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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / TSBs and Service Bulletin > Oil consumption N55 F30
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      07-03-2012, 02:27 AM   #1
Robin_NL
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The other day there was a message on the IDrive display saying something like: Oil level is at a minimum please go and refill to the maximum.

I did the IDrive oilcheck and it showed 20% above minimum level.

I went to my dealer and they read the computer. I was right, they said. But THEY WILL NOT refill it to the maximum(about .75lites) because of malfunctioning from the whole computerized engine system.... Whatever....pfffff....

I just have to wait when it's at the minimum level to refill it to the max.

And that happened yesterday evening when we were driving throught the beautiful countryside in the sunset(cut the crap!)

Message on display saying: OIL LEVEL TO THE MINIMUM , Please refill to the max.

I checked it, refilled it to the max with one litre, rechecked, and the display showed the max level and OK.

At last my question, having had several new BMWs in the past and my second N55.
Having driven now 7800kms/4900miles and having to refill it to the max with 1 litre of oil should be normal or what?
It's a new engine, but I can't recall refilling my other engines with that amount of oil in the past.

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      07-03-2012, 07:19 PM   #2
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I do it every now often with 2009 335..
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      07-06-2012, 12:25 AM   #3
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It's normal. Turbo engines use a bit more oil, so it's normal to pour some in once in a while.

I just looked at the first oil change recommendation for the new 2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine (N20) which is at 15,000 miles or 24 months whichever comes first. Now THAT would worry me. I can't see anyone driving more than 5,000 miles on a brand new car without getting its first oil change. Have you had the 1st oil change yet? You're almost at 5,000 miles.
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      07-06-2012, 05:49 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by investor27 View Post
It's normal. Turbo engines use a bit more oil, so it's normal to pour some in once in a while.

I just looked at the first oil change recommendation for the new 2.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine (N20) which is at 15,000 miles or 24 months whichever comes first. Now THAT would worry me. I can't see anyone driving more than 5,000 miles on a brand new car without getting its first oil change. Have you had the 1st oil change yet? You're almost at 5,000 miles.
Not yet, and it doesn't need to, according to the BC display/dealer. Until 25000kms, then it needs a change apparantly....

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      07-06-2012, 07:34 AM   #5
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I am going to change at $1k. It simply could not hurt and IMHO could do a lot of good!
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      07-06-2012, 09:43 AM   #6
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My E90 M3 went through 1L of oil every 2000 miles... 4900 seems pretty good to me!!!
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      07-06-2012, 11:01 AM   #7
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The manufacturer usually calls it acceptable if its more than 1000km between the warnings to fill up 1l, sounds a lot but that is what they claim. At least here in Sweden.
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      07-06-2012, 08:58 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_NL View Post
The other day there was a message on the IDrive display saying something like: Oil level is at a minimum please go and refill to the maximum.


At last my question, having had several new BMWs in the past and my second N55.
Having driven now 7800kms/4900miles and having to refill it to the max with 1 litre of oil should be normal or what?
It's a new engine, but I can't recall refilling my other engines with that amount of oil in the past.

Cheers
Robin
In my E46, it required 1 quart added by the time it had it's first oil change at 12K miles.
My 135i also required nearly a quart before it's first oil change at around 14K miles.
The oil use was gradual in both cars.
By the first oil changes oil use was nearly 0 in both cars.

Seems your oil use isn't too bad. 1 quart/liter per 5000 miles will put you at around 3 quarts by the time you hit the first oil change around 15k miles, depending on driving conditions. As you may know, the oil change interval is calculated using data from sensors with number of cold starts, run time on cold engine, etc...
If the consumption slows to around 1 quart per oil change, that should be acceptable.

However, the manufacturer allows for much more use than that. I don't agree with them. 1 quart per 7K miles is ok. 1 quart per 12-15k oil change is better.
1 quart every 3-5K miles in a modern engine is not acceptable to me. It indicates too much blow by, and thus a subsequent loss in engine performance and output.
Not to mention it's polluting too much.

