my 01 manual 5 spd x5 seems to be burning oil???

michael43 · #1 12-22-2009, 07:19 PM

Car has just under 100k and seems to be burning a bit of oil. Since the car is a stick and I use it to commute mostly highway, my rpms are always sky high but is this why its eating oil or is there a more in depth issue with the truck? I know this is quite a vague situation but the car is perfectly maintained and as clean and smooth as can be in all other aspects. Any info?

faz · #2 12-22-2009, 08:19 PM

how much oil is 'a bit of oil'?

(BMW engines do burn some oil, and that is ok.)

michael43 · #3 12-22-2009, 08:42 PM

I would say around 2 quarts every 1000 miles. My m3 burns a bit too but under bmws "normal" amount of engine oil burn. I think this is too much but I hope I'm wrong

BlueAngel · #4 12-22-2009, 10:46 PM

What kind of oil are u using in the X5 and M3? What year is the M3 and how much oil are u burning on the M3?

JCL · #5 12-23-2009, 01:16 AM

Many vehicle manufacturers use a guideline of one quart per thousand miles being the point at which they acknowledge high oil consumption (during the warranty period). Warranty doesn't apply in your case, but it is still a useful guideline. More than a quart every thousand miles would cause me to investigate where it is going. Any signs of leaks, any blue smoke, etc, are all possible things to check in to. You should also keep a log over a period of several thousand miles to see what the actual consumption is.

While many BMW engines use oil, as reported by owners, that seems to range from one quart every 2000 miles to one quart every 5000 miles. We aren't all happy about that consumption level, but we tend to accept it as we like other factors about the vehicles, and it is part of the package. Other owners report no oil consumption. It is more than likely related to the break-in practices, but that is only a likely cause, not proven. The real issue in your case is that you have a change in oil consumption. That in itself suggests there is something to find as a cause.

motordavid · #6 12-23-2009, 09:28 AM

I'm with JCL, above...
-and, did this consumption change/increase, lately?
-have you had the car since new or do you know former owner/service history?

I too have an '01 3.0 5 spd and understand the high rpms at cruise speed situ.
However, my oil consumption has actually reduced over time, and now with 76k
miles it seems to use less than it did when it had 30 or 40 or 50k miles...can't
explain it and knock on wood, though I have never experienced "2 qts per thousand"
in our X, or any car that was running ok.

The slight info in your orig post doesn't offer much for the technical savvy here
to go on.
GL, mD

donovan · #7 12-23-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael43

Car has just under 100k and seems to be burning a bit of oil. Since the car is a stick and I use it to commute mostly highway, my rpms are always sky high but is this why its eating oil or is there a more in depth issue with the truck? I know this is quite a vague situation but the car is perfectly maintained and as clean and smooth as can be in all other aspects. Any info?

I have the same problem on my '01 stick w/ 133k miles. BMW spec is 1 quart every 750 miles which is borderline of my consumption.

I use mine mainly for long (400-800 mile r/t) road trips w/ consistent high speeds and revs. My local Costco sells Mobil 1 for as low as $24 a 6-pack. I just stock up on those, keep a box in the trunk and have made it a habit to check/refill oil every 2nd or 3rd full tank

michael43 · #8 12-26-2009, 03:18 PM

thanks for the info guys. I don't know "too" much about the truck, bought it with 88k and has 97k now. Not till about 92k miles did I notice this and check. The car def does not have a leak cause I have done the cardboard and what not with the car cold and hot after a decent run and see nothing. No blue smoke either. I use oem 5-30 in the truck from bmw and to who asked, I still run the 10-60 in my M as well. The carfax showed pretty decent detailed service records from the original owner who I bought it from. I do rely on this truck as my DD as well as do a lot of road trips so that is where my concern lies. I'm wondering if maybe I do a full tune up or anything if that will help. I'm really just not sure whether I want to sell or put a couple bux into a huge maintenance that may not help my situation.....