To dipstick or not to dipsick? That is the question.

S

strugglinauthor

Member
This may have been discussed previously (I'm sure it has!) but it occurred to me today that in terms of making sure my car has the correct amount of oil, I am wholly reliant on a sensor buried deep in the engine and an on-board computer. I'm not saying BMW electrics aren't reliable but like a lot of people I've experienced gremlins. As I understand it - and correct me if I'm wrong - there's no straightforward physical way for an owner to check the oil level. So, if a sensor tells you everything is fine and the engine runs dry and seizes, will BMW pay out - no questions, no quibble? With the cost of these engines somehow I doubt it.

Moreover has any unfortunate soul had to put this to the test?
 
Hello

Yes I must agree as well, it is irritating that you can not measure the oil the old manual method .. but also I have noticed both our minis have no dip stick either ? must be the current trend with modern engines perhaps
 
Taz said:
when i first go my car i spent a day trying to find the dipstick :thumbsdown: :headbang:
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I know the feeling. Felt a right idiot when I phoned the garage to ask where it was
 
With such a high performance engine I can't understand BMW not having a dipstick. :o :?

I'm a 'belt and braces' man myself so give me the reassurance of a visual check :(

:driving: :thumbsup:
 
From memory it had to be removed, something to do with the way the engine works. Could be bollocks though. But as other BMW engines still have them guessing it's true.
 
srhutch said:
From memory it had to be removed, something to do with the way the engine works. Could be bollocks though. But as other BMW engines still have them guessing it's true.
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Interesting. If this is the case then I'd have to assume that BMW would play fair in the unlikely event of the sensor being faulty. Hope I never have to find out... :(
 
strugglinauthor said:
srhutch said:
From memory it had to be removed, something to do with the way the engine works. Could be bollocks though. But as other BMW engines still have them guessing it's true.
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Interesting. If this is the case then I'd have to assume that BMW would play fair in the unlikely event of the sensor being faulty. Hope I never have to find out... :(
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Yes, if there's no other way to check you'd think that they'd fit two sensors that have to agree within a certain percentage the same as they do with the DSC sensors
 
I was told that that the oil level was not measured by a simple level sensor!

It was explained to me that the engine has to be up to temperature, then a known heat is applied to a known volume of oil and the time taken or temperature rise is dependant on the volume of oil in the sump.

Something like that !
 
Have to say that I share your concerns and wondered whether BMW would be able to prove conclusively whether a low oil warning had been given at any point in the event of a run dry as I have always been concerned about the nature of electrical faults - often intermittent.

My car has done 21000 miles and according to the electronic dip stick, its never used any oil- never moved from full. In 30 years driving Ive never seen anything like it!

More concerning still for me, the 3 year warranty is up in 5 weeks time so even if BMW would honour a siezed engine claim due to a faulty oil level sensor they are unlikely to do so as a goodwill gesture. :thumbsdown:
 
Napastar said:
Have to say that I share your concerns and wondered whether BMW would be able to prove conclusively whether a low oil warning had been given at any point in the event of a run dry as I have always been concerned about the nature of electrical faults - often intermittent.

My car has done 21000 miles and according to the electronic dip stick, its never used any oil- never moved from full. In 30 years driving Ive never seen anything like it!

More concerning still for me, the 3 year warranty is up in 5 weeks time so even if BMW would honour a siezed engine claim due to a faulty oil level sensor they are unlikely to do so as a goodwill gesture. :thumbsdown:
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I assume you've had oil changes during the 21,000 miles?
I had a Volvo 740 years ago and it went 7,000 miles between changes and didnt use a drop. The level was up to the full mark at change time - that was on a 74,000 mile engine.
 
Taz said:
when i first go my car i spent a day trying to find the dipstick :thumbsdown: :headbang:
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I took a hire car away years ago - a Ford Focus and couldn't find how to open the bonnet :headbang:
 
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