Ooops I read the manual.

A

andicole0

Active member
 Tunbridge Wells
Just checking over the car, having driven it a little bit now, it's already been polished so I thought I'd check the oil. "DO NOT ADD OIL unless the car tells you too" it says in the manual. I press the right button on the dash above the steering wheel and nothing happens, then I read the M supplement manual and it says use the dipstick. Is this correct? that my nice little M doesn't have the neat oil check system or is mine broken, the right button on the dash appears to do nothing.

So far I'm loving this car.

Andi.
 
That process is for the non m, you should also have an M supplement manual. We just use our dipstick to tell if we need oil or not.
 
daz05 said:
That process is for the non m, you should also have an M supplement manual. We just use our dipstick to tell if we need oil or not.
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Yes as I said I looked at the supplement.

However when you add oil, the manuals suggest not to add oil until the warning light comes on - I have never done that before!

Andi.
 
Sorry I misunderstood, seems odd, I would add if it seemed low, waiting for the light seems too late to me. Are you sure the supplement says to wait for the light?
 
daz05 said:
Sorry I misunderstood, seems odd, I would add if it seemed low, waiting for the light seems too late to me. Are you sure the supplement says to wait for the light?
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On a post-2006 non-///M the light comes on when it's used/lost a litre - as I believe there's no dipstick to check manually anyway.

On an ///M the light comes on when it's well below the 'min' level, but we are supposed to check the dipstick regularly.
 
I wouldn't be too surprised if the manual says that as a healthy S54 probably doesn't need topping up between services anyway so you will probably not see any warning light. Is it two stage? I would assume the warning light (amber at least) comes on well before the oil is getting dangerously low on oil. Mine at 77k miles now and still needs no topups between services.

I think that's been a long term recommendation, don't keep on topping up with small amounts of oil. Check often yes of course
 
mmm-five said:
On a non-///M the light comes on when it's used/lost a litre - and there's no dipstick to check manually anyway.
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I garantee you that on M54 engines, there is a dipstick and you can check manually the oil level.
 
Thats odd advise the M54 has a dipstick. Can't speak for the newer engines but it would be very odd to not have a dipstick. Certainly would make oil changes challenging.

I check it every few weeks, 5~10 mins after a journey. Luckily my one doesn't need to be topped up particularly often. Cant say I have ever had the oil warning light on.
 
never had to add anything more than a 'comforting 0.25-0.5l between services from 24-26 then to 48 and 60K, now heading to 70k with no indications.
 
I'm prepared to be challenged, but I think you're supposed to check the S54 oil level (via the dipstick) when it's hot?
 
IIRC the manual suggests you wait to top up oil until level nears 'min' on dipstick, this equates to a litre of oil to bring it back up from 'min' to 'max' on dipstick. Had to top it up once between service intervals so far.
 
On the S54 it is best to keep the oil level near the centre mark on the dipstick. Under hard use, if the oil is at the full mark oil aeration can occur. They definitely should never be over filled: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1737875&postcount=19
 
carl said:
Steve220 said:
Yep, according to the manual you check it after warm.
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Presumably this means it's dry sumped?
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No, dry dumped vehicles have the oil checked when the engine is running. A la Porsche!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
It's 'semi-dry-sumped' :P
BMW in the Z4M's 2005 launch details said:
High-performance lubrication and cooling

To help ensure adequate lubrication under the high cornering, acceleration and braking loads the Z4 M Roadster and Coupe attain, the S54 engine employs a “semi-dry-sump” oiling system. Particularly in hard cornering to the left, it is critical to ensure return of oil to the pan; therefore, integrated into the gear-type pressure pump is a scavenging pump that collects oil from the right side of the small forward oil sump and pumps it back into the main, larger rear sump. This rear sump is almost completely closed off from the rest of the system, and thus able to hold the oil necessary for lubrication throughout the engine. Specific return passages are also incorporated into the intake (left) side of the engine to help ensure ideal oil flow under all operating conditions.
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