Oil level always shows full

sbikofsky · 03-28-2023, 10:04 AM

Hoping someone has heard of this and can help.
I’ve got a 2015 2.8i. X3. Of course there’s no dipstick to check the oil so when I got it I checked using IDrive. From the day I got it (and the oil had been recently changed) until 7000 miles later when I was about to do an oil change, the IDrive measurement showed full. Never budged. I’ve owned a bmw previously and knew this was not possible. It had to use something.
I changed the oil and measured what came out. Going by a fill being 4.8 liters, it was about 1.2 liters short.
So I drove 5000 more miles and kept checking IDrive, still always showed full. Just did an oil change again and this time I installed a new oil level sensor. The oil that came out was .75 liters short this time.
I’ve driven about 1000 miles since the last oil change and IDrive still shows full.
No idiot lights on the dash and I scanned the computer. No codes. I’m begining to think this is a firmware issue.
Has anyone experienced this?

deyrag · 03-28-2023, 10:57 AM

drain a qt out and see if it then reads low?

BMWZ4 · 03-28-2023, 11:02 AM

Similar issue with a. Older 2015 X3 I owned...turned out to be a sensor

Opie55 · 03-28-2023, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Similar issue with a. Older 2015 X3 I owned...turned out to be a sensor

"a sensor"? The level sensor or something else?

Anyway, OP I think that full on an N20 engine is 5.1 quarts with filter. My 2014 never really goes down either, and I thought that was just low oil usage at 60k miles. Changed annually at only 5,000 or so miles. The V8 on my 650 holds 10 quarts, and in the same period the level in iDrive drops one notch, which is about 1/4 quart. So despite their general reputation I don't think all BMWs use a lot of oil.

BMWZ4 · 03-28-2023, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opie55

"a sensor"? The level sensor or something else?

Anyway, OP I think that full on an N20 engine is 5.1 quarts with filter. My 2014 never really goes down either, and I thought that was just low oil usage at 60k miles. Changed annually at only 5,000 or so miles. The V8 on my 650 holds 10 quarts, and in the same period the level in iDrive drops one notch, which is about 1/4 quart. So despite their general reputation I don't think all BMWs use a lot of oil.

Yes, level sensor

sbikofsky · 03-28-2023, 03:18 PM

Well being that I just changed the oil level sensor I’ll wait another couple of thousand miles and see if the indicator changes.

kevink1 · 04-08-2023, 06:09 PM

I have nearly 120k miles on my 2015 X3 28d, and it has never shown anything but full.

I've never been told that it is using oil when I've had the oil changed. So if it is using some, it is within the limits that the dealership never felt needed reporting.

Qsilver7 · 04-10-2023, 06:15 PM

Is there something wrong…or are we looking to fix something not broken?

BMW did change the amount of oil from 1 to 2 liters when the minimum level is reached on some models. Make sure you check your owners manual or the check control instructions you get when the minimum level is met.

sbikofsky · 04-11-2023, 08:05 AM

This is exactly the problem. This graph you posted never moves from max.

Opie55 · 04-11-2023, 02:25 PM

You have so far tested it by measuring what comes out. Next time, try the test by measuring what goes in. That will give you more certainty. Next time you change your oil, put in only 3 or 3.5 quarts exactly. It won't hurt your engine to run it that way for long enough to take a measurement. If it still shows full, then you know for certain you have an issue.

383vett · 04-13-2023, 07:10 PM

When you drain the oil after an oil change, you will always get less oil out than you put in. The filter seems to soak up close to a half quart.

sbikofsky · 04-15-2023, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 383vett

When you drain the oil after an oil change, you will always get less oil out than you put in. The filter seems to soak up close to a half quart.

Hmm, you may have a good point.

DBU · 04-19-2023, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opie55

You have so far tested it by measuring what comes out. Next time, try the test by measuring what goes in. That will give you more certainty. Next time you change your oil, put in only 3 or 3.5 quarts exactly. It won't hurt your engine to run it that way for long enough to take a measurement. If it still shows full, then you know for certain you have an issue.

I have done exactly that; left it 1 liter short and it still shows "max."
Keep in mind that the oil level indicator will show oil level as it was LAST TIME THE OIL WAS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. So you have to run it for a while to get a fresh level reading. Wish I u'stood the raw data for oil level that I can read with Protool.

sbikofsky · 08-06-2023, 03:09 PM

Has anyone found any new insight. Still have the same problem. Would hate to bring it to BMW just for this.

Wgosma · 08-06-2023, 03:24 PM

I believe with the BimmerLink phone app it will display numeric value for oil level- I.e. the level sensors data. You might check into that. Screen shot is from my BimmerLink app in offline mode, note category for oil level.

Houranimd49 · 08-06-2023, 03:56 PM

I’ve experienced this in several BMWs (all n55) I’ve owned and never thought anything of it.

ClampThurst · 08-12-2023, 01:00 PM

My n55 2017 X3 works fine. I will every now and then short it one litter and start it up during oil change, It indicates 1/2 from low to high.

sbikofsky · 09-21-2023, 11:08 PM

Well I haven’t been able to find a solution. What I HAVE figured out is that my car uses about 1 liter of oil every 6000 miles so I’ve started adding half a liter every 3000. At least I know I won’t run out of oil.

