The elusive 2010 X5 35D dipstick
 

The manual says the car comes with a traditional dipstick and shows a picture which is apparently not a 2010 x5 35D. Thanks BMW! Looking around under the hood with a flashlight, I did spot something which looks like one but I was too afraid to pull on it. Can anyone tell me what is the thing highlighted inside the red circle in the attached picture? Is it the elusive dipstick?

Yes.

That would be it. Good luck getting to it.

I was annoyed that I couldn't find it. I took a little bit of time with the flash light, but I too was able to find it. It is obvious that BMW doesn't even want us to check our own oil, but I like to see the condition of the oil (especially in a Diesel), not just the level.

Take a look in the DIY 35d Oil Change thread for a description w/pictures, of how to remove the plastic air tube. You can check the oil without removing the air tube. But is helps the first time.

FWIW the easiest way to pull the dip stick, when the air tube is installed, is to just pop the dipstick loose with one finger on two different hands (i.e. reach under the air tube with your right hand). Then you can easily pull it the rest of the way out with your right hand while holding a paper towel to wipe the dip stick with your left hand.

Funf Dreisig

I picked up our 2010 35d last weekend and had forgotten about this thread until I took off the plastic engine cover and noticed that the dipstick was fairly accessible. The engine cover is held in with a few clips so just pull up at the front of the cover and towards the front of the vehicle to remove it. Pictures are included for those still waiting for their 35d. (I was looking for any available picture while waiting for delivery.)

A few notes on the pictures:

1) It was not unexpected but the intake runners on the engine cover are not covering the actual intake runners.

2) This is my first BMW and the measuring end of the dipstick is pretty fancy compared to what I am used to.

3) A sticker in the engine bay provides instructions on how to check the oil level and a command to, "Check Engine Oil Level at every Fuel Fill-up!"

Congrats on your new 35d and a very helpful first post:thumbup:

BTW I think you should read about the BMW C&D program introduced with the 2010 35d models. Playing around with your X5s dipstack and lifting the skirts for pictures, makes me think you are exactly the kind of BMW owner for which this program was designed. At least now you can't say you weren't warned. :rolleyes:

Funf Dreisig

Ah ha! I suppose the "BMW C&D program" also triggered the electrical sounding buzz I heard when my hand was deep in the recesses of the engine bay! Keep in mind that the engine had been shut off for a few hours and the key was not in the ignition. I can only presume that these seemingly random buzzes, whirs and whines are intended to strongly discourage any probing of the engine bay!

Well, I did a little more probing despite the apparent risk of shock. I admit that while I bit enamored by the fancy dipstick, what appears to be the fill line for the washer fluid was made with a permanent marker. I guess you have to balance the costs out somewhere.

Hmmm...
I've noticed a few 'magic marker' hightlights on my 35d too. For example, the four captured nuts [for the rear bracket of the missing cargo bay gas strut] in the bottom of the cargo bay floor were highlighted with a light colored circle on the black back ground. I assumed that the highlighting was to help the assemblers focus quickly. After all, they only have 19 hours to slap these babies together once they start down the assembly line.

But the circles in your pic look more like highlighting flaws in the plastic part. Do the highlighted areas touch some other part?

Funf Dreisig

Let me guess. When you heard the "electrical sounding buzz", you had recently opened the driver's door to release the hood latch.

BTW while your 35d engine area is buzzing, the voltage at the jumper cable connecting point drops significantly and bounces back when the buzzing stops. Speculation is that opening the driver's door of a 35d triggers warming of the glow plugs to make the 35d start up without delay. I :dunno: what it is, but it pulls some juice. And it happens everytime you open the driver's door :yikes:

Funf Dreisig