E92 325i SE oil consumption

Flood · 06-10-2012, 03:53 PM

hi,
I have a 2006 325iSE Coupe which I have recently bought. It goes from full oil level to bottom (asking for 1L) within about 2000-2500 miles of an oil change. This has happened twice since I bought the car. I can see no leaks and it does not appear to smoke.

Is this normal usage?

Does anyone know what is the difference in qty of oil from full to bottom via the electronic sensor thing?

It is going into the garage on Thursday to check it out while I still have some warranty, so hopefully any info could be passed on.

Thanks in advance

zltm089 · 06-10-2012, 04:03 PM

plus one...keep us posted...

my one drinks loads when i drive for 3/4 hours non stop on the motorway....not sure if its because i floor it or not....

makkan00 · 06-10-2012, 05:32 PM

Have you checked the oil pan gasket?
Usually engine tray gathers the oil and you hardly see oil on the ground.
Take it to local garage and get it properly checked.
Also have a good look around the engine. Possible suspects (depending on your car)
Vaccum pump O-ring
Vanous Solenoid O-Rings
Oil pan gasket

mileages of your car?

Flood · 06-10-2012, 05:37 PM

Mine is at 52k miles. Going into Arnold Clark to investigate! Need some ammo as i know they will say nothing is wrong.

makkan00 · 06-10-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flood

Mine is at 52k miles. Going into Arnold Clark to investigate! Need some ammo as i know they will say nothing is wrong.

Has service being done at dealers?
Especially last service?

davyk31 · 06-11-2012, 02:24 AM

I had a 325i a few years back, it would have used that much oil and maybe even more. It was checked out and usage was found to be within the tolerated limit. The limit they state is frighteningly high it has to be said.

Flood · 06-11-2012, 06:49 AM

I bought it 2 months ago. It had a service at b for bmw in Glasgow(who have a good reputation) 2000 miles before. I had the car for about a week and the low oil light sign came on. I had taken the car back to arnold clark and they topped up without changing filter. I booked it in for oil and filter change just to be safe and this was done approx 2.2k miles ago. It then asked for oil last week

Is it only 1L from top to bottom on the display? Is 1L per 2k miles acceptable? It is 18K between services so this would use 9L or so between services.

I tend to drive at about 60 on motorways so do not abuse car ( I manage to average 35MPG!)

davyk31 · 06-11-2012, 07:22 AM

I think the tolerance is more like 1 litre per 1000 miles or so.

ras_undy · 06-11-2012, 07:50 AM

My 325 e91 is the same 1 litre every 2000 to 2500 miles.
I've done 10k in it and stays the same, no leaks or sign or burning, just seems to use Oil.
Asked the delear when it was in about 3 weeks ago and they said it was normal. I think this engine just tends to use a lot, mind will keep the BMW warranty going for a while to make sure.

mistryn · 06-11-2012, 12:37 PM

bloody hell 1 litre every 1-2k miles, you need a constant supply of oil lol

As makkan says above best to whip off the undertray and have a good look for any possible leaks. Mine was leaking oil, I would not have noticed if I hadnt taken the undertray off as it was collecting (small amounts) on the tray

Squintstream · 06-11-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistryn

bloody hell 1 litre every 1-2k miles, you need a constant supply of oil lol

Agreed, that's like running a Mazda RX8

I don't run a 325, but that consumption seems far too high!

sylonien · 06-11-2012, 07:34 PM

Serviced my 335i SE last year June ish around 19k then just recently around 25k it kept on saying it needed +1 litre and then like full again on and off on and off. So I decided to put 500ml in to shut it up. Said full for awhile, but then it showed 3/4 full like couple of weeks later, so I put 250ml in. Now it hasn't bothered me since.

Does seem to drink a lot.

dobbo99 · 06-12-2012, 02:34 AM

seems about right, theres a thread somewhere with plenty of others adding their comments.
usually after both the services Ive had, mine will cover 1-1.5k miles and ask me for a 1 litre top up, then I dont do anything until next service/oil change time.

so my understanding is that its normal after covering miles directly after the service, but it shouldnt keep disappearing at the same rate.......

sylonien · 06-12-2012, 08:36 AM

Where does it disappear to if it's not leaking?

Flood · 06-12-2012, 02:41 PM

cheers guys for answers. Hopefully I get get garage to remove undertray and check for small leaks.

By my maths, some of these cars seem to use a teaspoon (5ml)of oil every 5-10 miles. It does seem a bit excessive, but as it is a 6 cylinder it may use 50% more than a 4 cylinder in normal usage.

I am just a bit nervous about the reliability of the electronic oil guage. It is so much easier just to pull out the dipstick and check! Technology for technologies sake I think!

