Thank you for this piece of info!!!!!!. I will try this the next time.

I did an oil change this March and I filled with almost 9qts which was a little over the full mark..after 2 weeks I checked the oil level again and I couldn't get a readout of the dipstick..mad enough, I asked for help on this forum and was told the same thing..crankcase is sealed so good that it won't give you a good readout unless you unscrew the cap the release pressure..
Anyhow, did that and nothing...dipstick still couldn't tell me if I have enough oil or too much..oil was present only on half of it but dry on the other...fearing of adding too much oil, I kept driving like that for 2 more days until I got the message check engine oil level...started adding little by little and after a quart I realized the dipstick has oil all over it at the minimum mark..I was like WTH?added one more quart(total of 2), to get it at the correct level...so I don't know how and when, but 2 quarts in such short period of time?
And now after 2 months the level is fine...go figure...

My driveway is not flat. What I did notice is that the E53 is very sensitive to any incline/decline when checking oil. Test it yourself! I did find one spot which is nearly flat (when it rains there is a shallow puddle), so that is where I park the E53 to measure oil level.

I'm am definitely not the resident expert on this board, but the notion that one has to let the motor sit for 20 minutes to get an accurate read... well that just doesn't make sense to me.

What I'm thinking now, is maybe the best way to get an accurate read, is to open both the fill cap, and pull the dipstick so the O-ring seal is broken and air can get in both openings. Then give it a minute or two for warm oil to drain to the bottom. I figure there has to be an accurate way to do this in less time than it takes to fill up the gas tank.

Yes, I had that symptom too where I added oil twice after 3-400Km's (200-250 miles). Oil level at max, 250 miles later below the min mark. 3 weeks later above the max mark.....This is the weirdest car I ever had.......

There is no need to remove the oil fill cap. Check the oil temperature only when the oil temperature gauge needle is where it normally is when engine is up to normal operating temperature (the reason is that oil expands as it is heated--which means it will show there is more oil in the engine than when the engine is cold). And, only check the oil after the engine has been off for 5-10 minutes (this allows the oil time to run down to the pan from the top of the engine). Pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean. Insert the dipstick and leave it for 15-20 seconds, remove it and check oil level (be sure the dipstick is fully seated). If the dipstick only shows oil on one side wipe it clean and insert it again and leave it longer before checking the oil level again.

Could be. BUT:

Every time the oil check was done consistently after the car sat for a day or 2. I had instances, where an oil check was done after it sat 2 days - it showed low. Done oil check 2 more times: day 3 and 5 (the car did not move during this time). day 3 it showed low. Day 5 it showed above max.

I had other similar instances where after 2 - 3 low dipstick oil readings, I added oil, only to have the oil level showing a smidge over max a few readings later........

has nothing to do with engine temps. They were always cold. And my garage floor is as level as it gets. Still different readings....

The oil level should not be checked when the oil is cold. It will always read lower than it actually is.

I can think of two reasons for what you describe. One is that the oil is not draining to the pan though if it doesn't in two days I wouldn't expect it would in five.

The more likely cause is either the dipstick is not fully seated every time or the dipstick is not left seated long enough to show the actual oil level every time.

Suggest getting it resolved ASAP. It is not good to overfill oil.

It is a mystery, but there may be some variables, eg wide ambient temp swings, barometric pressure changes via weather, etc?

If OP put in proper amount of oil at change, other than possible slight pan volume variations, I wouldn't give the 'different readings' much concern, other than the inevitable lower/low reading a few to several thousand miles out...

Good oil check points in the thread below; see JCL's post #17:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...l-level-2.html

GL, mD

Well, it's back.....
I checked the oil level yesterday morning before leaving to work. The oil level was below the min mark on the dipstick. I added a touch over 1/2 qt, so not too much. Right?
This morning I checked the oil level to see where it's at. The car was parked in the same spot. And level, etc, etc. The oil level was above the max mark!!! About the same amount I poured in yesterday morning. This issue starts getting under my skin. I talked to Fmugur and he thinks maybe there's an object or maybe some sludge right at the bottom of the dipstick guide. Any thoughts?

Check the oil only when it is at normal operating temperature. Check it 4-5 times. Be sure the dipstick is entirely seated each time. Leave the dipstick in for a minute or so between each check. Look at both sides of the stick to be sure they match. If both sides don't look the same do not consider that measurement. A problem like yours is usually because of a false reading. That said, there is an art to getting a good reading. Generally, you can find what is going to work on your vehicle by checking the oil until you can get the same reading every time.

It's possible it could be something clogging the tube but I would not expect it to come and go.

I would rather run a quart low for a few days than add oil and find out the next day it is overfilled.