ECU update = oil problems

[AJ_MO]

Hi everyone! I already did a research around the forum but couldn't find an answer. I have a 08 E93 DCT, last summer my car went into the dealer for service (120k km service!), while having the services done I asked for having all updates available done, they told me that they weren't free and charge me for ECU update (car is running great, much more torque!), DCT upgrade (now even in D2 automatically makes "heel and toe" when downshifting two gears, and now I can't move the car with the door open)...I'm happy with these upgrades! BUT I have done 10k km (around 6,5k miles) since updating and I have done THREE OIL REFILLS, THREE KG OF 10W60 IN 10 000 km is a lot! Before updating I used to refill once every 10k km, now 3 times more!

I searched for leaks, everything seens ok with the cap, I checked the garage floor and it's clean...the dealer says that oil consumption vary from car to car so everything can be normal. (WTF???)

I'm going out of warranty this April so I want to fix any issue before.

Anyone can confirm this oil consumption? Or have any advice of where else to check...?

Thanks!

[stevens]

im sure ive read somewhere about the wrong washer or cap being used on the cap itself

[STi_traitor]

Did you check the hood of your car? I noticed..... and it sounds crazy but my oil cap is loose when the text is right side up but if I place the cap on with the text upside down I no longer had the spray on the hood. This may be your issue, I know others have had the issue before.

[M3PO]

One thing is for sure, a software update will not cause this issue.

[spdy330]

Originally Posted by M3PO

One thing is for sure, a software update will not cause this issue.

+1

[sylonien]

Um that's not too bad?

On my 2007 manual M3, I filled her up every month pretty much per 1000 miles!

The short 10 months I owned it.
Filled it up with a litre within the first month. 2 months later, full oil service.

Then continued to fill her up at least 3-4 times averaging once per month.

I do about 40 miles per day for commute and other shorter ones during
the day.

I've queried this on the forum/researched/asked and they all reckon its
within the guidelines.

[AJ_MO]

I have checked everywhere for oil leaks or oil trace...nothing everything clean!

I spoke again with BMW techs and they say it's normal! I said that I would like to have the "that's normal" wrote on paper from the dealer but they told that was not going to happen...

Sylonien I do the same commute you do (around 40 miles per day)...but 1kg of oil every 1600km is A LOT!

Today I cleaned the engine, putted a new oil cap, refilled and this evening I'm going snowboarding for the weekend = 1000km with some hard mountain driving and free off speed camera highway...on Monday I'll check for leaks and oil level!

[aussiem3]

I don't think constant top up is bad for the engine or the engine is bad and that's why it need the regular topping up.

I changed oil in Sept '13 and put 9 litres of Castrol TWS 10w-60. The CIC indicated as full (ok) and the instrument cluster showed a just under full ... interesting. Now 2500 km later, the instrument cluster was showing almost near empty without any top up warning. So I topped it up with a litre of Castrol TWS 10w-60, and now the instrument cluster is showing the same level it showed after the oil change.

This happens to me after each oil change and there is no leaks or puddles, but I think the new oil burns a lot before settling. Most often this is the only time I have to fill up between my oil changes which are done religiously every 12 months regardless of the km.

Also our summers are extremely hot and experience heat waves when temp is over 35 Celsius over five successive days. Currently the entire country is simmering and the players are suffering at the Australian Open tennis tournament at the moment.


I am more inclined to think regular top ups are needed when you do short trips on a regular basis.

[M3PO]

The dealer is going to give you the "it's normal" explanation until the car starts using more than 1 quart per 1000 miles. That seems to be the universal threshold that most manufacturers use.

[sylonien]

My current DCT 2010 M3 is doing a little bit better.
oil serviced 3000 miles ago and only recently 500 miles ago,
it was down below 1/2 nearing the quarter mark.

So I put 500ml in it and its back to the 1/2 mark on the dash now.

Not as severe as the previous M3, but still not the same as some people claimed
to go 10,000 miles without any top ups required. :/

[KmndntKlink]

Ok this is suprising to me. I never top up my oil. I monitor the gauge on the instrument cluster and it's always well within the 2 arrows (ie safe zone). I drive ~10-15k km/year. Never noticed the oil level dropping. I'm currently @ 51700km on the odo. I don't think having to replace oil so often is normal at all.

[BPMSport]

3 quarts in 10k km is a bit excessive IMO. I usually add a quart every 7k miles. I would keep resetting the oil level sensor to see if it keeps coming back with a consistent reading. We've seen the oil level sensor reading overfilled post tune, but never the opposite.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[kotlarbia]

This may be your issue, I know others have had the issue before.

[sylonien]

I don't believe the reading the first time it comes up with
topping up, I usually reset it or okay after 2-3 long ish journey
then I will top her up with 500ml only.

Then recheck the reading.

[M3PO]

I would agree that your consumption rate appears to be greater than average. Do I think it's an issue? No. I would continue monitoring it for changes though.

Just for reference, mine uses a quart every 8K miles.

[8k3]

Perhaps your oil monitor sensor is faulty? Not hard to replace btw

[AJ_MO]

Hi guys thanks for your advices!

Now after 1333km...the oil level sits a little above the half when not to hot, but when you get into hard driving it goes under the half. The driving during this 1300km wasn't fast because it was full of traffic and snow most of the time. I searched for leaks and everything was clean...

What worries me about it's the difference of oil consumption between ECU upgrades. The last time my car started consuming to much oil I had to trash the engine when I melt a cylinder (Audi R8 4.2)...NON BENE!

Going to BMW Milan (Italian Headquarter) this friday morning...I will receive the "It's normal" but I want to put on the paper of the workshop that car has been controlled by BMW Milan for to much oil consumption when under warranty...just to make me feel better!

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by AJ_MO

Hi guys thanks for your advices!

Now after 1333km...the oil level sits a little above the half when not to hot, but when you get into hard driving it goes under the half. The driving during this 1300km wasn't fast because it was full of traffic and snow most of the time. I searched for leaks and everything was clean...

What worries me about it's the difference of oil consumption between ECU upgrades. The last time my car started consuming to much oil I had to trash the engine when I melt a cylinder (Audi R8 4.2)...NON BENE!

Going to BMW Milan (Italian Headquarter) this friday morning...I will receive the "It's normal" but I want to put on the paper of the workshop that car has been controlled by BMW Milan for to much oil consumption when under warranty...just to make me feel better!

+1

Have it documented to cover your ass ...

[AJ_MO]

Hi all! My car went in for oil consumption control...and everything was ok: "Normal Oil consumption".

OK...while in the dealer I told them about the weir sound from the MPE, they then tell me that the M Performance exhaust was cracked AGAIN, last summer I change it because it was cracked after only 16k km, now the second new one is cracked after 10k km...okay I said who cares give me another one since it's under warranty. But is this normal??? I bought MPE over Tubistyle or Akra just to avoid problems of drone or this kind of thing...and at the end I'm find myself into this.