Oil level low alert at 8100 miles
#1
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Huntingtown, MD, USA
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 530i - Titanium Grey/Grey/SMG/Nav/sports pack/premium pack/sirius prep
I get an intermittent alert to add one quart of oil. Could this be an error? What kind of oil should I use?
Nick
Nick
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550, Carbon Black Metallic, Natural Brown Dakota Leather, Sport Package, Sport Automatic Transmission, Cold Weather Package, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades, etc.
Retired - 2004 545 SMG, Black Sapphire Metallic, Auburn Dakota Leather, Cold Weather and Sports Packages, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades
Originally Posted by nickferr' date='Jan 6 2005, 09:39 PM
I get an intermittent alert to add one quart of oil.? Could this be an error?? What kind of oil should I use?
Nick
Nick
[snapback]76538[/snapback]
#3
Contributors
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Posts: 4,144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Castrol synthethic is allegedly the same oil as the BMW oil. That's what the big boys have always told me anyway. What I can't figure out is why is he a quart low. At a slightly higher mileage, I am jam up on my oil stick.
#4
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550, Carbon Black Metallic, Natural Brown Dakota Leather, Sport Package, Sport Automatic Transmission, Cold Weather Package, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades, etc.
Retired - 2004 545 SMG, Black Sapphire Metallic, Auburn Dakota Leather, Cold Weather and Sports Packages, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades
I went though about a quart every 7500 - 10,000 on my E39. Iwas assured by numerous sources that it was normal (or at least acceptble). There was never any sign of a leak (no stains on the driveway) and no smoking during operation to indicatea ring problem. Just burned alot of oil.
#5
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
robq, was your E39 a 8-cylinder or 6-cylinder car?
I find it amazing that I never, ever had to add ANY oil in my two E39s (540i) over a six-year period (two, three-year leases.) I remember thinking that someting must've been wrong with the "low oil level" warning light because I never saw it light up!
Now, on the E60 (545i), I find I'm worrying about the same thing. Does it have a "low oil" warning in iDrive or not? (I seem to remember that it's supposed to warn me.) My oil level has been fine for almost 10,000 miles now. I am, however, getting an "oil service" warning which I'll be getting this coming Tuesday.
I'm just amazed that in all these years, I've never had to do anything but change the oil at the recommended intervals...
I find it amazing that I never, ever had to add ANY oil in my two E39s (540i) over a six-year period (two, three-year leases.) I remember thinking that someting must've been wrong with the "low oil level" warning light because I never saw it light up!
Now, on the E60 (545i), I find I'm worrying about the same thing. Does it have a "low oil" warning in iDrive or not? (I seem to remember that it's supposed to warn me.) My oil level has been fine for almost 10,000 miles now. I am, however, getting an "oil service" warning which I'll be getting this coming Tuesday.
I'm just amazed that in all these years, I've never had to do anything but change the oil at the recommended intervals...
#6
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550, Carbon Black Metallic, Natural Brown Dakota Leather, Sport Package, Sport Automatic Transmission, Cold Weather Package, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades, etc.
Retired - 2004 545 SMG, Black Sapphire Metallic, Auburn Dakota Leather, Cold Weather and Sports Packages, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades
I had a 6 cyl 530. Could make a difference, but a BMW tech who I came to know and trust (and who would top me off w/o waiting for an appointment) told me if was fairly common on all the E 39s. i used to drive around with a quart in the trunk just to top off if I was not close to home - but like i said never a sign of a leak.
Guess you have just been one of the lucky ones.
Guess you have just been one of the lucky ones.
#8
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Huntingtown, MD, USA
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 530i - Titanium Grey/Grey/SMG/Nav/sports pack/premium pack/sirius prep
Originally Posted by JDN' date='Jan 6 2005, 10:40 PM
I think Castrol synthethic is allegedly the same oil as the BMW oil. That's what the big boys have always told me anyway. What I can't figure out is why is he a quart low. At a slightly higher mileage, I am jam up on my oil stick.
[snapback]76548[/snapback]
Guess I'll go with the castoroil full synthetic to top off.
Thanks,
Nick
#9
Members
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 530i, steelgray, step, premium, cold package, xenons
My E39 used a quart of oil about every 4-5000 miles, and I was told by my service department that that was quite common. On my E60 530i with 6000 miles on the odometer the oil dropped a third of the way down after about 2000 but has remained at that level since.
There is no point in using anything other than BMW Synthetic in the US, since it is cheaper than buying another brand at an auto parts store, and it meets the European A3B3 rating, as well as having been approved by BMW as a "Longlife-01" lubricant. Without that endorsement, and lacking the A3B3 rating, an oil is not suitable for long drain interval use in a BMW. Castrol Synthetic 5W-30 doesn't meet those specs -- only the 0W-30 does, and it is hard to find. Mobil 1 0W-40 would also be acceptable, but not the 5W-30.
There is no point in using anything other than BMW Synthetic in the US, since it is cheaper than buying another brand at an auto parts store, and it meets the European A3B3 rating, as well as having been approved by BMW as a "Longlife-01" lubricant. Without that endorsement, and lacking the A3B3 rating, an oil is not suitable for long drain interval use in a BMW. Castrol Synthetic 5W-30 doesn't meet those specs -- only the 0W-30 does, and it is hard to find. Mobil 1 0W-40 would also be acceptable, but not the 5W-30.
#10
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
It sounds like so far, it's common for 6-cyl E39s to burn oil. Anyone besides me with experience on the 8-cyl cars? (both E39 and E60)
So far, I'm thinking that the 8's don't use oil like the 6's...
Oh, and one more thing:
nickferr, castoroil might make your car sick!
So far, I'm thinking that the 8's don't use oil like the 6's...
Oh, and one more thing:
Originally Posted by nickferr' date='Jan 7 2005, 12:05 AM
Guess I'll go with the castoroil full synthetic to top off.
[snapback]76561[/snapback]