I use an aggressive break in.
No full throttle standing starts before 1000 miles.
Normal take off and steady raise to red line and back down to around 1500rpm in each of the first 3 gears, as far as I can get in 4th, out of 6spds MT. I use plenty of engine braking to help the engine develop it's full potential, and to seat the rings for best compression and least oil use.

Oil change interval? I use BMW's recommendation.

Last edited by RPM90; 07-06-2012 at 09:07 PM..
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      07-07-2012, 11:55 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPM90 View Post
I use an aggressive break in.
No full throttle standing starts before 1000 miles.
Normal take off and steady raise to red line and back down to around 1500rpm in each of the first 3 gears, as far as I can get in 4th, out of 6spds MT. I use plenty of engine braking to help the engine develop it's full potential, and to seat the rings for best compression and least oil use.

Oil change interval? I use BMW's recommendation.
What are your reasons for breaking the engine in that way rather than how BMW suggest in the manual? I'm genuinely interested, not trolling.
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      07-07-2012, 06:17 PM   #10
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1800 miles in, and my 328i is still reading MAX without me putting any oil in!

The first 1k on my 330d saw it drink oil but after that, was very frugal in its 80,000 mile life with me.
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      07-16-2012, 04:42 PM   #11
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I have an f30 on order and am looking for opinions on this. Has anyone followed Motoman's break in recommendations? Aggressive/controlled break in after engine warms up within 200 miles. I'm sure this has come up in the past... I just don't know where to find it.
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      07-16-2012, 04:51 PM   #12
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I'm surprised somewhat, OP, that they wouldn't fill up your oil for you. Perhaps that's not in the maintenance plan any more?

If I'm close to my dealer when that indicator comes on (it's only come on twice since I've had the car), I stop by there and have 'em put some oil in it. The SA grabs a quart of oil puts it in an off I go. Does everyone not do that?
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      08-06-2012, 02:52 PM   #13
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While I can't confirm what is normal versus not normal in regards to burning oil in the n55, I would be concerned about burning that much oil in that short of time. Especially if that pattern is repeated over the next 5000 miles or even gets worse.

Our 2011 n55 has about 25,000 miles on it and the oil level indicator has never read anything but MAX. I have done 2 oil changes myself (@ 7500 and 22k) and one done by the dealer @ ~15k.
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      08-27-2012, 09:24 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m3alabama View Post
However to the OP-why do you need to go to a dealer to pour some oil into your car???
I do that myself offcourse.

I was just questioning the weird message on the iDrive screen about having a minimum oil level. That made me worried. And that's why I went to the dealer in the first place. Because the level wasn't at its minimum at all when I put in some oil....

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      11-17-2013, 08:42 PM   #15
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2013 335xi with mppk and almost 14k miles no oil change yet. I've burnt through 2quarts already
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      11-18-2013, 08:42 AM   #16
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2012 F30 320d - just passed 15,000km and oil still at max with idrive saying another 5,000k until oil change.
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      11-19-2013, 08:27 PM   #17
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I'd kill for 4900 miles before a top off. I've got 14k miles and am on my 4th liter. The most I got was 4200, the least about 1200. My driving style wasn't any different during this time. Mines a 335 xDrive.
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      11-20-2013, 09:38 AM   #18
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PP said "I use plenty of engine braking to help the engine develop it's full potential, and to seat the rings for best compression and least oil use." Because on our cars the intake valves don't open during off-throttle deceleration, engine braking will actually pull oil past the oil control rings and impede compression ring break in. My experience on airplane engines is the engine manufacturers strongly discourage engine braking during break-in. We try to run at high power settings during break-in to keep the pressure on rings so they will smooth off the cylinder as quickly as possible.
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      11-22-2013, 03:10 AM   #19
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I just added 1 quart after passing 13,000km. The current F30 335i uses less oil than my E46 330i back then.
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