Oil light

[gryphon25]

I tried searching but couldn't find anything about this on the forum.

I have had my car for a few weeks and I have been driving it daily since. Today when I stopped the oil light on the dash came on. I drove home and when I stopped the same thing happened.
The car went for a service before I collected it but I have heard stories about these guys not doing what they are supposed to.
The car is telling me it needs 1L. Do I actually add a litre?
Also, what type of oil should I use? Dont know if thats in the manual but I dont have it with me now anyway.
There are not oil leaks on the ground, no oil spots anywhere in the engine bay and no unusual smoke from the exhaust.

PS
I have a 2005 320i e91 Touring.

 

[Blue Shirt]

The car is telling me it needs 1L. Do I actually add a litre?

Yes, you add 1l of oil. BMW recommended oil is Castrol Magnatec 5W30.

It is quite normal for these engines to use some oil, even 1l/2000km is still within spec.

 

[gryphon25]

Wow! Really? That is something I will have to get used to. I had my previous car for 3 years and I never had to top up the oil which is why this concerned me somewhat.
I guess I should then buy a 5L and just keep it on hand for when the car gets thirsty again

Sent from my GT-N8000 using Tapatalk

 

[Blue Shirt]

You can buy the oil in handy 1l containers from Midas and even the dealers stock them for about R90/l

 

[gryphon25]

Cool, Thanks. Weird thing is this morning I checked the oil before topping it up and it showed the oil was fine.

Sent from my GT-N8000 using Tapatalk

 

[greenhorn]

I experienced the same thing. Put in 1 liter of out, the bmw brand one made in Germany and was a few rand cheaper the the castol made in S.A.

 

[gryphon25]

I can't seem to find 5W30 anywhere. I went to all the places in my area. Can anyone recommend a place that will have it?

---

Can I use 5W40 cause that easy to find almost anywhere

 

[greenhorn]

I got mine from the bmw dealer, I am sure Midas should stock

 

[gryphon25]

I was at 2 stores and neither one had. I will call a few to see who stocks it. Let me do a search for my closest BMW dealer as well.

 

[Garreth]

Yip bmw Clearwater gave me a price of R85 but I have a 320d so it now R147 a liter. No don't buy a 5w40. Bmw insist on 5w30. I serviced mine today and I used shell for the 3rd time now and it's much cleaner than the castrol crap. I don't really like castrol anyway. I also struggled to get shell and I finally got it from goldwagon for R85 a bottle.

I must say the shell in my 320d seems to keep it cleaner and drains easy. I also use less oil now. So much it filled my oil pan which is not the norm.

 

[Iceman007]

Its official

BMW has changed to Shell. The dealers also sell it in a BMW branded 1L container for about R85 excl vat. For some reason they have gone back to Longlife-01. I'm not yet sure what specific Shell they are using but will try to find out

Wonder if they are going to change their oil caps also on the cars so that it reads Shell.

 

[ET was here]

is it a big issue to do an oil top up with an oil of slightly lower specification ?

 

[Garreth]

Yes since last year they been trying to switch over to shell but supply has been very slow.
Petrol oil might not be the same as diesel. Like they has it before petrol runs on castrol magnatec pro and diesel used castrol edge.

At this stage there are problems with supply but this is what you can get for your diesel bmw. The ect bottle is the new type and the one next to it is the older one. They the same it's just without ect.
Cost me under R100 at goldwagon and dealer wanted R160 last year a liter. She'll seem to be working hard to get the foot in the door at bmw and from what the site says petrol motor should also run on the ect bottle. All these are rated at long life 04

 

[gryphon25]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I managed to finally find it. Bought some extra so I don't have to run around next time

 

[Iceman007]

BMW DROPS CASTROL FOR SHELL


http://m.autoevolution.com/bmw-drops-castryol-for-shell-as-official-oil-supplier-88737.html

 

[DieselFan]

Your oil level sensor could be faulty.

 

[Iceman007]

Your oil level sensor could be faulty.

I agree or maybe dirty and not reading correctly

 

[Bazza]

When you turn your ignition off and your yellow oil light pops up on the dash, this indicates that your oil is on the min level.

 

[Ash E90 Tour]

I had the same problem with my touring .It started with the oil light coming on I added oil but still said I need to add 1L then the car started smoking. Yes the gents are correct the car does burn oil.
I would suggest you take the car for a pressure test because it could be your stem seals that are going

 

[gryphon25]

I had the same problem with my touring .It started with the oil light coming on I added oil but still said I need to add 1L then the car started smoking. Yes the gents are correct the car does burn oil.
I would suggest you take the car for a pressure test because it could be your stem seals that are going

I ended up having to replace my valve stem seals. After that there was no more smoking and the car stopped being so greedy for more oil all the time.