Low on oil... Cause for Concern?

[iandrysdale]

For the first time on my 2000 M5 (I have had it since 02) a low oil level warning came up on the check control. Within 20 miles, I had checked the level, which was right under the minimum, and had topped it off with a liter of 10w-60 from the dealer, bringing it to full.

Do these cars burn oil? Is this a cosmic warning sign? I have always changed the oil when service is requested by the computer, etc.

Thanks for any advice.

[mike]

style (aggressiveness).

[goody4]

Goody4
<b>
'03 M5
Take-away-my-license red (Imola)/Black Sport
PDC
M Audio
Folding Seats
Rear Sunshades
May '03 build<b/>

[Curious]

Early '00 models had a bad oil consumption problem which BMW tried to fix by changing the rings later in the production year. It's possible your M5 could be one of those. But as Mike suggested, it also depends on driving style etc.,

I know someone who bought one of the first M5's back in late 1999, and he had a major problem with oil consumption. His dealer installed the newer rings which fixed the problem. He currently has over 70K miles on this car, and she is still running great.

Good luck

[Philip]

[iandrysdale]

Thanks for the messages, I'm watching closely.

[pylu]

This has been pretty consistent since I purchased my '03.2003 E39 M5 Carbon Blk/Imola Red (on order)
2000 E39 528 Blk/Blk
1997 E39 528*
1977 E12 530*
1974 2002*
*retired

[Curious]

[Talat Hameed]

My 08/2000 is consuming 1 litre per 3000km. It has 66,000km on the clock. I have also tried to track the time it takes about 1 litre to burn as I mostly do city/expressway driving averaging 41km/hr. It is about 70 hrs per litre. I am using 10w/60w Castrol.

08/2000 M5
Silverstone Metallic
Sports Seats

[mike]

The only oil use i seem to get is when I go to the track, and then it's maybe 1/3 - 1/2 Liter. Typically, i change my oil every 4-5k, usually just before a track event, and i've not needed to add any.
Mike

[Philip]

[bestat]

[baf3472]

My 10/99 build burns about 1 quart every 1500 stop and go miles. My friends 03/02 buils burns about 1 quart every 1500 highway miles. The rings fix was supposed to fix the oil burning issue but like all high performance engines, its gonna burn oil no matter what you do.

[Philip]

There is no statement from BMW as to why the rings were changed. My guess is that it was necessary in order to use the newer oil (which BMW later backed away from requiring). All M5s use oil, some very little (like my 11/99 build), and some use a lot (even 2003 models). The ring change appears to do nothing for oil ussage. It could actually be the case that the ring update with the new oil is worse for the engine, and that's why BMW went back to recommending the ealier 10w-60 oil. Nobody knows.

One could make the argument that the ring seating is too tight if the car is NOT using enough oil, and result in a lower hp rating. Only BMW knows, and they are not saying anything.

[Beyond]

I suck down a litre every 800 miles when I am driving it really hard (alpine to the limit driving) and around every 2000 miles when driving it easy.

[Keith]

Had my '00 M5 (12/99 production) since 3/03, burns 1 liter of 10W60 every 1,000 miles, not driving aggressively at all. 40K miles. Couple times a month I smell burning oil inside the cabin ~3 minutes after cold start. No blue smoke, I'm guessing it depends on which direction the wind is blowing to get into air vents. Anyone else smell burning oil inside cabin?

[Philip]

Sounds like you have an oil leak. Have it looked at. Or get the car up and look for yourself. You may have to remove the plastic shield. I did, and found a small valve cover leak (no smells yet).

[SJDennis]

I recently bought an '00 M5 (produced 10/99) and went to the dealer to buy a couple of quarts of the liquid gold (10w60), to "be prepared". What I've found after driving the car for over 3,000 miles is that the oil usage is not a problem. I have noticed a very slight drop on the dip stick, but it is hardly noticable. So I would conclude that not all early M5's use oil.

[Talat]

I took in the the car (MY 2000 M5/67,000km) for service about four weeks ago. A lot of regular "major service" work was done incl. replacement of front and rear disc pads and rotors, new cam sensor, new power-steering pipes etc. The car is running well. But I have noticed that the oil consumption has dropped significanly. The car used to consume 1 litre of oil per 3,000km but the oil level has hardly dropped over the last 2,000km. Can it be that fresh oil in the engine means lower consumption? What else can it be?

[armand]

My experience is: hard driving = approx 1/2 quart in 1,000 miles, easier driving = 0 consumption. My '00 was made 7/00 and the oil recommended is 5w30 synthetic. I believe there were some changes that allowed the lighter oil grade. Possibly the rings. Maybe be the cause for excessive oil. I know of another 2000 yr car that uses 1qt every 800 miles but the car is driven very hard all the time.