Good day!

Maybe I shouldn't chime in here, but I'll give my thoughts and a fix for your dilemma...

I think all vehicle manufactures put gray areas in where they can... I don't believe the engineers would put the MAX mark on the dipstick so close to the "engine damage level" that even a millimeter or two would ruin your motor... There would be so many ruined motors out there... I fill mine as close to the fill mark as I can as well... And I have overfilled mine on many occasions...

If you are super concerned, you could pull the filter and let it drain in a small bucket... One or two times would bring you down below the MAX line... That is if you didn't feel like crawling under the vehicle...

Cheers!!

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2001 E53 X5 4.4i (03-07-2001 build date) White exterior / hellbeige interior (6MT swap vehicle - Manny)
2002 E53 X5 4.6is (12-20-2001 build date) Imola Red exterior / M-texture interior (Red)
2003 E53 X5 4.4i (06-26-2003 build date) Silver exterior / Black interior (Silvester II)
2008 Mini Cooper S ragtop (04-17-2008 build date) Dark Silver exterior / Gray interior ( Topless)
BMWCCA member (#4745)