Regular Oil Top Ups

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   Hey all,

I am having to top up the oil fairly regularly on my 520i E39, perhaps 

every six weeks or so the warning light will come on, and sure enough 

the level is low.  I have never had a car do that, the wife's vectra can do 

14K without needing changed easy!  No oil in driveway or at work, it 

seems to be burning it.

Have probably went through 1.5 of the bigger bottles you buy in garages 

(can't remember L) in 6 months

If its bad, I don't think I want to know, but the service is due at the end of 

Feb and I might as well prepare myself.

cheers

Peter.

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wackenzie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 23-May-2008 Location: Motherwell Status: Offline Points: 67	Post Options Post Reply Quote wackenzie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Regular Oil Top Ups Posted: 30-January-2009 at 20:57
	Hey all, I am having to top up the oil fairly regularly on my 520i E39, perhaps every six weeks or so the warning light will come on, and sure enough the level is low. I have never had a car do that, the wife's vectra can do 14K without needing changed easy! No oil in driveway or at work, it seems to be burning it. Have probably went through 1.5 of the bigger bottles you buy in garages (can't remember L) in 6 months If its bad, I don't think I want to know, but the service is due at the end of Feb and I might as well prepare myself. cheers Peter.

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kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Post Options Post Reply Quote kbannon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 21:08
	What year is it? Roughly how many miles would you clock up in that period? BMW reckon that 1L of oil per 1,000 miles is fine. If you are doing much less than this over the six weeks then I might be concerned about nikasil
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

wackenzie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 23-May-2008 Location: Motherwell Status: Offline Points: 67	Post Options Post Reply Quote wackenzie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 21:35
	Kbannon, that makes me feel better, probably looking at 7k+ in six months. Its a 2001, and week to week journeys are 12m at a time through many roundabouts, traffic lights and unpredictable back roads. Does this tie up? ta Pete

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Post Options Post Reply Quote kbannon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 21:52
	If its a 2001 then it definitley does not have nikasil cylinder liners. I think the M54 engine likes a bit of oil and yours sounds no different. Were you saying you do 12 minute journeys? If so then you should give the car a good blast (30mins) just to get rid of any condensation, etc. from doing short journeys
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

wackenzie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 23-May-2008 Location: Motherwell Status: Offline Points: 67	Post Options Post Reply Quote wackenzie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 22:00
	12 mile journeys, to work and back, but occasionally down the motorway at 60-70. This is the first BMW I have had and the wife's vectra has just died with bent valves etc, probably due to not looking after it since I got the BM, so I am now nervous about anything out of the norm. Thank god for this website. On that last problem I had with the bonnet not opening I could not believe BMW wanted it booked in, when it actually took 5mins to sort, and only due to the efforts of the guys on this site, otherwise I was looking at a hefty bill. Thanks. Pete.

Stone-IslandV8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2003 Location: North Somerset Status: Offline Points: 3015	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stone-IslandV8 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 22:23
	BM figures are 1L to every 600 miles IIRC from when my nikasil 520 died and that was chomping 1L per 300 miles at best!! M54 known for its liking of a tipple and some of the 330s and 530s can drink less than 1L per 1000miles.
	Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Post Options Post Reply Quote kbannon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30-January-2009 at 22:25
	In many people's experiences that I've come across, dealers frequently take the easy and usually more expensive route. A recent thread on here about a automatic gearbox issue recommended avoinding the dealer who would be willing to charge up to �5k for a new one. The owner got an independent to fix it for about a grand!
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31-January-2009 at 09:37
	Peter Yes the M54 engines have a certain 'thirst' for oil and which according to BMW a consumption of 1L in 600 miles is normal, I find this astonishingly bad! I used to top up the oil in my old Senator with 500-1000 ml every 2000-3000 miles and it had an oil leak! Car manufacturers usually put a really bad figure on oil consumption just to cover themselves. I would get it checked out at BM Motors in Law seeing as how you are from near there. You are losing enough oil to put the warning light on which is never a good thing. What's the exhaust trail like? Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

wackenzie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 23-May-2008 Location: Motherwell Status: Offline Points: 67	Post Options Post Reply Quote wackenzie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31-January-2009 at 10:49
	Andrew, as far as I can see (from the drivers seat) the exhaust is pretty good, but I think I'll get the wife to drive and i'll follow behind to see if its black and blue. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll note the milage once its serviced at the end of the month and monitor from there too. Do you know if BM Motors are open on Saturdays. cheers Peter.

540 V8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Lick my badge Joined: 07-December-2005 Location: Running the asylum Status: Offline Points: 2280	Post Options Post Reply Quote 540 V8 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03-February-2009 at 20:53
	I can't believe any manufacturer can put this type of figure on oil consumption. I did my last service nearly a year ago and have probably not done 10k in that time. I have only topped up once and that is because my RCG's have started to weep but I'd say if it wasn't for them, in a year and nearly 10k, practically no consumption at all. For peace of mind, I'd get it checked at service time though as oil begins to breakdown at the end of it's service life, it can thin and you may use a little more. Mike Edited by 540 V8
	Current:E34 540i Touring 6 speed manual(Mpower bodykit & suspension)& Chrysler Voyager 3.3 V6 auto Previous:E34 530iSE AC Schnitzer suspension. E28 525e auto-Standard