2009 BMW M5 SEDAN adding oil

Mobility
211Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Engine compartment
1Filler neck for engine oil, refer to
Adding engine oil, page214
2Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page215
3Starting-aid terminal, refer to page232
4Body ground/negative terminal
5Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to
page65

Under the hood
212
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil
level check.
The oil level can be displayed when the engine
is at operating temperature. Constant short-
distance driving or a very sporty driving style
can make it impossible for a measurement to be
taken.
Displays in instrument cluster
You can display the current oil level in the
instrument cluster.
1Oil level
2Maximum marking
3Minimum marking
4BC button
Press the button4 in the turn signal lever
repeatedly until the display for the oil level
appears in the instrument cluster.
Manual transmission: the engine oil level
will be shown in the lower display.<
The oil level must be between the two marks.
A new measurement is automatically taken
after each engine start.
Possible displays
1Oil level OK
2Oil level is being determined.
This process takes about 1 minute when
stopped on a level surface.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the
measurement of the oil level can take up to
30 minutes.
3Oil level at minimum:
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer to
Adding engine oil below. Add at least
0.5 US quart/0,5 liters of oil; otherwise, the
oil level check cannot reliably display the
new oil level.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum,
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so
may lead to engine damage.
4Oil level too high
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may
result if too much oil has been added.<
5No value can be determined at this time.
Engine is not yet at operating temperature.

Mobility
213Reference
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Fast measurement
In addition to the automatic measurement, you
can also determine the current oil level manu-
ally, e.g. after adding engine oil, but with a lower
degree of measuring accuracy.
1.With the engine at operating temperature,
i.e. after at least 6 miles/10 km of uninter-
rupted driving, park the vehicle in a horizon-
tal position.
2.Allow the engine to run at idle.
3.Press the BC button on the turn signal lever
repeatedly until the oil level display is
shown in the instrument cluster.
4.Press the BC button for at least 2 seconds.
The oil level is determined. A clock symbol
is displayed during the measurement.
5.After approx. 1 minute the current oil level is
displayed.
Displaying via iDrive
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Turn the controller until "Info sources" is
selected and press the controller.
4.Turn the controller until "Service Info" is
selected and press the controller.5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Service requirements" is
selected and press the controller.
6.Change to the second field from the top if
necessary. Turn the controller until "Engine
oil level" is selected and press the control-
ler. The oil level is displayed.
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level O.K."
>"No measurement available: Updating
engine oil level measurement...":
The engine oil level is measured. This pro-
cess can take approx. 1 minute when
stopped on a level surface with the engine
running and approx. 5 minutes while driv-
ing.
If the engine oil has been topped off, the
measurement of the oil level can take up to
30 minutes.
>"Oil level at the minimum! Refill with 1 quart
of engine oil.":
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of
engine oil at the next opportunity, refer also
to Adding engine oil below. Add at least
0.5 US quart/0.5 liters of oil; otherwise, the
oil level check cannot reliably display the
new oil level.
If the oil level displayed is below minimum,
add engine oil immediately. Failure to do so
may lead to engine damage.
>"Engine oil level too high"
*:
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Please observe recalculated service inter-
val for engine oil":

Under the hood
214 Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to
Service requirements on page70. Have the
system checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Do not add oil until a value slightly above the
minimum of 0.0 US quarts/liters is displayed by
the oil level measurement. In this area a mes-
sage is also shown on the Control Display.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km,
otherwise the engine could be damaged.
Add a maximum of 1 US quart/1 liter of oil; oth-
erwise, the engine may be damaged by adding
too much oil.
Add at least 0.5 US quart/0.5 liter of oil; other-
wise, the oil level check cannot reliably display
the current oil level.<
Please conduct a fast measurement after
adding engine oil to check the oil quantity
added and to update the display.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has
caused cancer in laboratory testing.
For this reason, any skin areas that come into
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed
with soap and water.
Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Have oil changed only at your BMW center or
at a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel.
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical
significance for the operation and service life of
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Do not use oil additives, as these may
result in engine damage.<
Your BMW center will be happy to answer
detailed questions on BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic
oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and
is specified in SAE grades.
Approved oils belong to the SAE grade
10W-60.<
Alternative oil grades
If BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is
unavailable, you can add small quantities of
other synthetic oils between oil changes.
Only use oils with the following specifications:
>Viscosity
preferred: SAE 10W-60;
alternative: SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or
SAE 10W-50
>Specification
API SJ/CF, API SK/CF or higher
Low ambient temperatures
The oils used by BMW from the factory for your
vehicle model can be used at virtually all ambi-
ent temperatures. However, if the vehicle is
operated for a longer period at temperatures
below –47/–206, your BMW center will be
happy to recommend a suitable oil.

Reference 249
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Doors
– manual operation34
– remote control32
DOT Quality Grades206
Draft-free ventilation102
Drinks holder, refer to Cup
holders109
Drivelogic62
Drive mode61
"Driver's door only"32
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams93
Driving programs, refer to
Drivelogic62
Driving route, refer to
Displaying route139
Driving stability control
systems80
Driving through water117
Driving tips, refer to General
driving notes116
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function101
Drying the air, refer to Cooling
function101
"DSC"53,81
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control81
– indicator lamp13,81
– malfunction82
DVD for navigation124
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
– warning lamp82
"Dynamic route" in
navigation137
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC81
– M Dynamic Mode MDM81
E
Easy entry/exit51
– backrest width45
"EDC"53
EDC Electronic Damping
Control83Eject button, refer to Buttons
in area of CD player150
Electrical malfunction
– door lock34
– driver's door34
– fuel filler door202
– glass sunroof, electric41
– luggage compartment lid36
Electric steering wheel
adjustment51
Electronic brake-force
distribution80
Electronic Damper Control
EDC
– "Comfort"83
– "Normal"83
– "Sport"83
Electronic Damping Control
EDC83
Electronic oil level check212
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation
– door lock34
– driver's door34
– fuel filler door202
– luggage compartment lid36
Emergency operation, refer to
Moving manually
– glass sunroof41
Emergency release for
luggage compartment lid in
cargo bay36
Emergency request231
Emergency services, refer to
Roadside Assistance232
"Enabled services"197
"Enabled TeleServices"194
"Enable services"197
"End call"184
Engaging drive position, refer
to Selector lever
positions60Engine
– breaking-in116
– data238
– M Engine Dynamic
Control59
– overheated, refer to Coolant
temperature67
– speed238
– starting58
– starting, with comfort
access38
– switching off58
Engine compartment211
Engine coolant215
Engine oil
– adding214
– additives, refer to Approved
engine oils214
– approved engine oil214
– checking oil level212
– electronic oil level check212
– fast measurement213
– interval between changes,
refer to Service
requirements70
– oil change214
– oil grades, refer to Approved
engine oils214
– possible displays212
– temperature68
– temperature gauge68
"Engine oil level"213
Engine output, refer to Engine
data238
Engine overheating, refer to
Coolant temperature67
Engine speed, refer to Engine
data238
Engine starting, refer to
Starting engine58
"Enter address"126,134
Entering destination via town/
city name127
Entering intersection,
navigation128
Entering the
address126,129
Entering town/city for
navigation127