BMW using technology to answer a question nobody asked.

thedguy · June 5th, 2007, 3:00 AM

source

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Spinelli

What happens when technology answers a question nobody asked? Sometimes billions are made. Other times, needless technical complexity makes for a more complex experience. Such is the case one Car and Driver reader made in the mag's July '07 issue. In a letter to C&D, he directs our attention to the BMW 328i, whose oil dipstick has been replaced with a sensor and on-screen alert icon. But according to the writer, the system has resulted in owners overfilling their crankcases. And according to two dealerships, the only way to check the oil accurately is thus:

Quote:

I was told the proper way to check the oil is to return the car to your BMW dealership and it will put the vehicle on a rack, drain the oil, measure it, and then reinstall the oil in the car.

The sensor has been known to fail, and tell you to add oil when not needed. It also takes roughly 30 minutes for the ECU to register any changes. *

It's not a new problem, and BMW isn't the only one; Porsche uses a similar system, which includes an oil-level readout on the dash. Still, if car companies want to be software developers, maybe they should start offering pre-production cars to Beta testers.

Leave it to BMW to replace a $1 part that wasn't a problem for a failure prone German electronic that will most likely cost $500 to replace and take weeks to be shipped from Germany.

*I added this line.

Ottobon · June 5th, 2007, 3:13 AM

exactly why i don't wan't to own a beemer, if it wasn't for stupid crap like that i would probably love that company

UMass · June 5th, 2007, 3:24 AM

It's called German engineering. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

teletubby-warrior · June 5th, 2007, 3:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMass

It's called German over-engineering. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Why use four parts to build something, when you could use twelve!?! images/smilies/tongue.gif

Hidden_Hunter · June 5th, 2007, 4:17 AM

strange, because here they tell you specifically not to change your own oils during the warranty period

Zuhaib · June 5th, 2007, 8:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

strange, because here they tell you specifically not to change your own oils during the warranty period

The quote is coming from the dealers, who i would also assume would have problems checking Oil levels when they need to service a car for a non-oil change service. So i guess the only accurate way is to empty the oil from the crank and see if you got what you need. Not a very efferent way, but i guess the only way.
And people do need to top off, most cars i have seen will burn a qt of oil the first 1k or so when new, and some might do a qt every 5k for there life.

My S500 has a system that allows you to check the oil from the MFD and its pretty good. But it also has a standard dip stick that allows you to check you oil the old fashion way when you need too, especially when your adding a qt or so.

MadCow809 · June 5th, 2007, 9:57 AM

yup. correct.. same problem i had with my oil sensor when i got my 130i. took it back to BMW dealership a few weeks ago, and they are ordering a new part from germany.

Devon · June 5th, 2007, 12:14 PM

That's just funny...

fbc · June 5th, 2007, 12:53 PM

Oh dear...

THGL · June 5th, 2007, 3:38 PM

This is a good way to keep you coming back to the stealership for over-priced service.
Another example:
There are some makes that don't have a transmission dipstick anymore (with no electronic means of checking). The automakers said too many people are overfilling the transmission so they just took it out altogether... have the service dept. check it.

thedguy · June 5th, 2007, 7:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THGL

This is a good way to keep you coming back to the stealership for over-priced service.
Another example:
There are some makes that don't have a transmission dipstick anymore (with no electronic means of checking). The automakers said too many people are overfilling the transmission so they just took it out altogether... have the service dept. check it.

A lot of cars these days have that. I never knew a whole lot of people who ever checked theirs anyway. But I can see the complaint.

pepitko · June 5th, 2007, 8:08 PM

my skoda octavia has a sensor that tells you when your oil level is low, but at the same time there is the dipstick to check it...
german engeneering - you know its like with the day-lighting, at volvo they couldn't figure out how much extra fuel was used when your lights are on all the time, because it is such a low amount, but at the same time, germans will give you lights with lower electricity consumption! images/smilies/smile.gif

Ottobon · June 5th, 2007, 8:32 PM

can't they just spend their time making better looking cars?

Polly · June 5th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teletubby-warrior

Why use four parts to build something, when you could use twelve!?! images/smilies/tongue.gif

"You know, keeps them from invading other countreys."

Karoug · June 5th, 2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polly

"You know, keeps them from invading other countreys."

janstett · June 6th, 2007, 12:05 AM

I have to laugh... And then smile at my Porsche's uniblinker. You could be signalling left, you could be signalling right, who knows?

jayhawk · June 6th, 2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

strange, because here they tell you specifically not to change your own oils during the warranty period

That is complete garbage why Australia allows that, because here in the States it is illegal for a car manufacturer to restrict an owner to such terms.

watto · June 6th, 2007, 12:41 AM

What's wrong with a dipstick?

Hidden_Hunter · June 6th, 2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk

That is complete garbage why Australia allows that, because here in the States it is illegal for a car manufacturer to restrict an owner to such terms.

well I can understand the reasoning behind it, they want to make sure they know what's happened to the car mechanically (so they can determine if it's their fault something broke)

Blind_Io · June 6th, 2007, 1:32 AM

A $500 part? That thing will cost way more than that!

Wouldn't this be like installing the tire air pressure sensors in a car but making valves that prevent you from checking the pressure with a gauge? If you want to put in a sensor, that's fine, but don't take the dipstick away.

Redundancy is good in machinery.

