DD_545i

My low oil warning came on today, although weirdly after it went away and I looked in iDrive, it said I was fine. After I got home and let the engine cool, I checked the dipstick (twice) and it was indeed at the low end.

Looking in the (German) manual, it only talked about BMW oils and didn't mention anything like 5w40 or 0w40. Presumably to avoid you going out and getting such a thing from anywhere other than BMW. My car's going to be 8 years old in April, I don't waste my money going to BMW anymore.

I reckon I'll just buy 2-3 litres (near enough 2-3 quarts) and that'll keep me going until next service (in 4-5 months probably). Or would I be wiser to top it up with as much as I can get in (without going over the high level)?

I've no desire to drain it and fill it with 7 quarts. I also don't want to put the bare minimum in and have it be running inefficiently.

Also, that plasticky cover that sits atop the cylinder head, does that easily pop right off to reveal the oil filler cap? If not, is there a tutorial somewhere on how to get it off?

jaycal3

If you have a 545, the oil filler is to the front left (passenger side) of the "plasticky cover" with the square cap. Dont pull... twist and pull... I tried to pull mine off and it bent the metal inside and I had to replace it. Also, check your oil pressure switch for a slight leak - thats what happened to my 545... oil started going low for what I thought was no good reason... that was the reason.

Trinity Autosport

Use Castrol 5w30 Synthentic

DD_545i

Thanks. I'll look for that in the morning. It's too late/cold/dark to be doing it now.

Can you elaborate on the oil pressure switch? I wouldn't have a clue where to look for that (or what it looks like). Considering it's about a year since it was last serviced, I'm not thinking that I've got a major (rapid) leak.

Cool. If they've got Castrol in the gas station I stop at, I'll certainly pick that up. Otherwise I'll go for some generic synthetic 5w30.

stoic1

The oil pressure switch is located just below the brake vacuum pump which is located on the lower left side of the engine as your looking at it from the front of the car. There is a DIY for the vacuum pump if you need further assistance finding it.

jaycal3

What he said!

DD_545i

I'll have a poke around. I doubt I'll find it though. Tons of little black boxes under there, any of which might be a vacuum pump or switch

I didn't find a vacuum pump DIY

tooltec

Buy Castrol LL-04 5w-30 if you want to hit your wallet!There are other brands that meet the BMW LL-04 specification ,e.g.
Q8 ,Havoline ,Total.I have used all three and currently use Total Quartz Ineo MC3 5w-30.

DD_545i

I went with Castrol Magnatec 5w30 A1 fully synthetic. Popped 2 Litres (near enough 2 quarts) in. I see my service is due in only 2 months now so that'll do me fine.



I didn't find the oil pressure switch, but I admit I didn't try too hard. Considering how little I expect to use my car in the next two mostly snowed-in months, it'll wait. I'll just tell my indy to look for leaks around that area when he's doing the service.

As for the oil filler cap (the square one), there's no way you could miss where that is in broad daylight. When I didn't see it (shortly before this original post up top) I'd been out there checking the oil in darkness with a rag and a little torch and one hand too few. D'oh!

jaycal3

The vacuum pump is not a black box... Look at the front left of the engine (passenger side)... on the far left of the block in the front is a pulley. directly under that is the switch.

Tons of links out there... Here is a Oil Pressure Switch Link. Post #6 has a link and HealthServices was kind enough to take a pic for you.