F15 50i Oil Level

[AychShake]

Hi All,

My engine oil measurement showed between min and Max. I added a 1/2 quart and the oil level didn't change after driving it about 15km. Came home and added another 1/2 quart and this time drove it about 20km.

The oil indicator is still between min and Max and I don't really want to add anymore oil. Is this normal or should I add a little bit more?

[hufington]

Leave it be. She'll let you know if she needs a quart of oil and you;ll have enough time to add.

[AychShake]

Originally Posted by hufington

Leave it be. She'll let you know if she needs a quart of oil and you;ll have enough time to add.

Yeh fair enough...will do!

One thing after another though. She's smells like she's running super rich with the exhaust fumes coming out when parked. Spark plugs being changed shortly so let's see if that makes a difference.

[MizikeTSK]

Did you remeasure the oil after topping off or just checked the levels? I topped off before without remeasuring thinking it will adjust as I drive which of course did not until I remeasured.

[AychShake]

Originally Posted by MizikeTSK

Did you remeasure the oil after topping off or just checked the levels? I topped off before without remeasuring thinking it will adjust as I drive which of course did not until I remeasured.

Yup, I remeasured the levels. I got it up to max but it ended up taking 1.75qt which is massive for only covering about 1700km

[MizikeTSK]

Originally Posted by AychShake

Yup, I remeasured the levels. I got it up to max but it ended up taking 1.75qt which is massive for only covering about 1700km

I think the top off/warning light goes off when it's a minimum 2 qt's low. I agree, I was around the same mileage range and after replacing pretty much all my gaskets/seals/plugs& coil packs/Turbo's it looks like I am getting much better mileage. It's been a few thousand miles since I had the coils,plugs and Turbo's replaced and no top off light yet. All the repairs were covered under warranty. I did a final inspection before CPO expired and gave them a laundry list of things that I complained about or wanted then to look at. Oil consumption was the main thing since I took ownership and well documented. I think the next thing they would have done was replace the whole engine, lol.

[AychShake]

Originally Posted by MizikeTSK

I think the top off/warning light goes off when it's a minimum 2 qt's low. I agree, I was around the same mileage range and after replacing pretty much all my gaskets/seals/plugs& coil packs/Turbo's it looks like I am getting much better mileage. It's been a few thousand miles since I had the coils,plugs and Turbo's replaced and no top off light yet. All the repairs were covered under warranty. I did a final inspection before CPO expired and gave them a laundry list of things that I complained about or wanted then to look at. Oil consumption was the main thing since I took ownership and well documented. I think the next thing they would have done was replace the whole engine, lol.

Ahhhhh crap. I'm really hoping I don't need to replace the turbos. I have a 3rd party warranty which covers them but only for $7,000 aud and I'm sure that's not going to be enough! Seals and gaskets aren't covered though so that's going to be fun.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by AychShake

The oil indicator is still between min and Max and I don't really want to add anymore oil. Is this normal or should I add a little bit more?

It's really only necessary to add oil when the level is below the MIN level...but it’s understandable how one would want it to be at the MAX level.

The info below is from the BMW TIS in regards to approx oil levels:

[MizikeTSK]

Originally Posted by AychShake

Ahhhhh crap. I'm really hoping I don't need to replace the turbos. I have a 3rd party warranty which covers them but only for $7,000 aud and I'm sure that's not going to be enough! Seals and gaskets aren't covered though so that's going to be fun.

To be honestly I don't even know if Turbo replacement or the new coils/plugs did the trick since they were both done at the same time.

[ponytuning]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

It's really only necessary to add oil when the level is below the MIN level...but it’s understandable how one would want it to be at the MAX level.

The info below is from the BMW TIS in regards to approx oil levels:

A word of caution, don't wait for the car to alert you when it's low on oil! I did a reading just out of curiosity only to find that I was low on oil. Who knows for how long I've been running like that and the car didn't tell me about it. Also note, it told me to add 2qt of oil.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by ponytuning

A word of caution, don't wait for the car to alert you when it's low on oil! .

I definitely agree with that statement. But in my defense, AychShake had already checked his oil and it was in-between the MIN & MAX levels. My post was about should he add oil or not (at that point). I didn't say he should wait until the check control warning came on to add oil.

[ponytuning]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I definitely agree with that statement. But in my defense, AychShake had already checked his oil and it was in-between the MIN & MAX levels. My post was about should he add oil or not (at that point). I didn't say he should wait until the check control warning came on to add oil.

Yeah, this wasn't aimed at you, just thought it was unsettling and not very known
More so when BMW is telling us to trust the condition based service system for everything. i'm so paranoid now that I don't even trust the accuracy of the electronic oil probe.

[CT335xi]

Originally Posted by ponytuning

Yeah, this wasn't aimed at you, just thought it was unsettling and not very known
More so when BMW is telling us to trust the condition based service system for everything. i'm so paranoid now that I don't even trust the accuracy of the electronic oil probe.

I agree with you I always check mine every couple weeks or so just to see where the level is, so far so good since my last oil change as I have gone a little over 2k miles and still at max !!

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by ponytuning

Yeah, this wasn't aimed at you, just thought it was unsettling and not very known
More so when BMW is telling us to trust the condition based service system for everything. i'm so paranoid now that I don't even trust the accuracy of the electronic oil probe.

Also... thanks for posting that pic with the text that says “add 2 quarts”. I definitely have added a card in my mental Rolodex to keep checking my f15 X5. I just got it back in July..but my 2013 F06 650 has the CIC and it doesn’t say add 2 quarts when it reaches the min level. I wonder if the “add 2 quarts” is something the NBT iDrive system incorporated?

[ponytuning]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Also... thanks for posting that pic with the text that says “add 2 quarts”. I definitely have added a card in my mental Rolodex to keep checking my f15 X5. I just got it back in July..but my 2013 F06 650 has the CIC and it doesn’t say add 2 quarts when it reaches the min level. I wonder if the “add 2 quarts” is something the NBT iDrive system incorporated?

Glad it helps this is the second time I'm posting it actually. As it happens I'm taking a 2900 mile trip in my x6 50i right now fom Oregon to Colorado and back and oil level is at three quarters after ~1500 miles of driving. Oil was changed before the trip and I'm checking it every 500 miles. To be on the safe side I packed 4 quarts of oil
I really love this car, really smooth comfortable very quick cruiser. My mpg now averages 17.9 mostly highway miles at 80mph (was between 15-16mph of Oregon driving at 25-60 mph )

[Qsilver7]

Have a safe & successful trip. Having the 4 quarts of oil is smart...hopefully you won't need to use all of them.

[ponytuning]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Have a safe & successful trip. Having the 4 quarts of oil is smart...hopefully you won't need to use all of them.

Thanks just got home from what ended to be a 3100 mile trip and the oil level is between min and max so I didn't have to add anything.
The car performed exceptionally, but I did end up with a windshield stone chip along the way which I tried to fix myself using permatex repair kit but didn't succeed.
It's under 1 inch though and with the horror stories about getting it replaced through insurance (I have windshield protection through progressive) I may postpone it until it becomes more serious/spreads.