[Rbnsingh]

Hello all,
Just brought a pre owned X2 interstate. The vehicle is now asking for engine oil, as it’s reached the minimum level. I did drive the vehicle for almost 2000km in 2 days bringing it back to my state so it’s quite possible it needs the oil. My question is I’m not due for service for another 2900km or 4 months as per the dash! Should I just add engine oil for now as the vehicle says, or should I get just get a service completed? Sorry rookie question, new BMW owner! Just trying to take care of my new machine.

[Qsilver7]

Add engine oil and the engine oil service are TWO different things.

Add engine oil is like the low fuel warning…it’s something the car requires to continue running properly

Engine Oil service is when its time to replace your oil filter and oil based on mileage or time

If you didn’t get a paperback version of the owners manual…there’s an owners manual built into iDrive that has multiple ways of searching. You can do a keyword search for oil if you are confused by what the car is trying to communicate to you.

[King_Leonard]

Add oil, ASAP.

[Rbnsingh]

Originally Posted by King_Leonard

Add oil, ASAP.

Just added 1L today, and carried out measurement, message gone!

[Rich807]

Keep a very close eye on the oil level from here on out. Mine is much newer than yours but it uses essentially no oil at all between changes.

I'd be a little worried something may be amiss that the previous owner didn't disclose. At least until I verified by my driving the car that it wasn't using excessive amounts of oil. Good luck

[rice_rocket88]

Agreed! Most engines have a tendency to burn a "little" bit of oil.. but if you're getting a low oil warning prematurely that might be an issue. The BMW recommendation/setting for oil changes is literally 1 year or 10,000 miles here in the USA which I think is a little excessive. I would say at least 2x a year or 5K -8K ish. Also our recommended oil is 0W20 but that's literally what my dealership feeds all the cars.. and it is a synthetic which is why it can go the 10,000 miles in between oil changes. I guess I would be more concerned about miles vs age since it has been proven that "old" oil doesn't really age/break down that fast. "used" oil certainly gets contaminants and breaks down.

[Rbnsingh]

Based on the service history the last service was 10/22 so about 10 months ago and 7800km ago. I am currently in Australia. The viscosity recommended in the manual is 5W-30 and I topped up with that. Should I get a premature service carried out and would you recommend I switch viscosities to 0W-20? I did buy the vehicle from Sydney where there’s loads of stop and go traffic, perhaps this was heavier on the oil consumption? I will monitor from now on, the car rides and drives very well. I did have an inspection carried out but obviously that’s just namesake and they barely check anything, but they did say everything looks fine. Should I have my Indy mechanic do an immediate oil change and take a thorough look at the vehicle while he’s at it since it’s already done about 8k km since the last service and it’s due in 2 months time anyways?

[rice_rocket88]

Not much difference in the oil weight there.. I'd just stick with the 5w-30 and monitor it. 7800 km's is kind of low for it to be consuming that much. In theory when it warns you that it's low it's exactly 1 qt from full. It may be the extreme heat you see but I would just change it now and watch it and see. I wouldn't be really afraid, and during an inspection they wouldn't be able to detect anything like that anyways.