Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Checking Engine Oil Level


Checking oil level:



1 Park the vehicle on a level surface.

2 Shut the engine off after it has reached normal operating temperature.

3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar material.

4 Push the dipstick carefully all the way into the guide tube and pull it out again.

5 The oil level should be in between the two marks on the dipstick.

As with fuel economy, oil consumption is directly influenced by your driving style and vehicle operating conditions.




The oil volume between the two marks on the dipstick corresponds to approx. 1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess oil will damage the engine.

Adding engine oil:



Wait until the level has dropped to just above the lower mark before adding oil. However, do not wait until the oil level drops below the lower mark.

Caution: BMW engines are designed to operate without oil additives; the use of additives could lead to damage in some cases. This is also true for the manual transmission, the automatic transmission, the differential, and the power steering system.