1200 mile service complete

[m3larson]

Just picked up the M from her first service. One thing, when I purchased the car the oil level reading was from the top of the readout and now its in the middle. Is this normal??

She seems like a different monster now. Maybe it's all in my head thinking now I can open her up fully. That car is one of the coolest cars I have ever owned. Plus the smell of the full extended leather package is amazing.

I drive a X5 every day to work and I find myself coming home and jumping in the M just to drive it after reading this forum all day.

[///Mantis]

yes it's normal. my CA told me and gave me a quart of oil to fill in. M3 was like that too. my buddy's M6 like that.

[MDCTFTW]

So if this thing drinks oil, what is the recommended oil change interval? Or do we have to keep adding oil in between changes?

[///Mantis]

i was told it only eats oil within break-in, then it'll be fine. unless there's an unexpected oil consumption problem with the motor

i will get you the oil specs that i was given by the dealer later

[m3larson]

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

[///Mantis]

i'd put a quart in there and watch it over a week

[lucid]

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

That doesn't mean the oil is at "half way". That is the operational range, and according to your description, it is reading dead center of the "operational range", so what is the problem? I would NOT add any more oil to the engine. It might have been delivered at the high end of the operational range since they figure the engine will consume more than the normal amount of oil during break-in (more friction), but that does NOT mean the factory overfilled your car. It was not overfilled if the reading was within the operational range when you took delivery, and according to your description, it was in that range. So, you have no issues.

[m3larson]

That doesn't mean the oil is at "half way". That is the operational range, and according to your description, it is reading dead center of the "operational range", so what is the problem? I would NOT add any more oil to the engine. It might have been delivered at the high end of the operational range since they figure the engine will consume more than the normal amount of oil during break-in (more friction), but that does NOT mean the factory overfilled your car. It was not overfilled if the reading was within the operational range when you took delivery, and according to your description, it was in that range. So, you have no issues.

Thats my thought also. Thanks.. Just wanted another opinion.

[ase2dais]

What I was saying is that the oil gauge was all the way to top when I took delivery. The M did drink some oil but after picking it up from service the oil gauge read half way up... There is a line there at the half way point. I'm wondering A) did the dealer not fill the oil all the way up or B) the factory overfilled the car?

I believe the dealer was just hestitant to overfill the thing. You're gong to have to fill it to the max if that is your desire....

If these e92/90s M3 is like a regular e90, there are no dipstick and the only way to check the fill level is to check is after awhile when the engine is warmup/running

I bet they are the same way. Check your owners manual under capacities

[AZ-BMW]

I drive a X5 every day to work and I find myself coming home and jumping in the M just to drive it after reading this forum all day.

:confused2
I want to work where you work! Reading/Posting on BimmerPost all day?

[Davinhci]

i hope I don't have to add oil myself

[GregW / Oregon]

i'd put a quart in there and watch it over a week
You're only supposed to put in that much when it is totally at the bottom. I miss the days of the old dipstick.

[BK]

At least on the regular E9x, the electronic oil reading graph is only the "last quart." So you add a quart only if it is at the very bottom of the graph (the car should also give you a yellow warning light at this point to tell you it's low enough that you should add oil).