June 5th, 2007, 4:17 AM	#5
Hidden_Hunter D: Joined: Oct 7th, 2006 Last Online: 9:11 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 21 Posts: 5,782 Car: '08 Honda Accord Euro Rep Power: 76	strange, because here they tell you specifically not to change your own oils during the warranty period __________________ My car is dark grey not black!

June 5th, 2007, 9:57 AM	#7
MadCow809 Joined: Feb 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 9:04 AM Location: Durban, South Africa & Los Angeles, CA Age: 24 Posts: 5,058 Car: 2007 E87 BMW 130i & 2008 VW MKV GTI 2.0T DSG LFS Status: Rep Power: 70	yup. correct.. same problem i had with my oil sensor when i got my 130i. took it back to BMW dealership a few weeks ago, and they are ordering a new part from germany. __________________ Supporting : Kimi Räikkönen \| Jenson Button \| Robert Kubica \| Sebastian Vettel \| Petter Solberg \| Mikko Hirvonen \| Andy Priaulx \| Jason Plato \| Mat Jackson Nokia N95 8Gb Nokia N97 32Gb RM-505 Unlocked v11.0.21 -> v12.0.024 -> v20.0.019 09 VW MKV Golf GTI 2.0T DSG \| APR Stage 1 \| LHD 08 Honda Civic Coupé \| LHD 06 BMW 130i \| RHD ~~05 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS \| RHD~~ 05 Ford Bantam 1.3i \| RHD ~~95 Mercedes Benz E320 Sportline \| RHD~~

June 5th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#8
Devon Joined: Jun 18th, 2005 Last Online: November 14th, 2009 Location: Australia Age: 22 Posts: 2,953 Car: 2008 MY09 Subaru Impreza RX Rep Power: 32	That's just funny... __________________

June 5th, 2007, 12:53 PM	#9
fbc Moderator Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: November 11th, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 34 Posts: 11,776 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 128	Oh dear... __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

June 5th, 2007, 3:38 PM	#10
THGL Joined: Dec 6th, 2005 Last Online: 5:23 AM Location: Louisville, KY USA Posts: 534 Car: Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) Limited Rep Power: 32	This is a good way to keep you coming back to the stealership for over-priced service. Another example: There are some makes that don't have a transmission dipstick anymore (with no electronic means of checking). The automakers said too many people are overfilling the transmission so they just took it out altogether... have the service dept. check it. __________________ "I was sad because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. So I said, ‘Got any shoes you're not using?’

June 5th, 2007, 3:13 AM	#2
Ottobon Banned Joined: Nov 27th, 2005 Last Online: May 27th, 2009 Location: Detriot Metro Area Posts: 3,313 Car: 2 Rust buckets and a confused 1999 American. Rep Power: 0	exactly why i don't wan't to own a beemer, if it wasn't for stupid crap like that i would probably love that company

June 5th, 2007, 3:24 AM	#3
UMass Joined: Mar 17th, 2006 Last Online: December 15th, 2007 Posts: 139 Rep Power: 0	It's called German engineering.

June 5th, 2007, 8:08 PM	#12
pepitko Joined: Jan 22nd, 2007 Last Online: 9:04 AM Location: Prague, CZ Age: 23 Posts: 633 Car: diesel Skoda & Peugeot scooter Rep Power: 21	my skoda octavia has a sensor that tells you when your oil level is low, but at the same time there is the dipstick to check it... german engeneering - you know its like with the day-lighting, at volvo they couldn't figure out how much extra fuel was used when your lights are on all the time, because it is such a low amount, but at the same time, germans will give you lights with lower electricity consumption! __________________ "I don’t really want a Lamborghini Gallardo. But I don’t want to live in a world where it doesn’t exist." - Jeremy Clarkson

June 5th, 2007, 8:32 PM	#13
Ottobon Banned Joined: Nov 27th, 2005 Last Online: May 27th, 2009 Location: Detriot Metro Area Posts: 3,313 Car: 2 Rust buckets and a confused 1999 American. Rep Power: 0	can't they just spend their time making better looking cars?

June 6th, 2007, 12:05 AM	#16
janstett Joined: Jul 9th, 2005 Last Online: November 20th, 2009 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 1,379 Car: 86 944 Turbo, 2000 Trans Am, 02 Jeep Rep Power: 32	I have to laugh... And then smile at my Porsche's uniblinker. You could be signalling left, you could be signalling right, who knows? __________________ 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am, 2002 Jeep Liberty "In fact, if I were to draw up a list of the 10 best cars I've ever driven, the 944 turbo would certainly be included." -- Jeremy Clarkson

June 6th, 2007, 12:41 AM	#18
watto Unloved and lacking a title Joined: Jun 13th, 2005 Last Online: 3:33 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 5,708 Car: MY06 Impreza 2.0R Hatch Rep Power: 73	What's wrong with a dipstick?

June 6th, 2007, 1:32 AM	#20
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 9:13 AM Location: Utah, USA Age: 28 Posts: 10,994 Car: 2006 Nissan X-Terra - 2000 VFR800 Interceptor Rep Power: 266	A $500 part? That thing will cost way more than that! Wouldn't this be like installing the tire air pressure sensors in a car but making valves that prevent you from checking the pressure with a gauge? If you want to put in a sensor, that's fine, but don't take the dipstick away. Redundancy is good in machinery. __________________ War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength

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