Normal to burn this much oil?

[gio]

I have 5250 miles on my 1. Today the oil light came and checked the oil and it said it was below the min and to add a quart. Is it normal for a car with this low mileage to burn so much oil? I didn't really have a choice so I brought it to Jiffy Lube for a change today.

[Mad Dragon]

Anything less than 1qt per 750 miles is considered normal.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by gio

I have 5250 miles on my 1. Today the oil light came and checked the oil and it said it was below the min and to add a quart. Is it normal for a car with this low mileage to burn so much oil? I didn't really have a choice so I brought it to Jiffy Lube for a change today.

Why did you take it to Jiffy Lube rather than your dealer, and why did you change the oil rather than just topping it off?

Although Mad Dragon is correct that the manufacturers claim consumption of one quart per 750 miles is "Normal", my experience with 4 BMWs has been less than one quart per 8,000 miles after break-in.
Tom

[gio]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Why did you take it to Jiffy Lube rather than your dealer, and why did you change the oil rather than just topping it off?

Although Mad Dragon is correct that the manufacturers claim consumption of one quart per 750 miles is "Normal", my experience with 4 BMWs has been less than one quart per 8,000 miles after break-in.
Tom

Several reasons. I wanted to change the oil every 5,000 miles anyways (it was my first oil change and I was planning on getting it changed this week). I didn't want to drive the car with the oil light on so I took it to the closest place to where I was. I didn't want to wait a month to get an appointment at the dealer, nor pay the dealer's outrageous prices for just an oil change. I also didn't know what kind of oil to put in if I bought it myself and I was worried there could have been a leak so I didn't want to just add more oil.

How many quarts have to be lost for the oil light to come on? If it is 2 or 3 quarts, I suppose that's ok given it's been over 5000 miles and no oil has been added ever.

[napoletani99]

it takes precisely one liter (quart) low of oil to trip the warning indicator. same happened to me around 7500 miles. i'm guessing you've been driving it a little hard?

[jkp1187]

I still wouldn't take my Chevy, let alone a BMW, to Jiffy Lube. Do it yourself. It's easy, cheaper, and you know exactly what is being done to your car.

[Lester]

I wouldn't trust Jiffy Lube with my lawn mower.....

[Brady1984]

I have gone about 8500 miles since my last oil change (break in change) and the gage has never indicated anything other than perfect. Maybe I just got lucky.

[runNgun]

Originally Posted by gio

... I didn't want to wait a month to get an appointment at the dealer, nor pay the dealer's outrageous prices for just an oil change. I also didn't know what kind of oil to put in if I bought it myself and I was worried there could have been a leak so I didn't want to just add more oil.

Use Castro, its recommended in the owner's manual and its actually printed on the oil filler cap of your engine.

I suggest you ask your dealer, mine will often give me a same day appointment for simple stuff like an oil change. However, you have a good point about their prices.

[tkbr0wn]

You dont need an appointment of any sort. You pull up to the service bay and tell the first person that you speak to that your oil light came on. They will pull a quart of oil from under the nearest counter (they're everywhere because they have to do this EVERY day). They will pour a quart in and you will be on your way in 5 minutes. NO paperwork, NO cost. I've done this twice in my first 10k miles

[JHZR2]

Please, PLEASE tell me that they used Pennzoil platinum EURO formulation in 5w-40 version... PLEASE?!?!??

Otherwise youre using an oil not designed forthe heat, direct injection, etc., and you're practically doing more damage than running a bit low.

THe dealer was the only choice. You HAVE to have control of oil quality, and run of the mill synthetics arent even the right choice... especially for the N54.

[Citizen Z]

Originally Posted by JHZR2

Please, PLEASE tell me that they used Pennzoil platinum EURO formulation in 5w-40 version... PLEASE?!?!??

Otherwise youre using an oil not designed forthe heat, direct injection, etc., and you're practically doing more damage than running a bit low.

THe dealer was the only choice. You HAVE to have control of oil quality, and run of the mill synthetics arent even the right choice... especially for the N54.

This is true if you're going 15,000 miles between oil changes, however your run of the mill synthetics are perfectly fine for a 5000-7500 mile interval.

Direct injection doesn't create a special lubrication requirement. They only operate marginally hotter than normal injection engines; its just that direct injection evaporates the fuel better creating a more complete and slightly hotter burn but its not as dramatic as you're making it out to be. Its not like the N54 has some sort of rediculously crazy cooling requirment and has a MASSIVE radiator and coolant reservior to compensate for teh omg si h0t!!11one. You could even get away with normal oil based 5W30 if you're willing to change it every 3000 miles.