[ArsE92]

<Sigh>

My car was recently due a simple oil service, and as it's now out of warranty I'm trying to settle on a decent independent for this kind of job. I spotted one on Pistonheads 'recommended garages' Wiki so I thought I'd give them a go. I'd also had a few 'control system failure' messages the previous week, but they had cleared up over the last couple of days.

My car is reasonably standard but has a JB4 and BMS dual-cone intake, Alpina gearbox software, CIC upgrade, LCI rear-lights etc.

My first inkling that this wasn't going to go well was when the mechanic insisted that my car had the N52 engine when I took it in and he was taking details. No amount of me insisting it was N54 would convince him until he went out to the car and checked the chassis plate. Not a good start.

I asked him if I should disable the JB4 and he assured me he could work around it. However, when he called me later in the day he told me he hadn't been able to do anything on the car as his diagnostics kit couldn't communicate. I told him he should have called me and I'd have talked him through disabling it but he was insistent that even with the JB4 disabled, it would still prevent him 'talking to the car. I think that's cobblers.

So, he spent a full day trying to diagnose the 'control system' codes I was getting and didn't have chance to do the service, so I left the car with him another day. I turns out that in order to diagnose the car, he had to take the JB4 off.

We agreed that he'd carry out the service and I'd collect the car the next day. I turned up yesterday and was presented with a bill for the service, plus two hours diagnostics which was apparently reduced from 4 hours as "good will".

I agreed with him that I'd leave the JB4 off for a couple of weeks and see how the car ran, but made it clear that I wasn't happy that he hadn't rang me when he had problems diagnosing. Again, he insisted that even disabling the JB4 would prevent him from using his kit.

Anyway, the icing on the cake ... I drive the 20 miles home last night, reverse onto the drive, and receive an "oil level low - add a litre of oil" warning light. The warning is present this morning too. I'm assuming my oil level sensor is either broken, or they've drained the oil and not put any more in, or left a cap off or something.

FFS.

This is mostly a rant, but hopefully y'all can answer these questions:

1 - with the JB4 disabled, ie on map 0, should diagnostics equipment be able to communicate with the car?

2 - any way to check the oil level on the N54? I've opened the cap on top of the engine but obviously all I can see is oily bits.

Cheers

Frustrated of Manchester

[MAN15H]

1. Yes
2. You can view the service and oil level via the sat nav screen

I recently had mine serviced and a general check by A1BN Specialist BMW and they no issues running diagnostics once I'd disabled the JB4.

[Thewrench86]

im from near you out of curiosity which independent did u use?
in the past i have used bm tech they were a bit pricey when i had my e46 few years back but always got job done. now i always use baymow these guys are excellent and know what their on about customer service is top and they are very straightforward. darren woods is also a highly recommended indy but ive not used them yet personally.

[E92Dan]

This is why manufactures should always fit a dipstick

[RajB]

The JB4 disabled will allow diagnostics etc to be run as when active it disables the OBD port.

Unsure how you'd check apart from the iDrive screen.

Originally Posted by E92Dan

This is why manufactures should always fit a dipstick

Yup totally in agreement with you here. I cannot trust the iDrive level screen as you just can't be 100% sure it's actually working properly.

[Kerr]

Sound like a fine garage. Not!

Good garages are few and far between. The other issue is their knowledge simply can't be wide enough to cover all cars and their issues.

Not knowing what they are doing and then passing the cost back to you is pretty low though.

I hate the lack of dipstick too. I just hope the oil isn't too low and has caused damage.

[makkan00]

1- yes
2- check via idrive after driving few miles, hence bmw insist that their technician should go out for test drive.

Its everywhere mate. I have take my f10 to a well reputed garage recently for lowering springs and experience / communication is absolutely appalling.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by MAN15H

1. Yes
2. You can view the service and oil level via the sat nav screen

I recently had mine serviced and a general check by A1BN Specialist BMW and they no issues running diagnostics once I'd disabled the JB4.

Yep I've still to master the JB4but once this is disabled easy as as you discovered Manish

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by MAN15H

1. Yes
2. You can view the service and oil level via the sat nav screen

I recently had mine serviced and a general check by A1BN Specialist BMW and they no issues running diagnostics once I'd disabled the JB4.

OP Darren Wood..... Got a very good reputation from what I can gather and he's in your neck of the woods

[windymissile]

surely you have heard of Darren Wood..?
They are in Stockport and have always been 100% with me.

