3.0i Oil Capacity + Expected Consumption

[bearded_ed]

Hiya,

So I know this has been asked a couple of times before but there have been some different answers and all of them surprised me.

Do I really need 6.5l? I bought 6 thinking that'd be more than enough.

Was hoping to do the change tomorrow! If I need more I'll just have to top up for how as the fill light came on. Any idea what's a "normal" amount of oil consumption?

Cheers!

 

[Smartbear]

Hiya,

So I know this has been asked a couple of times before but there have been some different answers and all of them surprised me.

Do I really need 6.5l? I bought 6 thinking that'd be more than enough.

Was hoping to do the change tomorrow! If I need more I'll just have to top up for how as the fill light came on. Any idea what's a "normal" amount of oil consumption?

Cheers!

The oil capacity is 6.5litres, so yes you do need it!
I’ve read that Bmw claim 500miles/litre is acceptable consumption but that’s only to cover their hides while a car’s still under warranty. You wouldn’t want your car to be using anything like that amount
Rob

 

[srhutch]

You can do the change with 6 litres, just add the other half ASAP.

The light comes on when you need to add a litre under normal operation so you are well within this limit.

 

[bearded_ed]

You can do the change with 6 litres, just add the other half ASAP.

The light comes on when you need to add a litre under normal operation so you are well within this limit.

Light = 1L awesome, nice and easy as my "kit" is 5+1L.
Will save the full change for the next weekend I'm off then. Planning to do all fluids!!

 

[bearded_ed]

The oil capacity is 6.5litres, so yes you do need it!
I’ve read that Bmw claim 500miles/litre is acceptable consumption but that’s on,y to cover their hides while a car’s still under warranty. You wouldn’t want your car to be using anything like that amount
Rob

6.5L it is!

You're right, 1L/500miles sounds like a horrifying amount!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Well if you buy 7 litres you'll have 500ml left for topping up!

I had an E46 325ti for a few years, so a 2.5 litre version of the M54 engine your car has. Between 87K and 103K miles when I sold it I only put in 3 litres, so that's about 1L/5,000 miles which seemed OK to me.

 

[Jembo]

My olde 3.0 used to drink around 1 litre every 1500-2000 miles... so I always used to carry a 1 litre in the boot & top it up once used from a 4 litre can.

By contrast, the M doesn’t seem to use a drop

 

[bearded_ed]

Well if you buy 7 litres you'll have 500ml left for topping up!

Well frustratingly, I ordered 6 assuming it'd be enough! Ah well, I'll order another 2L. (using one for top up)