03-28-2023, 10:04 AM	#1
sbikofsky New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMX X3 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: CT USA iTrader: (0)	Oil level always shows full Hoping someone has heard of this and can help. I’ve got a 2015 2.8i. X3. Of course there’s no dipstick to check the oil so when I got it I checked using IDrive. From the day I got it (and the oil had been recently changed) until 7000 miles later when I was about to do an oil change, the IDrive measurement showed full. Never budged. I’ve owned a bmw previously and knew this was not possible. It had to use something. I changed the oil and measured what came out. Going by a fill being 4.8 liters, it was about 1.2 liters short. So I drove 5000 more miles and kept checking IDrive, still always showed full. Just did an oil change again and this time I installed a new oil level sensor. The oil that came out was .75 liters short this time. I’ve driven about 1000 miles since the last oil change and IDrive still shows full. No idiot lights on the dash and I scanned the computer. No codes. I’m begining to think this is a firmware issue. Has anyone experienced this?
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03-28-2023, 10:57 AM	#2
deyrag Private 15 Rep 79 Posts Drives: x3 2.8i Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: ma iTrader: (0)	drain a qt out and see if it then reads low?
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03-28-2023, 11:02 AM	#3
BMWZ4 Major General 1910 Rep 5,103 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Similar issue with a. Older 2015 X3 I owned...turned out to be a sensor __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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03-28-2023, 03:18 PM	#6
sbikofsky New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMX X3 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: CT USA iTrader: (0)	Well being that I just changed the oil level sensor I’ll wait another couple of thousand miles and see if the indicator changes.
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04-08-2023, 06:09 PM	#7
kevink1 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2015 X3 xDrive28d Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Oklahoma iTrader: (0)	I have nearly 120k miles on my 2015 X3 28d, and it has never shown anything but full. I've never been told that it is using oil when I've had the oil changed. So if it is using some, it is within the limits that the dealership never felt needed reporting.
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04-10-2023, 06:15 PM	#8
Qsilver7 Major General 4442 Rep 7,484 Posts Drives: F06 650ix GC / F15 X5 50i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Indiana, USA iTrader: (0)	Is there something wrong…or are we looking to fix something not broken? BMW did change the amount of oil from 1 to 2 liters when the minimum level is reached on some models. Make sure you check your owners manual or the check control instructions you get when the minimum level is met. __________________ 2015 F06 650ix Gran Coupe`(Moonstone/Cohiba Brown)\| 2014 F15 X5 50i MSport (Space Gray/Mocha) Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
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04-11-2023, 08:05 AM	#9
sbikofsky New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMX X3 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: CT USA iTrader: (0)	This is exactly the problem. This graph you posted never moves from max.
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04-11-2023, 02:25 PM	#10
Opie55 Colonel 1195 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	You have so far tested it by measuring what comes out. Next time, try the test by measuring what goes in. That will give you more certainty. Next time you change your oil, put in only 3 or 3.5 quarts exactly. It won't hurt your engine to run it that way for long enough to take a measurement. If it still shows full, then you know for certain you have an issue.
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04-13-2023, 07:10 PM	#11
383vett Major 626 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i, 2012 X3 Xdrive35 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Moraga, California iTrader: (0)	When you drain the oil after an oil change, you will always get less oil out than you put in. The filter seems to soak up close to a half quart. __________________ 2016 Z06 Vette, 10.53@132 1984 Vette, 406, 10.23@131 2021 SQ5
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08-06-2023, 03:09 PM	#14
sbikofsky New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMX X3 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: CT USA iTrader: (0)	Has anyone found any new insight. Still have the same problem. Would hate to bring it to BMW just for this.
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08-06-2023, 03:24 PM	#15
Wgosma Lieutenant Colonel 806 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52) Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northern Nevada iTrader: (0)	I believe with the BimmerLink phone app it will display numeric value for oil level- I.e. the level sensors data. You might check into that. Screen shot is from my BimmerLink app in offline mode, note category for oil level. Attached Images
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08-06-2023, 03:56 PM	#16
Houranimd49 First Lieutenant 252 Rep 332 Posts Drives: F10 535i xDrive, F25 xDrive35i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW X3 xDriv ... [9.25] 2011 BMW 535i xDrive [9.50]	I’ve experienced this in several BMWs (all n55) I’ve owned and never thought anything of it.
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08-12-2023, 01:00 PM	#17
ClampThurst Private First Class 35 Rep 119 Posts Drives: 2018 M4-Silverstone, 2017 X3 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Southern California iTrader: (0)	My n55 2017 X3 works fine. I will every now and then short it one litter and start it up during oil change, It indicates 1/2 from low to high.
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09-21-2023, 11:08 PM	#18
sbikofsky New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMX X3 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: CT USA iTrader: (0)	Well I haven’t been able to find a solution. What I HAVE figured out is that my car uses about 1 liter of oil every 6000 miles so I’ve started adding half a liter every 3000. At least I know I won’t run out of oil.
	Appreciate 0 Quote