XSeries-forum

It seems from googling that BMW V8’s seem a bit awkward to get a decent reliable oil level when checking on the dipstick. Since I’ve had the car I’ve never been able to see what’s on it very well and thought it was just me, maybe you’ll say it is!

I was always under the impression that you check oil levels when cold but I see also that it says to check when the engine is warm and about 5 minutes after turning off.

Is this what everyone does?

I can never get a decent level on the dipstick, one side always seems higher than the other, I’ve done it warm and it looks low so I’ve chucked some in, low level alarm has never come on, when it’s cold the oil level seems to be all over the place depending on what day it is. My oil is really clean so it’s a bugger to see anyway.

I check mine cold.
It's cold when it is put in on an oil change.
I check everything cold tyres/water and oil and have done it that way for the best part of fifty years.

Well this is what I thought, apparently it says in the manual to do it warm and the guy in the garage next door to us that has a BMW says it should be warm, I’m worried about overfilling it but unless I do an oil change I can’t tell what’s in it !

Clearly states in the owners manual on page 148 that the engine should be at its normal operating temp, then wait 5 minutes before checking oil level.

Cool, that’s cleared that up then

I found if you check the level when cold you need to leave the dipstick out for 5 mins then you get a consistent reading. Although the shape of the dipstick suggests the oil all drains down I find it doesn’t and readings are inconsistent