No Dipstick? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Laxwmatt · 7th September 2004, 18:51

Just read in Motor Trend that the E60 M5 won't have a dipstick (like the 1er I hear)....

what's up with that? I know computers can do it but what about as a failsafe?

Hell, the car costs $90,000, a dipstick is a minor cost.

JohnH · 7th September 2004, 19:20

If its like the CSL then it does actually have a dipstick its just that its not accessible without removing engine covers etc. Instead you get a reading on the computer which according to experience so far is pretty accurate. Must adnit still prefer the dipstick but guess that is progress!!

Ashok Arora · 7th September 2004, 20:44

Back in 1988 my father bought a new Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. It had a dipstick but also an "oil level" meter on the dash. Simply press a button and the sump level was displayed - no dirty hands

SuperBMW · 7th September 2004, 20:57

Yes, if you look at the picture of the engine parts all layed out together ( from the official picture release ) you will see there is no dipstick anywhere

Dirim · 7th September 2004, 21:02

Think how much you rely on computers in a modern car like the M5 (such as CBC, DSC, SMG, airbags, etc etc.) which are critical and oil level should be least of your safety worries.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laxwmatt

Just read in Motor Trend that the E60 M5 won't have a dipstick (like the 1er I hear)....

what's up with that? I know computers can do it but what about as a failsafe?

Hell, the car costs $90,000, a dipstick is a minor cost.

Laxwmatt · 7th September 2004, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirim

Think how much you rely on computers in a modern car like the M5 (such as CBC, DSC, SMG, airbags, etc etc.) which are critical and oil level should be least of your safety worries.

I agree, but maybe it's the engineer in me that likes a manual backup.

MEnthusiast · 7th September 2004, 21:55

I went to check the oil in our new SL55 and.... no dipstick?!!!! WTF?!

This caused me to post the following over at MB World:

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80597

I've since spoken with the head of the service department at my MB dealer and they swear the computer checker works fine.

I agree with the others, when considered against what else can go on, I do not think this is such a big deal, but when considered in the abstract, it seems a little crazy.

Btw- you should see the tool MB uses as a dipstick- it looks like something you'd use to snake a drain when clogged. Then you need to compare your reading to a chart. I figure Ill just check the computer- and if the engine is too recently driven, the computer tells you to "observe the cool down period". Gotta love technology. "No Soup for You!" (or oil as the case may be

)

2004M5 · 7th September 2004, 22:54

When I think about the oil consumption of my M5 E39 (approx. 1Lt. per 1'500km) the digital display would make it much more easier.

I anyway hope the new engine will be more relieable - with a less oil thirst. I will miss it to check the oil on every single pit stop

!!!

Jessem · 8th September 2004, 01:43

I suspect that they did some sort of analysis, survey etc where they found out that too few people actually checked their oil regularly to be worth the cost! Instead spent the money on improving the reliability of the electronics.

jaj · 8th September 2004, 05:35

I noticed this on the first posted pictures of the engine. It's not surprising, if you do a google search on oil level sensors, there are lots out there now. On the other hand, how do you know if the engine "I need oil now" light is going to come on when you're on the track, accelerating at full throttle, or braking at 1.2G's? If you're headed for a track day, how do you know that the engine is full before you go?

Lets hope they thought this through from an M-customer standpoint, and didn't just listen to some salesman selling electronic gadgets.

Cheers
JJ

JohnH · 8th September 2004, 10:25

On the CSL you have an Oil reading which when full reads 1.1 Litre. When you get close to 0 then you know you need to put a Litre of oil in. It works very well and lots of CSLs in the UK are tracked and I have not heard of any problems. As I stated before the CSL does have a dipstick but it is not accessible unless you take engine covers off. Sounds as though the M5 has specifically been designed not to need one.

Enigma · 8th September 2004, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnH

Sounds as though the M5 has specifically been designed not to need one.

Because the new M5 engine is a semi-dry sump design it may have a much larger "safe" range of oil levels.

Jessem · 8th September 2004, 18:39

Anyone know if there's a remote oil reservoir or just a segregated sump?