Oil Level Sensor vs. Oil Level Dipstick

STE92VE · 03-23-2007, 04:27 PM

After reading all the problems and inaccuracies that folks have been experiencing with the oil level sensor, maybe we can send a message to BMW whether we would prefer the oil level dipstick back in our engines or not.
Stand up and be counted.

BMW_drei · 03-23-2007, 04:29 PM

Both -- a sensor's nice (aka luxury), dipstick is mandatory (fault-free and you can guage oil quality)

Revlis · 03-23-2007, 04:31 PM

I like the BOTH Idea, and I am sure there is a certain percentage who cannot find their dipsticks anyway. But I'd rather just have a dip stick...

Tag · 03-23-2007, 04:34 PM

Who's the dipstick that got rid of it anyway? Bring it back!

STE92VE · 03-23-2007, 04:35 PM

Didn't think about the both option since the problem is with the accuracy of the sensor. I figured why have something if you can't trust it's reliability.

LEDZEP · 03-23-2007, 04:38 PM

Why not both? I had a MB that had both. That was nice.

E90Fleet · 03-23-2007, 04:40 PM

Both

Then it caters for the enthusiast and the uninformed

stressdoc · 03-23-2007, 04:52 PM

Save weight, $, no problems with pressure or baffles -- ? I think that there is more to this than trying to be idiot-proof.

742 · 03-23-2007, 04:55 PM

I think BMW is in a bit of a bind here. If they just use a dipstick in combination with the long oil change intervals your average idiot American driver will never check the oil and possibly run it dry.

So they probably feel a need for a semi-idiot proof idiot light to tell you when it is a quart low.

But putting both an electronic system and a dipstick in would create another set of problems, in that another subset of idiot American drivers would be constantly at the dealer because there is a ¼ quart discrepancy between the dipstick and the electronics.

STE92VE · 03-23-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 742

But putting both an electronic system and a dipstick in would create another set of problems, in that another subset of idiot American drivers would be constantly at the dealer because there is a ¼ quart discrepancy between the dipstick and the electronics.

Now I know why I didn't make "both" an optional choice!

Autobot · 03-23-2007, 05:12 PM

Still would vote for both

s4iscool · 03-23-2007, 05:14 PM

you cant really judge the quality of oil by using the dip stick...after a few hundred miles, your beautiful apple juice oil can be significantly darker. OIl at 2k miles looks the same as 5k miles. Heck i dont think i could tell the difference between 5k and 10k miles. Witht aht said, i agree it would stil be nice to have a dip stick

Two Sheds · 03-23-2007, 05:22 PM

I would prefer the electronic and dipstick or just the dipstick. My 330xi is going back to the dealers because the electronic sensor can't decide if there is no oil or 3/5 full.

ALPINE6SPD · 03-23-2007, 06:06 PM

Other
Both

khafner · 03-23-2007, 06:17 PM

I vote for both. You can tell alot about oil from the dipstick. Plus it is idiot proof. When I drove commercially if we lost oil pressure we'd check the oil level.
It works. Electronic equipment is prone to failure. Oil looses its transparency when it goes bad and if you monitor it you can tell when its bad. It works reasonably well. You can't really see much difference between say 1000 or 2000 miles of driving but it can very suddenly loose its transparency. This only goes for gas engines. Diesel must be tested.

mercury26 · 03-23-2007, 07:12 PM

They should have both on the car.

Cheers,

Chuck

teknochild · 03-23-2007, 07:34 PM

i want both

dipstick to check oil quality, and it doesnt malfunction

sensor to save my ass that 1 in a million time i forget to check it

bronco · 03-23-2007, 08:41 PM

The better question is: "Why the hell BMW dont get their sh1t together, and star producing engines that dont burn so MUCH oil...?"

teknochild · 03-23-2007, 08:42 PM

ive only heard of a few 335s burning large amounts of oil

Hawkshaw · 03-23-2007, 08:47 PM

I like the technological step, but that's just me.

jbass524 · 03-23-2007, 10:39 PM

Both. Technology not always good.

