BMW removes the Dipsticks

[mh_WRX]

What??? (C&D July 2007)

Your readers should be aware that the refinement of BMW now includes only speedo, tach, gas, and mpg gauges for instruments. All other [calculations not shown]. During my time with a 328i, an oil can dripping into what looked like water flashed on the screen several times. I learned this was the "add oil" indication. Unable to find the dipstick to check, I went to the dealer. They advised me there is no longer any dipstick in the BMW 3-series except the M3 and that the transition started in 2006. There have been a few hiccups with this new engineering breakthrough. The sensors occasionally malfunction, and customers have added oil when they shouldn't have. I was told the proper way to check the oil is to return the car to your BMW dealership and it will put the vehicle on a rack, drain the oil, measure it, and then reinstall the oil in the car. Two dealers have told me BMW doesn't want customers monkeying around under the hood. In my judgment, this new technology paradigm by BMW electrical engineers surpasses iDrive for idiocy...

[teh POD]

that's idiotic. there are some people still out there that like to work on their own cars.

[Mechie3]

WTH! Gauges are useful...removing them is not refining anything. Checking your oil is useful too. I wouldn't want someone to drain my (possibly) good oil into a crap filled pan and then "reinstall" it.

I want the choice to "monkey" under my hood.

[Gmd]

They will remove your fuel tank gauge next with just a simple light that comes on telling you to go to the dealer to get more gas.

[boomee]

just more ways they are taking away choices from the consumers of these cars and more of a way for them to charge money thats why ill never own a bmw dumbA$$$$es

[anthonywrx]

isn't that illegal?


on a serious note... i don't know what to say besides that is idiotic

[mh_WRX]

I need to verify, but someone just said the 07 C6Z06 has it's dipstick removed too.

[aren040]

just an indicator for your oil being low is stupid. But, Porsche did basically the same thing. They switched to an electronic oil checking system that measures the oil level for you on the screen underneath the Tach. I have not had any issues with mine yet. But having just an indicator, such as an on of switch type is just moronic.

[jasonallenross]

I did confirm this independently at one of those C&D marketing events comparing Caddilac to BMW (and other makes) with a BMW service/sales guy, there is in fact no dipstick and this is the way that you measure oil.

The part they left out was where you have to wait for the engine to reach a certain temp before the level will register ... and it won't tell you how much to add, either.

A wonderful way of replacing a $1 worth of metal that has worked "well enough" for 100+ years with an electronic gizmo that will likely fail at 100K miles and cost $1000 to replace while you wait 4 weeks to get one from Germany.

[stretchsje]

Sounds like BMW added a dipstick... to their accounting department.

[Stanley]

Yet another one of dozens of reason's I'll never buy another BMW...one of the others is that I don't trust their electronics. I wonder how this "refinement" is going to work on the 335 with a BRAND NEW twin turbo straight six. Going to the dealer to top off the oil every 1,000 miles or so sounds like a HUGE pain in the posterior.

[Mechie3]

Originally Posted by jasonallenross

A wonderful way of replacing a $1 worth of metal that has worked "well enough" for 100+ years with an electronic gizmo that will likely fail at 100K miles and cost $1000 to replace while you wait 4 weeks to get one from Germany.

You forgot the $.25 of yellow plastic.... you dipstick

[REX8]

Originally Posted by Stanley

Yet another one of dozens of reason's I'll never buy another BMW...one of the others is that I don't trust their electronics. I wonder how this "refinement" is going to work on the 335 with a BRAND NEW twin turbo straight six. Going to the dealer to top off the oil every 1,000 miles or so sounds like a HUGE pain in the posterior.

Or just add a quart when your light comes on...

[SublimeGTP]

If BMW removes the dipsticks from their cars, will they drive themselves?

[nu02wrx]

Originally Posted by stretchsje

Sounds like BMW added a dipstick... to their ENGINERING department.

fixed

[anthonywrx]

Originally Posted by SublimeGTP

If BMW removes the dipsticks from their cars, will they drive themselves?

Brilliant!

[Dana Daray]

I had a 06 330i, yes there was no dipstick, but I had I-drive and you could check your oil levels through that.

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by REX8

Or just add a quart when your light comes on...

Did you read the part where the system is malfunctioning and dealers are draining the oil to measure it?

[digitalboy40]

my buddy's 90k M5 doesn't have a dip stick either even when the dealer adds oil, the manual says it takes about 30 minutes for the gauge to recalculate the level and display it. stupidest thing i have EVER seen

[Beaverboy]

It's things like this that kill the resale value of a car. People who buy used cars are often not the people who take their cars to a dealer. Cost of ownership of BMWs has increased so dramatically over the last 10 years.

You know, my 1981 320i came with a tool kit attached to the inner trunk lid.. which included a very handy spark plug wrench. It's amazing how much BMW has changed overall.

There was even an optional deluxe tool kit, as seen here:

[Sideshowbob]

wow, that is exceedingly stupid.

[mh_WRX]

Originally Posted by mh_WRX

I need to verify, but someone just said the 07 C6Z06 has it's dipstick removed too.

Well, yes and no. Just looked and there isn't a traditional Dipstick, but the resevoir tank has a small yellow one in it to check the level.

[Beaverboy]

.. but that's because it's got a dry sump. If it had a traditional dipstick, it would always read empty.

[SublimeGTP]

Originally Posted by anthonywrx

Brilliant!

I could not resist

[Ghosthound]

wow... is this the same case for the mini cooper?