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LOW ENGINE OIL - had to drive it

6K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  E60noob18 
#1 ·
Hey guys, I know I’ve been blowing the forum up but I was in Seattle today and everything was good. Just got Rod bearings done 500 miles ago and on way back home I got “engine oil at minimum level” and said add 1 qt. I barely noticed this, I actually only noticed because the small triangle that apeared where the transmission shift level is and I saw that, pulled over and pressed the check button on the right side of the steering wheel to see the add 1 qt ****. Anyways I know I’m suppose to carry an extra qt, but I figured since I just did rod bearings and I’ll be driving under 4.5k I’d be ok for the 1k miles until the oil change due. I had to drive 30 miles with the low engine oil warning up. I know I’m just paranoid but do you think I made a mistake driving with the low oil? Had no choice but to drive it the 30 miles. Thanks again guys.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Its fine, it just means topup when u can

But if they infact put correct amount of oil in this warning shouldnt come up for a least 1000km
So if anything id be more concerned over their workmanship considering they didnt put the correct amount of oil in
 
#3 ·
You can drive 500 miles when the computer say add 1L of oil before you topup
No harm.
This engine has a lot of oil.
No worry.

Thanks
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the reply guys, it actually has been 650 miles since the bearings. The guy who did the job is a very reputable guy and has done loads of the RB for the S85. I don’t see why he wouldn’t have put the correct amount in. I have to drive the car another 5 miles to a storage unit I’m keeping it since I’m Moving into a house. Appreciate you guys. Thanks
 
#5 ·
There are a couple of ways to check the oil level. Perform each method 3 times before adding oil. I responded to that oil low message and ended up adding 2 quarts which created a over-fill situation. My mechanic had to manually drain the excess. So, given the electronic, quirky nature of our Beast, and the old adage "measure twice, cut once" consider measuring more than a few times before you act on any message. I've got one of the last to roll off of the assembly line and I sometimes get messages that appear... and then delete themselves the next day for months on end. Go figure. Anywho, try not to respond to every message the car send you way. I drove my dog from south Florida to Texas, and then from Texas to southern California. In Arizona, while sitting in a rest area, my dashboard lit up like it was Chrsitmas! I freaked-out and went to the closest hotel. The next morning, as I pulled out of the parking lot, all of the warning lights on the dashboard simply disappeared. I drove it gingerly for about 30 miles, and then I said f-it and enjoyed the trek across the SW desert. Hope this helps!
 
#6 · (Edited)
Alright guys so I got my oil level back to normal, but lately I have been smelling a burning smell.. didn’t think anything of it. After driving about 15 miles after the car said Oil level is back to OK, gave it a good close to red line run right before the house, when I get out I smelled burning oil and smoke was coming from to bottom of the car ( not a lot but you could see it) I can see some oil running down the cats, although it’s not dripping from what I can tell. Going to take it to my Indy ASAP, got rod bearings done 700 miles ago. Any input? Thank you
 
#12 ·
I bought the BE bearing set and it came with a new gasket.. my other shop said he could have used the same bolts on the oil pan or something like that (there’s 34 of them?), and you are supposed to use new bolts everytime you take the pan off... I would have been happy to buy those bolts but did not realize that was needed after all the research I did for the RB job.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Jim has stated they can be reused. He does. So did I. They are microencapsulated, nothing but a fancy term to state they have thread locking compound preapplied. You're supposed to replace bolts (official instructions) or clean old thread locker and apply fresh locking compound (against instructions but shown to work). Other than them using the old gasket I can see how this could've happened from not cleaning, not using thread locker or not using the proper torque when installing those bolts.
 
#14 ·
Thanks Flaco, we’ll see what happens tomorrow when I get ahold of him. I supplied all the parts so I’m going to assume the worst - that he’s going to say it’s my problem. It’s a shop that has done a lot of rod bearing jobs and is well known in the BMW community here in Seattle from what I can tell. we will see.
 
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