I've gotten used to ignoring the oil level alert after I backup my hill when the car is cold.

ages944 · 03-23-2007, 10:52 PM

Both.

Having both would have made convincing my dealership's service department that my oil level sensor was broken a lot easier. Get this: I go to the dealership saying my sensor is malfunctioning. They say they'll check the oil level. I ask to watch them do it, and they agree. So, imagine my amusement when the technician gets in the car and checks the oil level using, you got it, the sensor!

Bring back the regular 'ol dipstick.

View Poll Results: Which do you prefer?
Current Oil Level Sensor	43	30.71%
Bring back the Oil Level Dipstick	89	63.57%
I don't care, I didn't know my car needs oil	8	5.71%
Voters: 140. You may not vote on this poll

03-23-2007, 04:27 PM	#1
STE92VE STEVIL Empire 219 Rep 6,297 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Oil Level Sensor vs. Oil Level Dipstick After reading all the problems and inaccuracies that folks have been experiencing with the oil level sensor, maybe we can send a message to BMW whether we would prefer the oil level dipstick back in our engines or not. Stand up and be counted. __________________ 2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD) 2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD) 2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
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03-23-2007, 04:29 PM	#2
BMW_drei Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 296 Posts Drives: 2013 535i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Both -- a sensor's nice (aka luxury), dipstick is mandatory (fault-free and you can guage oil quality)
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03-23-2007, 04:31 PM	#3
Revlis Now With 33% MORE Sarcasm Free! 157 Rep 3,462 Posts Drives: M4 i3 X3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (0)	I like the BOTH Idea, and I am sure there is a certain percentage who cannot find their dipsticks anyway. But I'd rather just have a dip stick... __________________ A BMW is Just a Car, it doesn't make you smart, handsome, clever, better, cool, or wealthy.
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03-23-2007, 04:34 PM	#4
Tag this is the way 18348 Rep 8,553 Posts Drives: N-1 starfighter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	Who's the dipstick that got rid of it anyway? Bring it back!
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03-23-2007, 04:35 PM	#5
STE92VE STEVIL Empire 219 Rep 6,297 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Didn't think about the both option since the problem is with the accuracy of the sensor. I figured why have something if you can't trust it's reliability. __________________ 2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD) 2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD) 2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
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03-23-2007, 04:38 PM	#6
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Why not both? I had a MB that had both. That was nice. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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03-23-2007, 04:40 PM	#7
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Both Then it caters for the enthusiast and the uninformed __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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03-23-2007, 04:52 PM	#8
stressdoc Moderator 618 Rep 10,858 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Save weight, $, no problems with pressure or baffles -- ? I think that there is more to this than trying to be idiot-proof. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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03-23-2007, 04:55 PM	#9
742 Major 13 Rep 1,187 Posts Drives: E90 325i; F10 528i; 2002tii Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	I think BMW is in a bit of a bind here. If they just use a dipstick in combination with the long oil change intervals your average idiot American driver will never check the oil and possibly run it dry. So they probably feel a need for a semi-idiot proof idiot light to tell you when it is a quart low. But putting both an electronic system and a dipstick in would create another set of problems, in that another subset of idiot American drivers would be constantly at the dealer because there is a ¼ quart discrepancy between the dipstick and the electronics.
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03-23-2007, 05:12 PM	#11
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Still would vote for both
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03-23-2007, 05:14 PM	#12
