X35d CBS-Indicated Oil Change at 9000 Miles

[Penguin]

Well, I think we can be pretty sure that the sensor is Continental's QLT sensor, as this presentation says BMW is a customer for the sensor on Page 47:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...hJaYvN1XEw5pMA

So, to summarize:

(1) The BMW sensor looks like the Continental sensor,

(2) BMW used the same "QLT" nomenclature in technical documents that Continental uses for the sensor, and

(3) Continental says BMW buys the QLT sensors from them.

OK, it's not proof, but pretty darned convincing!

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Well, I think we can be pretty sure that the sensor is Continental's QLT sensor, as this presentation says BMW is a customer for the sensor on Page 47:

Looks pretty close to proof for me

Some highlights from the presentation:

• 10 million units in the field when the presentation was made
• Daimler-Chrysler, BMW, Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, and ZF as customers
• 2 generations of sensor, including an upcoming sensor design with more capabilities. The presentation is from 2006, so this fits with BMW's change in 2008 for their CBS4 system (not proof, but perhaps a reasonable assumption)
• Sensor able to estimate remaining fluid life (appears to be continuous)
• Sensor able to estimate soot and fuel dilution (appears to be continuous)
• Sensor able to flag water/coolant/deposits (appears to be discrete)

Great information, thanks for posting.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

...2 generations of sensor, including an upcoming sensor design with more capabilities. The presentation is from 2006, so this fits with BMW's change in 2008 for their CBS4 system (not proof, but perhaps a reasonable assumption)

Yeah, having worked at a car company in the distant past, I think many people would be surprised how much technology in vehicles is actually from suppliers, as opposed to being developed internally. To keep their customers happy, the vendors let the auto manufacturers pound their chest and posture as if it was developed by the manufacturer, rather than the vendor.

Frankly I expect the majority of the computational strategy to integrate the reading of the oil sensor into an oil life algorithm came from Continental, as part of selling them the sensor assembly, and is similar for all the manufacturers that use it.

[JCL]

That is certainly true for systems like brakes,DSC, ABS, parking aids, BT connectivity, etc. Those are all purchased outside, and they tend to be promoted by manufacturers as benefits for customers.

I haven't noticed the manufacturers promoting this CBS technology, they don't want to talk about it. The only references are in internal BMW documents, not customer documents. It is very difficult to find techncial papers and discussions. I think they are treating the whole subject like a black box, and the only thing the customer needs to worry about is when the light comes on on the dash, not what drives that light. Some of that may be because the maintenance algorithms are proprietary, but it may just be because they can't imagine they have customers who want to know how it works.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

...Some of that may be because the maintenance algorithms are proprietary, but it may just be because they can't imagine they have customers who want to know how it works.

Frankly, I think it is because they don't really want their customers to know how simplistic they are. They are happy having customers thinking some magical sensor is monitoring every characteristic of the oil and essentially doing an oil analysis realtime.

I bet most people would be rather disappointed if they really knew how they worked, e.g., look at the new brake pad serivce life estimators. I'll bet that's a real simplistic system. It will be interesting when enough miles are on the vehicles to see some reports on what the "projected miles to change of pads" says just prior to the hardwired brake sensor lighting-up.

[motordavid]

Barging in...
fabulous thread, imo, with an amazing set of informative & tech oriented posts,
give and take, debate, and respect between the knowledgeable contributors...
For all you readers on the back row of the bleachers, who are not Premium Members,
this is what this site is about, in addition to all the other excellent info.

Am I shilling? No...am I pumping? Yes. I rec'd dropping a few bucks and supporting this Board,
and this kind of info. Jeeshh H Murphy, I don't own a diesel X, and probably never will, but worth
the price of admission, imo.
GL, mD

[email protected]

[ard]

Motordavid was right.



Musta caught me before my Thorazine.

A

[motordavid]

OT...

Jeesjhh H Murphy, ard...

I was not directing anything specifically at you, an obvious non-premium member.
Must have struck a sore point.

I was pitching the casual readers in the peanut gallery, who just might
be enjoying the discussion in threads like this, (as I am), and that some
might see a value in supporting this Board, in other ways than pithy posts.

You might consider an occasional walk on the Sunny Side of the Street,
or take a fookin happy pill, for a change.

[motordavid]

Out of sequence postings above...

Sorry for the interruption, but I know the "owners", both good men,
both quite successful, and I suspect they are not getting rich off
this hobby of a board, and even if they are, this is capitalism...

Now that therapy is over, how 'bout
back to the topic.

[alexmish]

Reviving 6+ month-old thread...

9300 miles on mine, yesterday "service due soon" indicator lit up, with 1300 miles to go to "must have service"... 70% highway driving, 6.5 months since purchase.

No warnings re DEF, although to be fair, I've added one bottle (1/2 gal) of DEF a month ago just prior to going away for a week of skiing (just in case ).

Going on a trip to DC this weekend, will come back probably with 500 miles or so left before service.. Does anyone know what will happen (in terms of warnings, error codes, car not starting etc) if I happen to overshoot by a hundred or so miles?

Just hate to be on vacation with "service due soon" warning and dong poping up every time I start the car