1000 miles up - should I be checking the dipstick?

[granville]

After all the hoo-hah concerning the M5's apparently voracious appetite for Texas tea, I was wondering whether I too should pop the hatch and peer into the abyss for the cap marked 'oil,' just in case?

And what's the best gooey stuff for these things, anyway?

[dazren]

The service book should indicate what goo was used last time.

DAZ

[domster]

Get your man friday reginald to do it. Seemed like a useful chap and saves grime under the fingernails, you know.

Always worth checking oil regularly if car is new to you, or you are doing long distances or hooning.

[zoomer]

I've just had MURDER with this issue. Almost given myself an ulcer.

Got my new 330Ci Clubsport (silver, black leather, schnizer mirrors and 'zorst oh yes) three weeks ago.

The service guy warned me they use oil (up to a litre every 2000 miles ) so I thought I'd pop out and buy a litre.

So I ring the dealer, and ask what to use. They tell me they use Mobil 1. So I go to Sytners (where I didn't buy one becuase of their snotty attitude towards me) and they say they use Shell Helix, so I go to somewhere else and they say they use different stuff again.)

[zoomer]

Ooops. Bit premature there

So anyway I decide to go with the dealer I bought the car from (Heathrow - TOP TOP banana) and have bought Mobil 1.

Thirteen quid a litre, so more than scotch

Anyway I think my point is that Mobil 1 is well known and trusted, so I've gone for that.

[granville]

I think I'll get somebody else to sort it out.

After all, little else galls more than men standing idle.

[m-five]

£13/litre must be stealer bought as it is £32 in Halfords for 4L.

What rating is it (5w30/15w60)?

You could also try Castrol RS/TWS which is 10w60, or Millers Oils CSS (10w60).

[bluesatin]

I paid about £3.50 for a lt Mobile 1 from a local garage. You have to bring the container but they use the big oil drums for the garage.

[dannylt]

derestrictor said:

After all the hoo-hah concerning the M5's apparently voracious appetite for Texas tea, I was wondering whether I too should pop the hatch and peer into the abyss for the cap marked 'oil,' just in case?

Waaah! Could be a little late now - shouldn't you check at least once a week? If it was marginal when you picked it up it could be well below min now? Though it may have a "low oil" sensor.

[clubsport]

I really think it would be a good idea to get into the habit of checking the level on the M5 engine.It takes a matter of seconds and adding this to your skill set may save you a lot of money in the event of a serf not being ready & able.

[john_p]

Doesn't the M5 have to run on TWS ? I think it's about £12 per litre and you can't get it anywhere except the dealer ..

[daver]

zoomer said:

Got my new 330Ci... The service guy warned me they use oil (up to a litre every 2000 miles )

What?! My 330 Touring might be a tad older than your splendid new chariot (55,000 miles) but oil consumption is pretty negligible. 10W-40 Semi Syn (Valvoline as it happens, not that that would make any difference).

Mobil1 0W-xx seems to go through a lot of motors like a dose of salts. Too thin for its own good?

In answer/suggestion to DeR's original question, Millers 10W-60 CFS seems to suit the Cerb V8 pretty well.

[john_p]

My 330Ci used one litre in the 12,000 miles that I had it for.

I'm not sure whether Derestrictor's car is still under warranty, but I wouldn't use anything other than TWS if it is!

[dazren]

DeR

I'll give you these links providing you don't leave us.

www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=6152dc467bce56a9281a27f69cf6062b&threadid=32667&highlight=oil+AND+recommended


www.bmwm5.com

DAZ

>> Edited by dazren on Wednesday 3rd December 13:08

[eliot]

I had a nightmare the other day. Thought i better top up the oil on my 540i.
Rang the garage, they advised to use castrol SLX (not slx2), cost me 12 quid.
Popped the bonnet, took the filler cap of and then promply dropped it into the engine bay. so i put my open can of oil down, and looked underneath for a way of getting it out - promptly kicked the oil over and lost half of it over the drive. Couldn't see underneath, so thought i would move it onto drive so i could jack it up.....Oil sprays all over the engine bay
I eventually fished it out with a long garden cane, and poured the remainder of the bottle in the car.
So be carefull with your filler cap on the V8's becuase there's not alot of room in the engine bay.
eliot.

[granville]

Thanks chaps.

Daz, Paul - not actually done 1k miles yet so hopefully it won't have worn out just yet...

Read somewhere that after a few miles under their belt the M5s actually used less than when new so mine should be hokay.

Cheers for the links, too, Daz - will keep the 'mirror removal doctor' happy with a search for the dipstick later this evening.

On the subject of hoof level, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not actually that quick and will be looking at Birds (the tweakers rather than the rumpy pumpy) in Feb for a substantial liberation of thrust.

(Still can't believe the transformation yielded by sport button depression.)


Sherrif Roscoe P. Coltraine.

[zoomer]

Eliot - I am sorry to say this but I am afraid I just peed my pants laughing.

Thanks for cheering me up no end!! I'm glad it's not just me that things like that happen to....!


Z

[Tabs]

Reminds me of when I did a DIY oil and filter change a while back. Dropped the sump bung in the oil tray. Didn't want to plunge bare hand in to retieve, so popped into the kitchen to get a polytheyne bag. Slipped it over hand and fished out bung, only to discover that I'd picked up a fruit bag with air/child safety holes in it......

[mustard]

derestrictor said:

After all the hoo-hah concerning the M5's apparently voracious appetite for Texas tea, I was wondering whether I too should pop the hatch and peer into the abyss for the cap marked 'oil,' just in case? And what's the best gooey stuff for these things, anyway?

Doesnt the man from Warley come and do that for you?