car apprx 10-15 times a day. It's normal, the engine is just burning oil. The car drove and performed exactly the same. I recommend getting an oil change soon. I got one 800 miles later and it is now back to full...lol but for how long...