[Andy198712]

Hello,

I've got a 2010 LCI 325d

one thing i notice is my car has a dip stick and a oil level sensor that can be seen on the dash and the iDrive.

changed the oil today, refilled and the iDrive and dash both are on the MAX part when i restarted it.
But the dipstick is on the MIN line...

Now personally i'm happy with it on the MIN line on the dipstick. but i just thought the two would read the same...?

i'm thinking if add another litre or what ever it takes to go from MIN to MAX then the computer will (should) say i'm over full no? and dong at me every time i start the car ect.

any thoughts on the matter?

Cheers

Andy

[Fundguy1]

Dipstick has always been my preference.

[Chappers 71]

I think the oil capacity is 7.5 litres but you should check this in your owners handbook.
As for the oil level sensor car should be up to operating temperature when you take the reading.

[Andy198712]

will the sensor just read MAX even if i chuck another litre or X amount to get it to the full mark on the dipstick?

just don't want to stick in more oil then have to suck it out and bin good oil...

interesting on the operating temp, I've done it with the car hot too.
when ignition is on and in the oil section on the screen, it tells you i have enough oil to safely start the car but doesn't do the reading till started and waiting a little while... then just reads MAX.

standard dipstick reading these, warm up, shut off, wait 2mins then check yh? no funny dance ect?

Thanks guys

I know what your saying on go by the dipstick but i also know a lot of these cars don't come with them anymore, and didn't want the car telling me off every time i start it

if i recall mine is 7.5 litres

[Chappers 71]

If it says 7.5 litres in your owners handbook then that's how much it needs. Do not overfill it as that'll be bad

[Andy198712]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

If it says 7.5 litres in your owners handbook then that's how much it needs. Do not overfill it as that'll be bad

yeah i'm very much a fan of a little less is better then a little more school of thought!

i'm happy for it to be sat on the MIN mark on the dipstick, i'll keep an eye on it, seems a common issue to have a discrepancy between the two.

now i'm doubting the dipstick is fully seated lol pretty sure it is as i checked it twice! frekkin OCD kicking in!

cheers bud

[Dormermike]

I always leave mine at three quarters on the electronic dips tick. Easier to krep an eye check on consumption then too

[Andy198712]

have you got a dipstick you can cross reference it too? just out of interest

[Andy198712]

Well, sure enough after a while driving it said I was low! Didn't until atleast 5 minutes into the journey, maybe 10.

Added a litre and made it happy on the min. Going to gradually work it up to full.

I added 5litres at first and thought it was odd but trusted the computer.
I wasn't worried as I tried my oil vacuum pump this time so just assumed it didn't get it all and that the n57 doesn't work well with it...

As it turns out it probably worked fine!
Next change I'll do in about 6k miles with vacuum then open the drain plug to check. Will make a thread for it as it's batted about so much, people bashing the pumps ect. Anyway.
Long story short, probably trust the dipstick then the sensor lol

[urfankhaliq]

sorry to sound thick, but what's an oil vaccum pump??

[Andy198712]

A resisvour with a vacuum pump on it and a Long tube coming out of it and you poke it down your dipstick tube to the bottom of your sump and it sucks out your oil

[urfankhaliq]

Aah ok! So an easy method of changing the oil then?

So I take it you just drain out the old oil, and replace the filter and then pour in new stuff and job done?


Does it take out 100% of the old oil?

[Andy198712]

Yeah that's it.

It depends on the design of the engine/sump/dipstick.
Next time I use it I'm going to remove the sump plug too just to see before I start solely doing that.