This is a dumb question. Please don't laugh. Last week my 2008 528i threw a warning for low oil level on the iDrive screen. Mine is just out of warranty. After reading the factory manual, I added 1 quart of engine oil and did the oil level test on iDrive. The level is good now. My question is do I always have to rely on iDrive to tell me if the engine oil level is good? I can't seem to find the old fashion dip stick on the engine. Is there even a dip stick?

 

Nope, our cars do not have dipsticks (other than the occasional ones behind the wheels)

 

Nope, just one of my "why" 's about this car....

 

Thanks. I looked everywhere for it and can't find it. I have Toyotas all my life. BMWs are definitely more features rich and high tech. It's my wife's car and now that it's out of warranty i become the full time mechanic. I am very thankful for this forum.

 

 

Actually, it depends on when your E60 was built.

I have a 2005 model, and I have a dipstick. The oil level in iDrive was not introduced until later.

 

Mine is also 2005 530i. There is no dipstick. Very incovenient.
Since I use fully syntethic oil, the oil level varies every month esp when I drive on autobahn with high speed.

 

I partially agree that the 'old fashioned' mechanical way (dipstick) would be a convenient way of confirming the reading of the oil-level sensor ... especially if (when) it faults and reports low oil level when it's really a failed sensor.

That said, we can probably expect more of these improvements, over time, as cars get smarter

 

Mine is 2005 530i and I do have a dipstick, I guess in models without a dipstick it means there's no need for them since the oil level shows in the idrive.

 

i have an 06 and i do have one & i have gotten the "oil light" pop up on idrive.
is there really no dipstick on some E60s?? Or do people just not know where it is?