HAS ANYONE COME OUT WITH A MANUAL DIPSTICK YET?

B

baloo

Member
It's been a while since I've had any problems with my '07 Z4 coupe 3.0si, so I haven't been on the forum for a while, so I'm out of date.

HOWEVER, is it at all possible that someone has come out with a conversion kit to install a manual dipstick on the engine?? Certainly someone has a bolt on kit, right?

I know I echo many DIY mechanics who want the reliability of being able to check a dipstick for reassurance that the electronic sensor is correct.

Anyone know of a solution to my "problem?"

Thanks.
 
i have not heard of 1, but i would certainly fit 1 if it was available

electronic dip stick :thumbsdown: :headbang:
 
I'm guessing BMW haven't even put a blanking plate in the block so there is no chance of adding one.
 
As many of you have noted, relying on an electronic module is fraught with problems, like our economy's "cliff": it's not a matter of "if", but "when."

Noticed that the mentality between "I look for the yellow light" and "I need to see the actual level" tends to be the discriminator between the "waxers and the polishers" versus the "cam changers and tuners."

If the M has a dipstick, I guess it's intended for the more serious car buffs who delve into their engines, huh?

Is the difference between M and non-M engines a matter of compression, cams, injectors and porting, etc., OR is the M engine a completely different entity? In other words, if the same crankcase is used, then it might be possible that a change in oil pan might be a solution?
 
The M engine blocks are good ole cast iron. The N52 in my 3.0si is Magnesium and aluminum.
 
bigdog said:
The M engine blocks are good ole cast iron. The N52 in my 3.0si is Magnesium and aluminum.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Are the iron and Mg/Al cases of the same mold?
BTW, Mag and Alum? very classy.
 
It's certainly light weight. But. The Mg/Al mix does have a drawback. The Mg parts are unable to withstand much pressure. So no turbo/superchargers allowed. So your pretty much stuck with the factory setup for HP. You can tweek through chip tuning. But nothing big like you can with the iron set up. I think there is one M owner here that has a SC setup. At I believe 500HP :o

I can't say whether the blocks are the same pattern or not though.
 
A little chuckle - years ago my Dads car had a crank handle to start it (early Moggie 1000). When they brought out electric start cars he said it would never work - 'New fangled electric stuff aint reliable.' But here we are many years on and who would want to go back to a crank handle start. Many other examples on cars carburettors to fuel injection, ABS systems and so it goes on.

So go with the flow accept modern technology live with the oil fill light. Certainly an aftermarket kit would require significant modification to the engine block to fit. :P
 
Agree +1!

If your a technophobe I think the lack of dipstick will be the least of your worries!! The car is riddled with sensors and they have more than one computer module running the car these days also! :P
 
If the electronic dipstick breaks down after the warranty period and a leak ends up burning out your engine, I'm sure one has a solid legal case against BMW for not giving the owner any reasonable options to have prevented it...
 
AlanJ said:
A little chuckle - years ago my Dads car had a crank handle to start it (early Moggie 1000). When they brought out electric start cars he said it would never work - 'New fangled electric stuff aint reliable.' But here we are many years on and who would want to go back to a crank handle start. Many other examples on cars carburettors to fuel injection, ABS systems and so it goes on.

So go with the flow accept modern technology live with the oil fill light. Certainly an aftermarket kit would require significant modification to the engine block to fit. :P
Click to expand...

Does this imply manual gear boxs are soon to be a thing of the past
 
AlanJ said:
A little chuckle - years ago my Dads car had a crank handle to start it (early Moggie 1000). When they brought out electric start cars he said it would never work - 'New fangled electric stuff aint reliable.' But here we are many years on and who would want to go back to a crank handle start. Many other examples on cars carburettors to fuel injection, ABS systems and so it goes on.

So go with the flow accept modern technology live with the oil fill light. Certainly an aftermarket kit would require significant modification to the engine block to fit. :P
Click to expand...

Alan,
A good parallel, and you're probably correct -- old fuddie-duddie clinging to past concepts. I might, however, point out in the case of the electric starter that there was always the push-start alternative when the electric starter failed. Not as awkward and tedious as guessing oil levels.

I think what worries me about the electric oil level sensor is my ignorance about where it is tied into the car's overall circuitry. Which modules' failures could also cause the sensor to fail?

For instance, I changed out the Z's battery, and need to register the new battery (I'm awaiting the cables/software). As a result, the heat/AC blower does not work, the NAV screen is in the half-closed position, and the oil level indicator does not appear -- and quite possibly other things that I have not noticed. I found this out when I just changed the oil.

I saw in a previous post on this topic that the factory solution is to get the car up on the rack and dump out the oil and measure the volume -- and then pour it back into the engine.
 
Taz x said:
Does this imply manual gear boxs are soon to be a thing of the past
Click to expand...

Taz,
I have noticed your thing about automatics vs manual gear boxes, and your present preference for autos.
Darn right, except I rarely say it in public. It was about 20 years ago, AFTER driving stick shifts for 20 previous years, that I suddenly had the epiphany that sticks bees stupid. Happened when I had to commute in city traffic everyday. What a PITA.

And then I found out that most top-end quarter mile dragsters used 2 speed automatic trannies, because no human can reliably and consistently shift faster manually than an automatic.

May be that my being stuck on a dipstick is the same as others being stuck having a manual gearbox....
 
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