s4iscool Major 26 Rep 1,138 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Neccos iTrader: (2)	you cant really judge the quality of oil by using the dip stick...after a few hundred miles, your beautiful apple juice oil can be significantly darker. OIl at 2k miles looks the same as 5k miles. Heck i dont think i could tell the difference between 5k and 10k miles. Witht aht said, i agree it would stil be nice to have a dip stick
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03-23-2007, 05:22 PM	#13
Two Sheds First Lieutenant 10 Rep 358 Posts Drives: Mini Cooper JCW Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I would prefer the electronic and dipstick or just the dipstick. My 330xi is going back to the dealers because the electronic sensor can't decide if there is no oil or 3/5 full.
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03-23-2007, 06:06 PM	#14
ALPINE6SPD Lieutenant General 156 Rep 10,411 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 328i Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Highland Lakes NJ iTrader: (2)	Other Both __________________ 2010 AW e90 328i: 6 speed, Black Leather, Dark Wood trim, ZPP, ZCW, ZVP,ZSP, Nav, Xenon BMW Performance CF Rear spolier and Gloss black grills 2008 Candy White MKV GTI 2.0T 6 Speed Manul Gone 2008 AW X3 3.0si: 6 speed Returned 2006 AW e90 330i: 6 speed Dinan Stage 1 Returned
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03-23-2007, 06:17 PM	#15
khafner Private First Class 6 Rep 123 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: fulton, ny iTrader: (0)	dipstick I vote for both. You can tell alot about oil from the dipstick. Plus it is idiot proof. When I drove commercially if we lost oil pressure we'd check the oil level. It works. Electronic equipment is prone to failure. Oil looses its transparency when it goes bad and if you monitor it you can tell when its bad. It works reasonably well. You can't really see much difference between say 1000 or 2000 miles of driving but it can very suddenly loose its transparency. This only goes for gas engines. Diesel must be tested.
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03-23-2007, 07:12 PM	#16
mercury26 Lord of the Rings 86 Rep 470 Posts Drives: 20 Audi SQ5,05 BMW 330i ZHP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Westminster, Colorado iTrader: (2) Garage List 2021 BMW M2C [0.00] 2020 Audi SQ5 [0.00] 2019 VW Golf Alltrack [0.00] 2018 Ford F150 [0.00] 1977 VW Scirocco [0.00] 2005 BMW 330i ZHP [0.00] 2007 Audi RS4 [0.00]	They should have both on the car. Cheers, Chuck
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03-23-2007, 07:34 PM	#17
teknochild Your resident 4um troll 125 Rep 2,020 Posts Drives: 335 coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	i want both dipstick to check oil quality, and it doesnt malfunction sensor to save my ass that 1 in a million time i forget to check it __________________ RAWRrrrr
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03-23-2007, 08:41 PM	#18
bronco Colonel 76 Rep 2,104 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	The better question is: "Why the hell BMW dont get their sh1t together, and star producing engines that dont burn so MUCH oil...?" __________________ SaaS - The world of tomorrow is already here...www.saaschronicles.com
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03-23-2007, 08:42 PM	#19
teknochild Your resident 4um troll 125 Rep 2,020 Posts Drives: 335 coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	ive only heard of a few 335s burning large amounts of oil __________________ RAWRrrrr
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03-23-2007, 08:47 PM	#20
Hawkshaw Major 100 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I like the technological step, but that's just me. __________________ Paul
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03-23-2007, 10:39 PM	#21
jbass524 Major 99 Rep 1,050 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Norcal iTrader: (2)	Both. Technology not always good. I've gotten used to ignoring the oil level alert after I backup my hill when the car is cold.
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03-23-2007, 10:52 PM	#22
ages944 Captain 99 Rep 990 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs iTrader: (0)	Both. Having both would have made convincing my dealership's service department that my oil level sensor was broken a lot easier. Get this: I go to the dealership saying my sensor is malfunctioning. They say they'll check the oil level. I ask to watch them do it, and they agree. So, imagine my amusement when the technician gets in the car and checks the oil level using, you got it, the sensor! Bring back the regular 'ol dipstick. __________________ BMW : Sine qua non Mods: Blacklines \| Rear Seat Power Outlets \| Rear Fog Lights \| Ashtray Garage Door Opener
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