Yesterday My oil level sensor said it was time to add another quart of oil. I went and bought another quart then drove home to add the quart. On the way home the I-drive now said it was three bars up and green. since the last oil change I have been watching it drop to one bar (yellow). Anyone see this? Is this just mean I need to replace the sensor?

Thanks,
Roger

 

Rodger,
I also have the 550i /2008 and have not seen that problem on mine. Actually , the sensor has always been correct to when I pull the stick . I have 63K miles on mine , i will have to assume you have a sensor problem.
Let us know.

 

Maybe - maybe not ... depends on what kind of driving you were doing when it reported one-quart low. Spirited driving, driving on steep inclines, or on surfaces that are not level can affect the accuracy of the reading. Alternatively, if I recall, mine has 5 green bars when it's full - if you are showing 3 maybe try adding 1/2 quart to see if that reports accurately. If it does your sensor is likely working OK.

 

Roger,

Do you re-call when the warning popped up were you on some sort of an incline surface maybe?

NM Luigi524td beat me to it

 

Don't ya just hate when that happens

 

Beaten again to the punch.
My iDrive settings said oil was empty when parked on a slight incline with engine running then instantly swung over to 5 green bars once I drove on the flat again. Never happened again and the car has never needed oil between changes.

 

I was driving on the freeway when it lit up 3 green bars and doing the same when it showed 1 orange bar and an error message to add a quart. I did start it in my garage and let it warm up and got the three green bar oil level. I added half a quart yesterday and will see what the level looks like tomorrow when I drive to work. My car "consumes" (BMW dealer speak) a quart every 6000-7000 miles. Of course it is a 200 dollar part but I am not sure where it is. I guessing under neither by the oil filter. with no manual back up failing electronics on an oil level sensor can be scary. My neighbor told me "if you stay out of the 4 barrel it would not consume any oil." I laughed and said first no carburetor, 2nd that is where all the fun is. He drives a Buick!! LOL

 

Thank god I have a dipstick. LOL.
I remember reading a post where there is actually a dipstick for these engines but it's extremely hard to find...I remember most people thought there was no dipstick. That was years ago. Anyway, I agree with the level surface.Just keep a history log, will help you in the future. Could be a sensor could be an oil pump or sludge buildup...who knows.

 

Today driving to work after adding half a quart it says 4 bars green. I will continue to watch it. Crazy electronics!!

 

So where is the Dipstick? I mean to check the oil level.