[acurael]

Hey guys,

Had the warning light come on indicating something was wrong with the oil. The dealership said it just needed the oil topped off and it was a common thing to happen.
I have never experienced this before with a new car, although ive driven hondas before.

So is this normal? i mean the car only has like 12,000 km or so. They said its normal and that its not due for an oil change until july (1yr)

thanks

[DavidNguyen]

have you been driving it hard all the time?

[dkvby]

yes its normal if u hv 12000km

[Tai Chi]

yup, it happens to my GF's X3 and my 325, i was told when it is new, they burn more oil so you need to put in new oil sooner then recommended.

[IMASA]

Isn't there a bottle of oil in the trunk exactly for situations like this?

[racerman88]

first time I heard of this. Never had this happen in any of the cars or motorcycles I have owned

[PNF]

it hasnt happened to me yet and also first time i hear this as well.

[//RacingSpirit>>]

All new BMWs burn oil, that's why you either have a spare bottle in the trunk or the dealer tops up for you for free the first time.

[monkeywrench]

wow first time i've heard of this

but then again i heard about that from someone who drives an X5

[325ist]

Sounds bad but if it is only for the first while and it isn't because of premature wear then I wouldn't think twice

[SuperSlowSS]

Totally normal. The computer will tell you to add more oil. Thats what the bottle of oil in the trunk is for.

And the computer will tell you when to get oil changed. Usually a year or 20k km. I am at 16k km, and it says another 300 km before service.

[kc1337]

I had to add a liter of engine oil into the car I drive after only 3000km.

[acurael]

Totally normal. The computer will tell you to add more oil. Thats what the bottle of oil in the trunk is for.

And the computer will tell you when to get oil changed. Usually a year or 20k km. I am at 16k km, and it says another 300 km before service.


I dont have a bottle of oil in my trunk??

[dkvby]

I dont have a bottle of oil in my trunk??


did u buy ur car at autowest? they dont give u one, bj do

[1990TSI]

must be nice paying $50k for an oil burner

[k20a]

And the computer will tell you when to get oil changed. Usually a year or 20k km. I am at 16k km, and it says another 300 km before service.

WTF??? Am I missing something here...

[smoothie.]

WTF??? Am I missing something here...

synthetic new bmw

[fetched]

must be nice paying $50k for an oil burner

must be nice to know you'll never have a chance against a 335i with your hyundai.

[?NR]

it is quite normal for top ups on a new bmw.

However, if you think there is excessive need for oil, there is a slight possibility that your oil level sensor may be faulty. Log the complaint with the service department on your next service interval or earlier if you indeed feel that is the case and have it rectified.

there has been instances where a gentleman continued to dump 1 liter bottles into the engine as the warning light told him, only to have 11 liters in the crankcase where it only requires a max of 7 liters.

BMW Canada subsequently had to warranty a cylinder head replacement.

[Hot Karl]

must be nice to know you'll never have a chance against a 335i with your hyundai.

his point is warranted. look right in this thread. half the folks are like WTF? BUT IT'S NEW!?!?!!

most folks buy a new car they don't expect a check oil light any time soon. certainly not in the first year. especially a bmw.

[SuperSlowSS]

his point is warranted. look right in this thread. half the folks are like WTF? BUT IT'S NEW!?!?!!

most folks buy a new car they don't expect a check oil light any time soon. certainly not in the first year. especially a bmw.

It doesn't ask you to check oil. It just ask you to top it off. I don't see the big deal. If it was some other car, you would have gone to the dealership a few times already for them to change your oil.

[taylor192]

Why does a BMW burn so much oil?

My MB didn't require a drop, and uses synthetic with the long oil changes (15K kms).
When my MB did require some oil, it was found to be a defect.

I would question whether there is something wrong with these cars and that BMW is covering it up by saying it normal. Modern engines shouldn't burn that much oil.

[Pochacho]

Why does a BMW burn so much oil?

My MB didn't require a drop, and uses synthetic with the long oil changes (15K kms).
When my MB did require some oil, it was found to be a defect.

I would question whether there is something wrong with these cars and that BMW is covering it up by saying it normal. Modern engines shouldn't burn that much oil.

Does your MB come with a turbo? or 2?

[1983 Z28]

List of vehicles I've driven that have required the additional of oil before reaching 10,000 km:

Dodge Challenger SRT8 (3 litres)
Porsche 911 C2 (1 litre)
BMW 335i (1 litre)
Mazda RX8 R3 (43243285423954 litres)
Lexus IS-F (2 litres)
Mustang Bullitt (1 litre)
Audi RS4 (1 litre)
Mitsubishi Evo (2 litres)

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, but it's not that uncommon among new vehicles. Sure, break-in is important, but for the following months of ownership, there's a lot of places the oil is slowly being worked into.

[dkvby]

If u owned the car, Oil Catch Can is recommanded. If its a leased, who cares.... lol, otherwise u will see oil in the intake pipes and intercooler .....

[acurael]

must be nice paying $50k for an oil burner

lol.... i sense some hate. The car is great overall

im fine with it..just wanted to know if it was a problem or something common. Im assuming b/c its turbo and i do drive it hard on occassion that it is normal...i will have to see how it goes now that its topped off.

I just think the car is overly sensitive so even if the oil is a bit lower than normal it tells u..whereas my other car u just look at the dipstick but as long as its within max and min u dont really care.

Ya it was bought at autowest, i got it serviced at the bmw store since ive heard nothing but bad things about the servicing at autowest.

[Leopold Stotch]

audi's the worst.

ask any 2.0 FSI owner, especially the old ladies who drive them.
even the old 2.0L NA ones were bad. iuno why any engine should burn oil. sure it's common, but i don't think it's normal.

[Volvo-brickster]

meh

as long as its under 1L per 1000 km its no biggie

[dk_wasabi]

its very normal. the harder you push it, the more oil it burns.

my e46 had the same problem, i had top off oil after 6 months!

[CanadaGoose]

NORMAL. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise

If it's a new engine, parts are wearing together and seating to form a perfect fit...they're still 'virgin' parts getting used to fitting together. Engine components, piston rings, gearbox, wheelbearings, clutch disc, brake pads, everything needs to be worn in.

I hear nightmare stories from car technicians of people who never check their oil thinking 'ohh it's a new car' and how it should consume ZERO oil, and go on to run their engine to the grave before their first scheduled oil change even happens :(

[hk20000]

reciprocating engines are inherently not completely oil sealed. Remember that kids!

[kc1337]

You guys should travel over to the AMG forums, the new 6.2L engine burns oil like crazy.

[Dinan3]

100% normal. If you didn't get that bottle of oil at delivery, go to Autowest and have it topped up for free.

[wasabisashimi]

What does BMW stands for?

B- Burn, M- More, W- 5W30

[JV6]

It's normal cause I was given a heads up that it will burn oil so they threw me few bottles. I drive it softly tho :D. currently almost hitting 4k!

[E46zippo]

yes its normal

[kc1337]

YOu should try a rotary then

[wacko604]

Even with the M motors you need to top the oil up every 2000 km

[Leopold Stotch]

personally i'd run a higher viscosity oil in somethign that's turbocharged. like a 5w40/50 or 10w40

but i guess BMW knows best.

[?NR]

Even with the M motors you need to top the oil up every 2000 km

proprietery(sp)

Castrol 10w60 lol.

all m's have a 2000km run-in service.

[4doorVIP]

Big Money Waster