WM

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by makkan00

1- yes
2- check via idrive after driving few miles, hence bmw insist that their technician should go out for test drive.

Its everywhere mate. I have take my f10 to a well reputed garage recently for lowering springs and experience / communication is absolutely appalling.

Sadly we feel that communication is like steering a ship if there's constant communication then you stay on the steered course if its lost all hell breaks lose from doing unauthorised work to not doing the required work requested because info on the job card hasn't been either stated or the tech's failed to read the card, hence when every job comes back to me I rewind the tape with the tech and go over the job and if they've missed something I turn'em away and tell them to sort it(rare but it does happen)and that happens before the customer collects too(so never an event)but I won't deny from time to time things do crop up(usually last minute)that we're powerless to do anything about... the thing with cars is you never know but good old fashioned basics help.

[Bmw10]

I can also vouch for Darren woods good bunch of guys

[ArsE92]

Originally Posted by Thewrench86

im from near you out of curiosity which independent did u use?
in the past i have used bm tech they were a bit pricey when i had my e46 few years back but always got job done. now i always use baymow these guys are excellent and know what their on about customer service is top and they are very straightforward. darren woods is also a highly recommended indy but ive not used them yet personally.

It was BM Tech.

Thanks all for confirming that disabling the JB4 would allow diagnostics to work. That just confirms that had he called me first I could have talked him through it and saved us both some bother.

In the 3 years I've owned the car, the iDrive has never reported anything but maximum oil. Now it's reporting empty. It just seems a little odd that it's now doing this after it's had an oil service.

I've also just noticed a screw missing from the cowling around the top of the engine bay.

I've heard of Darren Wood and I know they have an excellent reputation, they're just a bit of a trek away from me. Small price to pay, in hindsight.

I'm going to ring BM Tech in a moment.

['V']

A second recommendation for Darren Wood (based in bredbury, stockport) very good rep, a a genuinely nice bunch of guys.
I have my car taken care of by them for everything, very good pricing too and it's on their website

[AWSAWS]

Originally Posted by RajB

The JB4 disabled will allow diagnostics etc to be run as when active it disables the OBD port.

Unsure how you'd check apart from the iDrive screen.



Yup totally in agreement with you here. I cannot trust the iDrive level screen as you just can't be 100% sure it's actually working properly.

Can this be confirmed??? That could explain why I had such issues trying to code my car. I can never connect properly.

This sounds like a handy plus as I seem to recall cars being stolen with use of the OBD port. Provided thieves don't know about JB4 controls.

[ArsE92]

Ok, I've just spoken to the garage and apparently it's very difficult to get the oil level right on the N54 and I've been advised to add 1l and see if it resolves.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by ArsE92

apparently it's very difficult to get the oil level right on the N54

That really takes the biscuit! What a load of BS. You fully drain the engine and filter and re-fill with the correct required quantity. What's difficult about that?

[ArsE92]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

That really takes the biscuit! What a load of BS. You fully drain the engine and filter and re-fill with the correct required quantity. What's difficult about that?

I've no idea. He said the procedure is to add 5l, take it for a run, and if it asks for more then add another litre. It sounded like bollocks to me, too.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by AWSAWS

Can this be confirmed??? That could explain why I had such issues trying to code my car. I can never connect properly.

This sounds like a handy plus as I seem to recall cars being stolen with use of the OBD port. Provided thieves don't know about JB4 controls.

You have to be on Map 0 to use OBD port with JB4. Well documented on JB4 forums.

Also it only blocks OBD when DME is active, so it wont protect you from thieves. (If DME is active then they already have ignition)

[ArsE92]

I've just added 2l of oil and the warning light has gone off. I'll monitor it over the weekend I think.

[therocketman]

Hello mate, touch too late but just to add my bit and possibly give a very slight piece of (amateur) reassurance: I have experienced the same faults regarding oil level reading in the past. It happened to me on my 330i, 630i and THIS WEEK on my 325i e93. On all occasions I knew the oil level should be okay and for safety took the car into a trusted Indy just to ensure there was nothing sinister going on-hidden leaks etc. Each time half a litre of oil was added so as not to overfill and this cured the problem and corrected the reading.

I also concur with others comments, not fitting a dipstick is nonsense and technology will never provide the reliability that a single piece of metal will.

Hope your problem is now resolved and you can drive the car without concern

[E30 sam]

I noticed you are located in the North West, if you're not too far from Preston I use a great independent specialist. Ex Bowker lads and proper enthusiasts with a passion for bikes.