[OG Style]

My 07 328i showed the oil level in the middle between min and max. I put 1/2 qt in and the gauge hasn't moved. Is there something I need to do to get it to get it to read the oil?

Thank you

[Efthreeoh]

Leave it alone for now. The e-dipstick does not immediately report changes in oil level. Only add 1 quart of oil when the "+1qt" notification appears. You do not need to keep the engine topped off full of oil. It is very easy to overfill the engine with oil.

Read this:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1533444

[Delta0311]

I seen it take over 24hrs to reset with the correct reading.

[OG Style]

Thanks I'll give it a few days. I filled it yesterday.

[OG Style]

Does the car usually burn oil? I can't find a leak.

[nsjames]

some oil burning is inevitable.

more with wear.

you don't state how much oil goes missing, so nobody can tell you if it's excessive.

[OG Style]

I will check the millage, but I have had the car for about 5 months and added 1/2 qt.

[Delta0311]

I had a 328 from mile 00006 to 95k and I never had to add oil. The turbo charged motors are more likely to burn oil. But obviously at a higher mileage the N52 might also burn some. Did you check around your gaskets? Most likely one of them is leaking.

[Efthreeoh]

Time is meaningless to determine oil consumption. You need to know the miles that it takes to consume a quart of oil before you get concerned. If you drive the normal average of 1,000 miles/month then your engine is possibly consuming 1 quart every 10,000 miles, which is nothing to be concerned over. But until you know the oil level is at 7 quarts (full), then drive the car until one (1) quart is consumed (which may be longer than the OCI the CBS calculates or within 12 months) you'll not know until you record the number of miles.

Like said before, there is no need to keep the engine topped off to the full mark with oil; with a 7-quart sump the engine has plenty of oil to safely lubricate the internals. Let the CBS determine when to add a full quart. You may not even need to add oil between oil changes. An engine consuming oil is perfectly normal. Don't be so OCD about it. The e-dipstick reports oil levels in 1/4-quart increments, so if the e-dipstick is reading 3/4 full, the engine could actually be 5/8ths full (i.e. more than 1/4-quart low) and adding in a 1/4 quart will not completely fill the sump, so that is why you wait until the "+1QT" notification comes up and then add a full quart of oil.

You'll read on E90 post that owners relate OFHG, VCG, or oil pan gasket leaks (even in combination) as the reason for perceived high levels of oil consumption, which is not accurate. Any of leaks from those areas loose very little oil; just a few ounces over tens of thousands of miles. Most oil consumption issues are simply related to the engine burning the oil, which is not abnormal.

[Schmitz]

Mine fluctuates between 3/4 and full.

[blueloco]

Last season my +1 quart lit up so I added one. Then it said it was overfilled. Then 1/2 way down... then +1 again. Replaced the sensor and now it is rock steady. I think 12 years of living in a crankcase is too long for whatever magic BMW applied to the sensor. My guess is varnish and sludge get stuck between the capacitor plates and mess with the readings. Probably could be cleaned but I feel much better just replacing it.
The other day i was talking to a 330i owner that says his oil level sensor was never reliable since the car was new. Dealer solution was just add an extra quart! Car is well into the 100k miles now.

[ctuna]

More likely leaking than burning on a 328.
They are less likely to burn oil.

[OG Style]

The car had 164,010 miles when I brought it. Now it has 165,300 miles. The gauge weny 1/4 of the way up after a few days.

Thank you

[Fritzer]

Efthreeoh your assistance is required, save this man's vehicle from it's untimely, over-lubricated demise!!

:

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Efthreeoh your assistance is required, save this man's vehicle from it's untimely, over-lubricated demise!!

:

I gave it my best shot. All we can do is now hope and pray. It is difficult to teach the ways of the dipstickless E90 N52...

[OG Style]

I lost a half a at in 1,300 miles.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by OG Style

I lost a half a at in 1,300 miles.

Okay, but just maybe. Based on the info you've provided and the attempt to top off the engine by adding 1/2 quart, you still don't know if the engine was full of 7 quarts of oil starting off.

I again suggest, wait until the CBS notifies you that the engine is 1-quart low. Top off with one (1) quart, drive the car for 20 -30 minutes and wait until the CBS establishes a new oil level reading then review the level bar graph. The bar should report full. Then record the mileage and keep an eye on the oil level. Wait until the next "+1QT" notification appears. You'll then know for sure how many miles it take the engine to consume a quart of oil.

[OG Style]

Thanks I'll start doing that now.