oil life reset will not work please read
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: the show me state
My Ride: stock e60
i know there are several threads on this topic allready but... i cant get my oil life indicater to reset.... i have successfully reseted spark plugs and others items but the oil life will not reset... while depressing the trip odometer i can access the oil life reminder,, i get all the way to "reset" the mileage goes to ---- then the old mileage reappears. ive done it 15 time to no avail.... please give me some insight,,,, i also reset the trip mileage before continuing
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,348
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From: UpState SC
My Ride: 2008 535i LCI with sports/premium package, Sports trans with paddle shifters, CF emblems, JB4 Software, Dinan Exhaust, Navigation, M5Tech body kit, Carbon wrap interrior trim and CIC Controller.
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, AL
My Ride: 535i 6-speed
Model Year: 2008
You may have some issue not related to the procedure...but when I was trying to find the procedure online (here and other places) I could not find that was correct for my '08 535i...they all had a step missing or incorrect info. It seems that there a lot of small differences in procedures/steps from model year to year. Anyway...I went through and wrote my own procedure specifically for a '08 535i...here it is:
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
Last edited by Allen; May 11, 2013 at 07:06 PM.
Yeah I keep getting that stupid "----" also. It seems the oil interval won't reset if something is wrong with the oil level sensor and / or harness. Mine ended being a damaged harness.
Thread Starter
New Members
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 2
From: the show me state
My Ride: stock e60
yep im gonna lean towards a bad sensor.... my oil eve indicater has aso turned yellow on the idrve system... just did an oil change about a month ago and dont have any oil leaks so guess ill hit ebay for a sensor thanks guys i really appreciate it
Seems like you're on the right track but it could also be a damaged harness. Its pretty easy to check and so I'd do that before buying a new oil sensor. The sensor is located right underneath the oil pan.
You may have some issue not related to the procedure...but when I was trying to find the procedure online (here and other places) I could not find that was correct for my '08 535i...they all had a step missing or incorrect info. It seems that there a lot of small differences in procedures/steps from model year to year. Anyway...I went through and wrote my own procedure specifically for a '08 535i...here it is:
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
You may have some issue not related to the procedure...but when I was trying to find the procedure online (here and other places) I could not find that was correct for my '08 535i...they all had a step missing or incorrect info. It seems that there a lot of small differences in procedures/steps from model year to year. Anyway...I went through and wrote my own procedure specifically for a '08 535i...here it is:
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
1 - Get in car…close door…apply parking brake…put in neutral…insert the key in ignition…press and release Start button. This should illuminate the battery, oil and parking brake lights…but not start the car.
=> At any point in the following process…releasing the odometer reset button for about 10 seconds will abort the process.
2 - Press and hold the odometer reset button…at about 2 seconds…a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark appears…at about 5 seconds…the oil indicator appears...release the button.
3 - Within 3 seconds of releasing the button…press and release the button again. Each press and release of the button will toggle to a different service indicator available for reset.
4 - When you have toggled to the service indicator to be reset…press and hold the the button…at about 3 seconds…the “RESET ?” message appears…release the button.
5 - If you do not wish to reset the indicator…do nothing…the process will abort in about 3 seconds.
6 - If you do wish to reset the indicator…within 3 seconds…press and hold the button until the service miles remaining changes to “---“. (the exact button pressing part for the actual reset is a little fuzzy…but easy to do).
no worky on mine...


