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      01-20-2013, 11:38 PM   #45
shivaswrath
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Will the dealer top it off if its below max for free?

I'm going in on Wed and wanted to get group consensus...I won't make it to 17,000 miles (next recommended service) without some oil rate I'm going...
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      01-21-2013, 08:41 AM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shivaswrath View Post
Will the dealer top it off if its below max for free?

I'm going in on Wed and wanted to get group consensus...I won't make it to 17,000 miles (next recommended service) without some oil rate I'm going...
Typically dealer will ask you to wait until it drops to minimum line. They want to be paid by BMW for the tech time to check, fill, etc. and the only way is if it meets BMW's requirements for reimbursement. Dealer can always fudge it, but that will depend on your dealers willingness to work with you.

I recommend you spend the $10 and buy a quart of BMW approved synthetic oil.
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      02-07-2013, 11:07 AM   #47
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Just added 2nd quart at just over 9000 miles. At this rate I will be using 3 quarts between oil changes. I'm not quite sure what to think.
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      02-07-2013, 04:54 PM   #48
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OP here with an update. I've had the car now for almost 10 months, and it's been 6 months since the incident in the first post. I have not had another occurrence of the issue, in fact the oil measurement still reads full, so hopefully it was just a break-in period event.

Spoke to a service guy while I was at the dealership today and he indicated that an early oil change (annual) could be done if I'm well below the required mileage for the regularly scheduled one, which I am.
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      02-15-2013, 08:39 PM   #49
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335 6MT with ~8900 miles at the time.
Got the warning today on the highway (returning from Tulsa to see The Who).
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      02-15-2013, 08:54 PM   #50
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Wish I was a fortunate as Raspartan.
It's quart was gone at about 2300 miles. Topped it off and now 800 miles into the top off its down 25%. Expect to be top off in another month. The N55 may be nice but it's not built well and this may be an oil burner. Not sure I'm up for owning it or greeting another if this doesn't improve.
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      02-22-2013, 09:16 PM   #51
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What oil brand/type are you guys using to top it off? I looked up the owners manual and it says SAW 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40 and SAW 5W-30 are the types of oil that need to be used. Does anybody know what oil the stock N55 comes with? I want to make sure its getting the same oil...
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      02-22-2013, 10:05 PM   #52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cadi335i
What oil brand/type are you guys using to top it off? I looked up the owners manual and it says SAW 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40 and SAW 5W-30 are the types of oil that need to be used. Does anybody know what oil the stock N55 comes with? I want to make sure its getting the same oil...
Go to the dealer and they top it up for you, why waste money! They use BMW high performance oil.
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      02-23-2013, 10:07 PM   #53
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I'd repeat the recommendation of taking it into the dealer for a top-up instead of paying for it yourself.

However, if you want to have a bottle in the garage or trunk just in case of emergencies then I used Castrol Syntec 5w30. The service people seemed OK with it too. I think I read somewhere that this is actually what the BMW oil is.
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      03-14-2013, 12:50 AM   #54
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If your car was reading while you were on a downhill slope. Then that is just a no dipstick fail. Happened on my 1 and i was tripping out after one hard run up and down "the snake".
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      04-15-2013, 05:33 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snowghost View Post
It says 1 quart, not liter. I was a quart low at about 800 miles. Put in 1 qt Mobile One and am at 2500 miles and still full. Keep 2 of the BMW Castrol on hand now in case I can't get to the dealer for top off.


I think Castrol edge 5W-30 is safest for the N55 engines in the US, correct?
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      06-08-2013, 07:41 AM   #56
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The 328i takes 5.75 liters of oil
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      06-09-2013, 01:13 AM   #57
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My 328i was delivered with a 1 litre bottle of oil to top up as it would use oil during break in. So far it hasn't used any 520Km
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      07-07-2013, 06:24 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pkim1079 View Post
If your car was reading while you were on a downhill slope. Then that is just a no dipstick fail. Happened on my 1 and i was tripping out after one hard run up and down "the snake".
I got 11,000 miles on my car now. I got the low oil warning light coming down the grape vine but it cleared when I stopped to get gas.

Just ran a diagnostics and it's about 1/4 above minimum so I won't be adding oil till I get the warning again.
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      11-06-2013, 12:05 PM   #59
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I had to add a quart of oil at around 8500 miles.
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      05-10-2014, 04:38 AM   #60
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currently at 13k miles. i got oil change service at 8k. at 10k i had to add one quart. now i got the warning again to add another quart. i think if there isn't any problem in my car, using more sport+ mode might have been the cause.
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      05-10-2014, 07:14 AM   #61
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Just got mime topped off 1100 miles ago and it's already reading 1/2 liter low. Pisses me off to no end to get the dealer BS "it's within Spec".
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      05-10-2014, 09:20 AM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shivaswrath View Post


I think Castrol edge 5W-30 is safest for the N55 engines in the US, correct?
Maybe, maybe not. You want to use the oil viscosity recommended in the owner's manual AND an oil that meets BMW's lube standard called LL-01; or strictly speaking, an oil that is BMW LL-01 APPROVED (the oil mfr submits their oil to BMW for testing and approval). The BMW Hi PO synthetic 5w30 (made by Castrol to BMW specs) sold by dealers meets these requirements.

Not familiar with the Castrol oil you're talking about, but before I'd use it check the bottle back to be sure it's BMW LL-01 APPROVED.
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      06-29-2014, 05:26 AM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3 View Post
Happened on my 1 and i was tripping out after one hard run up and down "the snake".
It's funny that last night I got the warning after running up and down the snake as well!


I got an oil change service at 8000 miles. Now I am at 14000 miles with 2500 miles left till next oil change. I will be adding the third quart of engine oil this week. I just hope that my N26 burning a lotta oil is normal.

It's odd that I didn't need to add any engine oil between 0-8000 miles interval.
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      06-30-2014, 09:33 AM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AMJAM View Post
My 328i was delivered with a 1 litre bottle of oil to top up as it would use oil during break in. So far it hasn't used any 520Km
That's what they did with mine too. They probably figured that instead of both of us wasting time and having their techs top up the oil, it's cheaper/more convenient for them to just give me a bottle of oil and have me top it up myself when needed. My car is about a year old now and I've yet to touch the bottle.

Side note: They did provide a cool little carrying bag for the oil that has Velcro on one side of the bag. They then lifted the floor of my trunk and tossed it in and it sticks without moving and making unnecessary noise!
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      06-30-2014, 09:49 PM   #65
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Just added my 1st quart @ 7 months 5600 miles. N55
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      06-30-2014, 10:06 PM   #66
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I am now 14 months in and that little bottle is still in the boot have not used a drop of oil. However it's noisy as he'll and the dealer goes it's probably the oil. Wtf he says it's guaranteed to last but it doesn't???? Wtf again well change it then. Dealer says no it's fine. I just left.
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