"Check engine oil level" warning came up yesterday...

Checked my oil last night, it's down just a hair (now at the bottom of the upper notch in the dipstick).

Let's keep monitoring. You know the mileage when you filled up to the base line, right?

How many miles so far from the fill up?

mw

I got the "low oil level" warning today, and checked it. Sure enough it was on the lower section of the dipstick. It has been about 3,500 miles since the last oil change. I added about half a quart of oil and now it is showing closer to the top of the dipstick indicator.

Should I be concerned with burning around 1/3 of a quart after 3,500 miles?

Originally Posted by ericwgreen

I got the "low oil level" warning today, and checked it. Sure enough it was on the lower section of the dipstick. It has been about 3,500 miles since the last oil change. I added about half a quart of oil and now it is showing closer to the top of the dipstick indicator.

Should I be concerned with burning around 1/3 of a quart after 3,500 miles?

So you're getting 10,500 miles / quart. Based on threads here and other forums that I've read for M52/M54 oil consumption your result is well within the normal/good range for the M54B30 engine in your car.

You may be interested to hear that BMW's TIS specifies "For BMW spark-ignition and diesel engines the maximum permissible oil consumption is 0.7 litres / 1000 km" which converts to 936 miles / quart. For M engines the standard is 1.5 litres / 1000 km, (437 miles / quart) due to their "increased power output and torque" which I take to be the M3, M5, etc. vehicles rather than the M52/M54 series engines.
Not a very difficult standard to meet, is it?

Mine runs around 6k per quart, well within normal limits.

I was surprised that a search for "oil consumption" in the bestlinks only found this one other thread:
- Oil consumption - mitigation of the PROBLEM (i6)

So, I'm adding this thread so that others will find this information in the future more easily.

Originally Posted by Darkflame808

Gotta give it to BMW to put sensors in many forgettable areas.

I think it would be funny to have a *DING* and your High OBC says

"You forgot to check your oil. Engine seized. You fail!"

Originally Posted by M///Chook

It'd be funnier if the OBC goes *DING* and simply says "You fail" at random, inopportune moments

Originally Posted by 99Bimmer528i

one thing is dont treat it like a 78 dodge... Do the oil change and then get the oil light reset done. I havent done mine for 2 years and it still says i need a oil change. But i know i just did it. The Oil change light are stupid they just cost you money to reset them...

Reset it yourself...it takes all of 30 seconds.