2010 X5 LCI 30D iDrive Engine oil too high !

[wslee]

I notised a message in my iDrive Vehicle status that the engine oil is too high, ask me to sent the car in for checking. I don't know how long has this happen, no warning message has been show up to notice me until I browse the iDrive Vehicle info myself.
I check the dipstick, I can obserb about 3mm oil over the maximum limit. The car is in 10,000Km now, I haven't add any oil since new. And very sure that never see this message before, the last time I check the vehicle status should be 3~4 months ago, no warning seen that time.
Goggle in the web show me with diesel leak to the oil sump which make me feel like crazy. This will cause the permanant damage to the vehicle !
Does any LCI diesel owner having the similar issue ? Will call BMW to book in a inspection tomorrow.

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by wslee

I notised a message in my iDrive Vehicle status that the engine oil is too high, ask me to sent the car in for checking. I don't know how long has this happen, no warning message has been show up to notice me until I browse the iDrive Vehicle info myself.
I check the dipstick, I can obserb about 3mm oil over the maximum limit. The car is in 10,000Km now, I haven't add any oil since new. And very sure that never see this message before, the last time I check the vehicle status should be 3~4 months ago, no warning seen that time.
Goggle in the web show me with diesel leak to the oil sump which make me feel like crazy. This will cause the permanant damage to the vehicle !
Does any LCI diesel owner having the similar issue ? Will call BMW to book in a inspection tomorrow.

You need to sample your oil and send it off for analysis to check for fuel dilution. One of your injectors may be leaking into the sump. If you don't have to, don't drive it until the analysis comes back. If you must drive it, change the oil and filter just in case there is a leak. GL

[apw2607]

Interestingly ... just had this happen on my 2009 x5 35d. It was also coming up for its oil change anyway. No new oil has being added since the last oil change (last year) .. which was filled up to the correct level .... so its a bit of a mystery.

The dealer checked everything out, and there didn't seem to be anything wrong ... so now its got new oil. At 37500 miles now. Still no engine issues.

[ard]

Happened to me.

The actual real oil level was fine (used the dipstick).

Bad sender and/or programming. (Anyone sense a common theme here?)

A

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by ard

Happened to me.

The actual real oil level was fine (used the dipstick).

Bad sender and/or programming. (Anyone sense a common theme here?)

A

I would totally agree if the oil level is fine on the dipstick then most likely bad sender. But OP states that the oil level is in fact high on the dipstick too. It can be a sad state of affairs if your engine is "making oil."

[apw2607]

Yea, I checked the dipstick myself, and it was high ... so figured the electronic sensor and s/w was working correctly.

[ard]

Originally Posted by diesaroo

I would totally agree if the oil level is fine on the dipstick then most likely bad sender. But OP states that the oil level is in fact high on the dipstick too. It can be a sad state of affairs if your engine is "making oil."

Yes, I agree...just reporting my experience.


My 'common theme' comment was directed at BMW 'programming'

[wslee]

Called the service advisor just now, they said they don't believe it will be fuel leak, it will be 1 in million chances for this to be happen ! Said its safe to continue drive my car & only able to book it in for inspection on 23/6 ! a bit worry about this...

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by wslee

Called the service advisor just now, they said they don't believe it will be fuel leak, it will be 1 in million chances for this to be happen ! Said its safe to continue drive my car & only able to book it in for inspection on 23/6 ! a bit worry about this...

If you're at all concerned about the long term health of your X, get the oil analyzed for fuel dilution. Yes, it is somewhat unlikely, but others on this forum have had catastrophic engine failure from malfunctioning injectors. Yours will not likely be CEF, but a progressive loss of oil viscosity causing accelerated wear. Remember, the DDE is only aware of electrical malfunctions in the injectors. Any leakage at the pintle-injector nozzle area will not be discovered by "scanning the computer".

Something else to note is that aside from the accelerated wear, if the oil level gets high enough, your engine may "run away" and rev itself to death since it will be consuming your engine oil not fuel. Although this would likely happen at a lot more than 3mm past the max oil level--like 10-15mm or more.

Btw, any idea as to how much biodiesel is in your fuel? The limit in the states is B7 for the X5. There is some evidence that higher concentrations of biodiesel may not burn completely and may accumulate in the engine oil.

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by ard

Yes, I agree...just reporting my experience.


My 'common theme' comment was directed at BMW 'programming'

At least we still have a dipstick to check the sensors right? IIRC a lot of newer bimmers don't have one at all. Poor saps...