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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in | Oil & Fluids | Servicing | TSB Engine oil at minimum level with 3800 miles?

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      03-08-2017, 01:39 PM   #1
Hellrot
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Engine oil at minimum level with 3800 miles?

I got an alert saying my engine oil is at a minimum level and I need to add 1 qt within 125 miles.

I have 3800 miles on the car, is this normal?
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      03-08-2017, 01:43 PM   #2
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Did you try doing the oil gauge on a flat surface and letting it check itself again? (in settings)
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      03-08-2017, 01:57 PM   #3
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Do what @nvmaddog said and check in setting on a flat surface. If it still shows low, I'd bring to a service center because there has to be a leak somewhere.
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      03-08-2017, 03:24 PM   #4
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Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot. The last time I drove it was about 2 weeks ago, not sure if that could be a factor.
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      03-08-2017, 03:35 PM   #5
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When I first got my car it also burned some oil, I was at minimum before my first oil change. I babied it never went over 4000rpm. After that it always stayed at max oil level.
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      03-08-2017, 03:49 PM   #6
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The N55 burns some oil -- more during break-in than later. I've had to top up two or three times I think. I had to put a quart in around 4000 miles, so don't worry too much about it.
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      03-08-2017, 04:48 PM   #7
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I had to add about .75 QTs over the first 5,000 miles. After that, the oil levels have remained very stable. I currently have 12K miles.

Like Liquidpaper pointed out, BMW turbo motors, just like most any other turbo motor out there, will burn some oil. The harder you drive and/or if you add power mods, you should expect to burn higher amounts of oil. It's entirely normal. All my prior cars, turbos or not, have burned some amount of oil. If you're burning a quart every 3K miles and it gets worse over time, then I'd start getting worried and ask for an oil consumption test.
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      03-08-2017, 04:52 PM   #8
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I was a quart low at about 4000 miles as well.

The dealer was close by and that is when I found out they would top off if it was a full quart low, gratis.
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      03-08-2017, 05:32 PM   #9
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Same here. I burned through a couple of litres in the first 8k kms and none since. Check on a flat surface as suggested above
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      03-08-2017, 06:02 PM   #10
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Had to put a bottle in early on and since then stays right up there.
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      03-09-2017, 10:10 PM   #11
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I think this is a break in issue. I've had many cars need a quart before their 1st oil change. But afterwards they were all fine.. Except this Toyota I've got.. Which did the opposite.. 1st 24K miles had no oil consumption.. afterwards.. it started eating oil.
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      03-10-2017, 12:05 PM   #12
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just turned 19,000 miles on my 2016 228i RWD 6MT.

engine has never consumed a drop of oil....oil level checks always at 100%.

Maybe an old wives tale...but I was very careful during break in (1500 miles) to "load the engine" while driving to "set the rings"...."no excessive idling", no revs over 4,000 unless by "mistake"


I have to say...the engine/6MT is a "pleasure to drive"......smooth, powerful....I love getting onto an exit ramp lugging a bit in 3rd gear and feel and hear the engine rev flawlessly getting up to 80 mph before shifting into 6th gear....a dam blast !
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      03-10-2017, 12:05 PM   #13
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My oil level was also close to the minimum needed before my first oil change. Last year before my HPDE, I stopped by the dealership and they gave me two quarts of 0W-20. They told me that as long as it was above the minimum to not worry about it, but gave me the oil anyway, in case I wanted or needed to add some oil.

I got a early message for service since it was a year from the manufacture date, although I hadn't had the car for a year, and only had 8500 miles on it at the time. The dealership changed the oil at that time, at my request.
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      03-10-2017, 10:04 PM   #14
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Mine has never used a drop of oil since new. I broke it in driving through the mountains...Up through the gears and down through the gears. Decelerating is important, it helps to seat in the rings. Maybe the break-in had something do do with it, Maybe not.
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      03-10-2017, 10:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlpsRider View Post
Mine has never used a drop of oil since new. I broke it in driving through the mountains...Up through the gears and down through the gears. Decelerating is important, it helps to seat in the rings. Maybe the break-in had something do do with it, Maybe not.
same way for my cars breakin....always under load either accelerating of decelerating
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      03-10-2017, 10:32 PM   #16
Hellrot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by forumlurker221 View Post
I was a quart low at about 4000 miles as well.

The dealer was close by and that is when I found out they would top off if it was a full quart low, gratis.
I stopped by the dealer and they dropped in a quart. I didn't even get out of my car. They said it was normal. Seems like a lot of people have had a similar experience. It's interesting that others haven't though.

Thanks for the feedback guys.
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      03-10-2017, 10:42 PM   #17
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I needed a quart at 6500miles
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      03-11-2017, 11:38 AM   #18
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I did break in at 1200 and didn't rev above 4k. My oil is always at 100%
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      03-12-2017, 05:51 PM   #19
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Same with me. Break in change and kept revs below 4k for first 1200 miles. Always at 100%
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