Minimum oil level indicator

vdubturbo · 09-07-2012, 09:49 PM

Anyone know how many quarts or liters low you have to be for the light to come on? I've got 6,100 miles on the car and it came on tonight.

m6pwr · 09-07-2012, 11:20 PM

I'd check your Owner's Manual. I have a '12 535 with iDrive and the manual describes the method for checking oil level in the Engine Oil section. Using the controller you go into Vehicle info > Vehicle status > Engine oil level. One of the possible messages you could get is "Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1 quart." You need to do this procedure with the engine warm and running, on a level surface. I would guess it's the same for a '11 535i.

vdubturbo · 09-08-2012, 07:25 AM

Yeah, I'll check the manual this morning but I'm thinking it won't tell you the oil quantity at which the light comes on. Reason I'm curious is b/c I'm trying to find out how much oil it actually burned. Seems like a lot to me.... but you never know. The light could be set to something really conservative, like 1 qt

carlili4190 · 09-08-2012, 09:02 AM

This actually just happened to me too! (I've got a 2011 X3) The car has 7,8xx miles and the light just came on. If you find out why this happened I would be curious to know the answer as well!

m6pwr · 09-08-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

Yeah, I'll check the manual this morning but I'm thinking it won't tell you the oil quantity at which the light comes on. Reason I'm curious is b/c I'm trying to find out how much oil it actually burned. Seems like a lot to me.... but you never know. The light could be set to something really conservative, like 1 qt

You might try clicking on measure engine oil level instead of oil level. It takes about a minute and then you get a picture of a digital dip stick. Take a look at it before and after you add the quart. After you add the quart, check again and if it's at the top of the dipstick, then you'll have an idea of how the dipstick is graduated and you can assume you burnt approx a quart.

Gilgorm · 09-08-2012, 10:34 AM

Pretty sure you should add 1quart/liter when light comes on but you should do as mentioned above and check through iDrive on a flat surface.

RambleJ · 09-08-2012, 10:57 AM

Just happened to me too and I have close to 6k on the odometer. I just added a quart and its been fine.

gtron · 09-08-2012, 12:52 PM

1 quart. it's normal.

vdubturbo · 09-08-2012, 01:18 PM

I had an appt at the dealer for something else this morning. They added it for me and I asked her about the consumption and she said it was "normal". Eh, whatever. I would have done it myself had I not already been heading to the dealer 8 hrs later.

09-07-2012, 09:49 PM	#1
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Minimum oil level indicator Anyone know how many quarts or liters low you have to be for the light to come on? I've got 6,100 miles on the car and it came on tonight.
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09-07-2012, 11:20 PM	#2
m6pwr First Lieutenant 38 Rep 374 Posts Drives: '14 335i M sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	I'd check your Owner's Manual. I have a '12 535 with iDrive and the manual describes the method for checking oil level in the Engine Oil section. Using the controller you go into Vehicle info > Vehicle status > Engine oil level. One of the possible messages you could get is "Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1 quart." You need to do this procedure with the engine warm and running, on a level surface. I would guess it's the same for a '11 535i. __________________ '14 328d, '13 M3 ZCP, '12 535i, '11 335d, '09 Z4 DINAN Stage II, '05 330i ZHP, '05 M3 ZCP, '02 M3, '91 328i, '90 535i, '88 528e, '88 M5, '87 M6, '95 Z3, 95 M3, '93 M5, '87 325e, '89 535i, '86 635i, '73 Bavaria.
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09-08-2012, 07:25 AM	#3
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Yeah, I'll check the manual this morning but I'm thinking it won't tell you the oil quantity at which the light comes on. Reason I'm curious is b/c I'm trying to find out how much oil it actually burned. Seems like a lot to me.... but you never know. The light could be set to something really conservative, like 1 qt
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09-08-2012, 09:02 AM	#4
carlili4190 Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 07 Nissan 350Z, 11 BMW X3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lincoln Park iTrader: (0)	This actually just happened to me too! (I've got a 2011 X3) The car has 7,8xx miles and the light just came on. If you find out why this happened I would be curious to know the answer as well!
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09-08-2012, 10:34 AM	#6
Gilgorm Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 2018 640i Xdrive GT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Pretty sure you should add 1quart/liter when light comes on but you should do as mentioned above and check through iDrive on a flat surface. __________________ 2018 640ix GT; Alpine White, Blk Nappa, Piano; M-sport, Premium (Ceramic, SIRIUS, Soft-close, Vent/Massage Comfort seats, Surround, Sunshades, Parking Ass't), Advanced Driver Ass't (Lane keep, Steering/Lane control, Cross traffic, ACC with Stop/Go), Smartphone, Tint. Retired: 78 300D, 81 300SD, 87 190E, 88 Porsche 924, 89 260E, 93 300E, 97 Volvo 850, 98 E320, 03 BMW 325iT, 02 C230 Sport Coupe, 08 BMW 535i, 12 BMW 535i X-drive
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09-08-2012, 10:57 AM	#7
RambleJ Colonel 60 Rep 2,014 Posts Drives: F10 535i M-sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Back in teh so cal iTrader: (2)	Just happened to me too and I have close to 6k on the odometer. I just added a quart and its been fine.
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09-08-2012, 12:52 PM	#8
gtron powerhouse 708 Rep 1,628 Posts Drives: 2014 Porsche 981 CS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 Mercedes C450 AMG [10.00] 2016 Lexus RC 200t [0.00] 2014 Porsche [9.50] 2012 550i M-Sport [7.86]	1 quart. it's normal. __________________ no signature. except for this one.
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09-08-2012, 01:18 PM	#9
vdubturbo Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 299 Posts Drives: E90, E36, 997 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	I had an appt at the dealer for something else this morning. They added it for me and I asked her about the consumption and she said it was "normal". Eh, whatever. I would have done it myself had I not already been heading to the dealer 8 hrs later.
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