06-10-2012, 03:53 PM	#1
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	E92 325i SE oil consumption hi, I have a 2006 325iSE Coupe which I have recently bought. It goes from full oil level to bottom (asking for 1L) within about 2000-2500 miles of an oil change. This has happened twice since I bought the car. I can see no leaks and it does not appear to smoke. Is this normal usage? Does anyone know what is the difference in qty of oil from full to bottom via the electronic sensor thing? It is going into the garage on Thursday to check it out while I still have some warranty, so hopefully any info could be passed on. Thanks in advance
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06-10-2012, 04:03 PM	#2
zltm089 Banned 243 Rep 7,690 Posts Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LONDON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 335i [10.00]	plus one...keep us posted... my one drinks loads when i drive for 3/4 hours non stop on the motorway....not sure if its because i floor it or not....
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06-10-2012, 05:32 PM	#3
makkan00 Major General 886 Rep 9,097 Posts Drives: F83 and F36 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Essex iTrader: (56)	Have you checked the oil pan gasket? Usually engine tray gathers the oil and you hardly see oil on the ground. Take it to local garage and get it properly checked. Also have a good look around the engine. Possible suspects (depending on your car) Vaccum pump O-ring Vanous Solenoid O-Rings Oil pan gasket mileages of your car? __________________ F36 Xdrive for her - HUD, park assist, heated steering wheel, rear camera, Apple car play F36 RWD for him - HK, M sports pack, GTS tail light, Apple car play
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06-10-2012, 05:37 PM	#4
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	Mine is at 52k miles. Going into Arnold Clark to investigate! Need some ammo as i know they will say nothing is wrong.
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06-11-2012, 02:24 AM	#6
davyk31 Major General 1037 Rep 6,945 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	I had a 325i a few years back, it would have used that much oil and maybe even more. It was checked out and usage was found to be within the tolerated limit. The limit they state is frighteningly high it has to be said.
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06-11-2012, 06:49 AM	#7
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	I bought it 2 months ago. It had a service at b for bmw in Glasgow(who have a good reputation) 2000 miles before. I had the car for about a week and the low oil light sign came on. I had taken the car back to arnold clark and they topped up without changing filter. I booked it in for oil and filter change just to be safe and this was done approx 2.2k miles ago. It then asked for oil last week Is it only 1L from top to bottom on the display? Is 1L per 2k miles acceptable? It is 18K between services so this would use 9L or so between services. I tend to drive at about 60 on motorways so do not abuse car ( I manage to average 35MPG!)
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06-11-2012, 07:22 AM	#8
davyk31 Major General 1037 Rep 6,945 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	I think the tolerance is more like 1 litre per 1000 miles or so.
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06-11-2012, 07:50 AM	#9
ras_undy New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 330i SE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Newport iTrader: (0)	My 325 e91 is the same 1 litre every 2000 to 2500 miles. I've done 10k in it and stays the same, no leaks or sign or burning, just seems to use Oil. Asked the delear when it was in about 3 weeks ago and they said it was normal. I think this engine just tends to use a lot, mind will keep the BMW warranty going for a while to make sure.
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06-11-2012, 12:37 PM	#10
mistryn Colonel 147 Rep 2,048 Posts Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids iTrader: (8)	bloody hell 1 litre every 1-2k miles, you need a constant supply of oil lol As makkan says above best to whip off the undertray and have a good look for any possible leaks. Mine was leaking oil, I would not have noticed if I hadnt taken the undertray off as it was collecting (small amounts) on the tray
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06-11-2012, 07:34 PM	#12
sylonien Major 114 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Serviced my 335i SE last year June ish around 19k then just recently around 25k it kept on saying it needed +1 litre and then like full again on and off on and off. So I decided to put 500ml in to shut it up. Said full for awhile, but then it showed 3/4 full like couple of weeks later, so I put 250ml in. Now it hasn't bothered me since. Does seem to drink a lot.
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06-12-2012, 02:34 AM	#13
dobbo99 Major 227 Rep 1,489 Posts Drives: E39 530 oldskool Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	seems about right, theres a thread somewhere with plenty of others adding their comments. usually after both the services Ive had, mine will cover 1-1.5k miles and ask me for a 1 litre top up, then I dont do anything until next service/oil change time. so my understanding is that its normal after covering miles directly after the service, but it shouldnt keep disappearing at the same rate.......
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06-12-2012, 08:36 AM	#14
sylonien Major 114 Rep 1,326 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Where does it disappear to if it's not leaking?
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06-12-2012, 02:41 PM	#15
Flood New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E92 325 se Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kilmarnock iTrader: (0)	cheers guys for answers. Hopefully I get get garage to remove undertray and check for small leaks. By my maths, some of these cars seem to use a teaspoon (5ml)of oil every 5-10 miles. It does seem a bit excessive, but as it is a 6 cylinder it may use 50% more than a 4 cylinder in normal usage. I am just a bit nervous about the reliability of the electronic oil guage. It is so much easier just to pull out the dipstick and check! Technology for technologies sake I think!
	Appreciate 0 Quote