Under the hood
28
Under the hood
Important parts in the engine compartment
1Washer fluid reservoir for headlamp and
windshield washer system
2 Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil
3 Jump-starting connection 4
Reservoir for brake fluid
5 Coolant expansion tank
6 Chassis ground, negative terminal
7 Dipstick for engine oil, refer to Checking the
oil level
Engine oil
Like fuel consumption, engine oil consumption
depends on your driving style and the vehicle's
operating conditions.
Warning lamp
Engine oil pressure
The warning lamp lights up in red:
The engine oil pressure is too low.
Stop the vehicle immediately and
switch off the engine. Check the engine oil level
and top up if necessary. If the oil level is correct,
please contact your nearest BMW center or a
workshop that works according to BMW repair procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel.
Do not continue driving, otherwise the
engine could sustain serious damage
from inadequate lubrication. <
Engine oil level
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
while you are driving. A signal also
sounds.
The oil level is at the absolute minimum; check
engine oil level using dipstick 7 and refill as
soon as possible. Do not drive more than
30 miles/50 km before refilling.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
after the engine is switched off. A signal
also sounds.
Check the engine oil level using dipstick 7 at the
earliest opportunity, e. g. when you stop to
refuel, and refill engine oil.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow
within 30 seconds after the engine is
started:
The oil level sensor is defective. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Checking the oil level
1. Position the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Switch off the engine when it is at operating
temperature.
3. After approx. 1 minute, pull dipstick 7 out
and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth,
paper towel or something similar.
4. Carefully push the dipstick fully into its tube,
then pull it out again.
The oil level must be between the two
marks on the dipstick.
The oil volume between the two marks on the
dipstick corresponds to approx. 1.4 US quarts/
1.3 liters.
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until the oil level has dropped
almost to the lower mark on the dipstick, refer to
Checking the oil level. Do not add oil beyond the upper mark on
the dipstick, otherwise excessive oil can
lead to engine damage. <
Before you check the engine oil level after add-
ing oil, restart the engine and let it run to obtain
a correct reading. Then proceed as described
under Checking the oil level. BMW engines are designed to operate
without oil additives; the use of additives
could even lead to damage in some cases. The
same applies to the transmission and differen-
tial as well as to the power steering. <
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory tests. For this
reason, thoroughly wash any areas of skin that
have come into contact with oil using soap and
water.
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of chil-
dren and comply with the warnings on the con-
tainers. Otherwise, health hazards may result. <
Comply with the applicable environmen-
tal regulations concerning the disposal of
used oil. <
Recommendation: have the oil changed at your
BMW center.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil is extremely impor-
tant for the function and life of an engine. BMW
only approves specific oils after confirming their
suitability for use in its vehicles with extensive
testing.
