It's placed further back and it's black just like the rest of the engine bay so you'll miss it quite easily.

In my experience, the tendency to burn oil goes away after you rack up some miles. I had the oil changed once immediately after break-in and the low oil warning came up around 10,000KM. Had two more oil changes in between, and now at 25,000 km, it seems to have stopped burning oil. Flogged it on a trackday and the iDrive oil counter stayed at the same level :D

OMG I have been bad mouthing BMW for months about the dipstick and when I read this thread I thought sure I bet there is a stick. So I opened the hood and I couldn't believe my eyes. "it's there, in the same place as the old ones in the e 53 but instead of the ring to pull it out it's just a flat black nub on the top of the stick. I couldn't believe it. I was at the BMW shop last week and badmouthed them again about no dipstick and they didn't say a word about having one. Oh well I'm happy now.:rofl:

I have 17000 miles on my 07 X5.
Dealer changed oil in Dec and in Apr the low oil indicator light came on(650ml low).
Dealer changed oil again.
Will see if it occurs again in 4 months.

My friend's X5 4.8i DOES have a dipstick.

I think it's normal for the motor to consume a litre of oil in its first few thousand miles (or is that km? :rofl:). Seriously, it's because some of the oil gets burned up and the motor parts aren't necessarily well-oiled until after a while.

left side of the block. no loop as described. i have heard some have them some do not. how reliable that is i don't know.

the oil change is not an overly complicated process, but certainly is easier with a lift. drain the filter, drain the pan, replace the filter. the filter is under the truck unlike the E53.

Not that I doubt this to be true, but has anyone actually checked their oil level with the dipstick? Is there a chance this is for the transmission fluid, not engine oil?

It's engine oil.. In exactly the same place as the e53 next to the oil cap. Yes i checked my oil and it is engine oil. i couldn't be happier!!:rofl: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :nanana:

well if it is, then i have motor oil in my tranny. :bustingup no bro, it is an oil pan dipstick. the gentleman that walked me thru an oil change as he performed the process is a BMW master tech with many years of experience.

i have not actually seen the tranny dipstick.

I need to go pop my hood and check it out. Thanks

We need pics, L! :nanana: ... ;)