2020 520i wants oil, but why?
Discussion
Background - new car purchased in 2020, it's a 520i but without MHT gubbins. Been excellent so far, 25k miles on the clock.
Was serviced as per schedule, at 12k miles in 2022 first time had a oil service (I thought BMW is pretty generous to give it 2 years, but wife's car, so be it, she doesn't want me to service it each year, won't die on that hill).
10000 miles or so later, during a long trip to Cornwall last week, car reports "low oil, add 1 litre"
Added 500 mil, still warning, added 250 more, warning went away. Didn't add more as I was a bit worried about overfilling it.
BMW claims it's normal, oil use changes with mileage, etc. They can't tell me what 'acceptable/expected oil use' is like Porsche can.
No leaks, never seen anything below the car in 3 years we've had it.
So in my mind, 3 options;
- sensor bad
- they didn't add enough during last service
- engine bad, started using way too much oil
Anyone else with such experience?
Car is going to a end-of-warranty check soon+mot etc, asked them to investigate, but fully expect they won't find anything.
Was serviced as per schedule, at 12k miles in 2022 first time had a oil service (I thought BMW is pretty generous to give it 2 years, but wife's car, so be it, she doesn't want me to service it each year, won't die on that hill).
10000 miles or so later, during a long trip to Cornwall last week, car reports "low oil, add 1 litre"
Added 500 mil, still warning, added 250 more, warning went away. Didn't add more as I was a bit worried about overfilling it.
BMW claims it's normal, oil use changes with mileage, etc. They can't tell me what 'acceptable/expected oil use' is like Porsche can.
No leaks, never seen anything below the car in 3 years we've had it.
So in my mind, 3 options;
- sensor bad
- they didn't add enough during last service
- engine bad, started using way too much oil
Anyone else with such experience?
Car is going to a end-of-warranty check soon+mot etc, asked them to investigate, but fully expect they won't find anything.
1 litre after 10k is fine. my Mk7 Golf normally needs at least 1x 1 litre top up between 10k services (usually 1500 miles before a service which always grates).
My old MK6 golf always needed half a litre or so betweens services until it got to mid 50k miles then barely used a drop.
My old F31 320d I never checked the oil let alone topped it up.
Some cars just need a bit occasionally, could have been under filled at service but also driving conditions could have caused it to burn a little.
If it was using a litre every couple of thousand then theres a problem but that usage is fine.
My old MK6 golf always needed half a litre or so betweens services until it got to mid 50k miles then barely used a drop.
My old F31 320d I never checked the oil let alone topped it up.
Some cars just need a bit occasionally, could have been under filled at service but also driving conditions could have caused it to burn a little.
If it was using a litre every couple of thousand then theres a problem but that usage is fine.
I’d say there’s no issue. Some cars use no oil running in, then a little afterwards. Or vice versa.
I’ve seen BMWs use oil from brand new and use the same amount even up to high mileage.
If you’re concerned, extend the warranty for a couple of years. It includes BMW emergency services too.
I’ve seen BMWs use oil from brand new and use the same amount even up to high mileage.
If you’re concerned, extend the warranty for a couple of years. It includes BMW emergency services too.
cvega said:
- they didn't add enough during last service
I did think that initially as a main dealer did exactly that to mine, but then I read your car waited 10K miles to complain about it, so I doubt it is that in your case.Seems like your engine has started to use it. Maybe monitor it over the next 10K miles and go from there.
cvega said:
i have no doubt that engines use oil in 10k miles, it's just that during the first 12k, it's not made a single complaint about it. So it's a change in behaviour IMHO?
What oil was used when new vs first oil service? Looking on google it seems BMW say 0w20 (unusual), 0w30 or 5w30.
If from the factory it had 5w30 compared to say 0w30 at the oil change you could use more.
Or if it was filled to the top mark exactly at the factory and then filled to the halfway point at the service that means it has only used 250ml more in 10k miles.
Back in the e39 days BMW said a litre for every 2000km was within spec.
Most dealers have switched from Castrol to Shell Helix Ultra 0W30 ECT (Emissions Control Technology) now. You may have noticed BMW oil caps no longer have 'Castrol' embossed on them.
I don't like it personally. Pop the oil cap off after a decent journey and there's a good amount of oil vapour haze misting out of the filler hole, so it suffers from evaporation.
I use 5W40 Fuchs GT1 Flex 3 in mine (BMW LL-04 approved) and it doesn't do that and uses nothing between 6K changes. With the Shell stuff I'd be topping up a little bit every 2000 miles.
I don't like it personally. Pop the oil cap off after a decent journey and there's a good amount of oil vapour haze misting out of the filler hole, so it suffers from evaporation.
I use 5W40 Fuchs GT1 Flex 3 in mine (BMW LL-04 approved) and it doesn't do that and uses nothing between 6K changes. With the Shell stuff I'd be topping up a little bit every 2000 miles.
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