How BMW Oil Level Sensors work (and Why They Don't Have Dipsticks)

[@kern417]

Order your Discounted B58 parts through my BimmerNetwork Affiliate Link (Coupon Code "kern417"): www.bimmernetwork.com/?afmc=kern417& How Your VANOS works: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omiqqmCJfM6lhtE

[@operatorrob4914]

Since the b58 and s58 share similar architecture, do s58’s suffer the same oil pump issue?

[@cuttingedgecool7235]

BMW should bring back the Dip Stick in addition to the Oil Condition Sensor for the sake of redundancy and peace of mind!!! Nothing beats being able to visually see the level and condition of vital engine oil.

[@MrSamPhoenix]

Thank you!!!!

[@Milian7771]

Exactli ✅

[@thebirdhasbeencharged]

It's like start stop and other eu nonsense like reading road signs, it sounds great on paper but in practice is far from perfect and just prone to misc variables and annoying users

[@theoutsider6191]

Agreed, a very cheap and effective way to monitor the life blood of your engine. And there is a good case to have the failsafe method when you are talking about something as critical as the oil level.

[@Conservator.]

Love the Porsche shirt on this channel all about the B58. 😁 Somehow I think BMW fans have a soft spot for Porsche too, I do anyway.

[@ronniespencer8202]

As the saying goes, BMW is the ultimate driving machine…. For those of us who can’t afford Porsche’s!

[@busterscrugs]

Seems like a lot of people upgrade from BMW to Porsche

[@Conservator.]

@@ronniespencer8202 😁

[@gaara4667]

I don’t

[@jonasbaine3538]

Bmw is the last stop for somewhat affordable high performance. Porsche is just extremely expensive for what you get.

[@stevenbenton2061]

Helpful in understanding why no dipstick.

[@holoblack]

I was just wondering this today - love your TA videos!

[@darius9521]

Good video! I do feel the urge to point out that as the temperature of oil rises, pressure drops. It's because oil gets thinner and it drains from bearings easier. Not b58 specifically but in general, on cold start up oil pressure may be 60-80psi, but fully warmed up will drop to 15-20 psi.

[@kern417]

@@darius9521 keep in mind these cars use variable pressure control oil pumps. Pressure can be manipulated at any time

[@cuttingedgecool7235]

Wow!!! Brother lately I’ve spent a lot of time researching the functionality and reliability of a BMW Oil Condition Sensor, I have a 2011 E90 335i AT6 with the N55 engine and to my surprise, I see that you dropped this video on this topic.

[@theoutsider6191]

Have to say, i would prefer to have a dipstick on the engine. That said, i used to check the oil daily on my previous BMW 320d, using both the on dash sensor display, and the dipstick. The oil sensor was bang on every time for 10 years when verified against the dipstick. So no issue with reliability on the E90 N47 engine.

[@PlatanoFury]

2020 M340i’s suffer from oil pump failures. Some people have no issues while most have issues reading the oil level through idrive. I hope they release a TSB/Recall for this. I heard some people with the failure use BimmerLink to check oil pressure

[@Spaz0768]

have there actually been oil pumps fail where it made them replace the engine or is the oil pump going bad over time

[@holoblack]

I really appreciate the explanation of how the reading will fail. I am trying to understand how loss of oil pressure may impact the oil sensor reading when using ultrasound refraction (measured in time sent/time received). My guess: Is it due to the pressure differential in the air (ex. due to plastic housing being cracked, there is lower pressure) affecting the soundwave enough to the point it makes it outside of parameters?

[@itswhip]

Actually just had to add TWO liters yesterday (it never alerts for 1L), coming up on my next oil change. Also have issues with the oil level check, never completes. I believe you covered issues with it has to do with the oil pump, which I had replaced in 2022 (M40i build Oct20). Wonder what's going on with it..

[@holoblack]

Do both quantitative and qualitative measurements use an ultrasound "pulse" or is there a different style of measurement for each? it seems the ultrasound pulse would need specific conditions to fall within the ms range to accurately detect oil level (i.e. after engine running 30 mins, etc.)

[@gunterification]

glad my golf mk8 r has a dipstick and the oil filter on top.

[@BlahBlahBleh317]

These oil sensors were integrated into cars in partnership with the German Cardiology Association. When you get the warning chime your cardiologist will know if you're healthy or not! Once i started my b47 and drove 5min to go get gas. Once i started the car at the pump it threw a low oil level warning. My heart dropped! But thankfully my car has a dip stick and it was completely okay 🤷‍♂️ Maybe it was the startup measurement that failed. It was a one time thing though : )

[@SomethingSomething1337]

I have a tuned 2021 Supra (B58TU) and I was wondering how difficult it would be to replace the oil pump myself if it starts giving me trouble, but I can’t find no videos/DIY - is this something that would be just too difficult for an average DIYer like me? Have you removed your oil pan without pulling the engine before?? I’m just curious

[@IDRC3000]

i don't have a b58 but I've read/seen that the timing chain assembly and the oil pump is located at the back. this means that you probably need to drop the entire engine to change it. unless you are able to drop the oil pan without subframe interference.

[@SomethingSomething1337]

I found this short kzbin.infow6YOnudShHU?si=iv-GscbXIPoZjWGv that seems to show the b58 still in the car with no sub frame and the oil pan removed, you can also see the oil pump in the back, I think this might be doable without pulling the engine, I would need to figure out how to correctly remove and install the oil pump but it doesn’t look too bad so far

[@robt8042]

Nice t-shirt.

[@VinceCannavaII]

All an excuse explaining the design created by engineers to remove owners from taking care of their cars. One step closer to subscribing to a car, then subscribing to features.

[@Conservator.]

You can still measure your oil level and change your oil yourself if you want to. But BMW did try to make seat heating a subscription service didn’t they? That would be a major turn off for me.

[@RiotSquad]

It’s been in BMWs since at least 2007 my 328i had an oil level sensor. Well before the subscription model was an idea.

[@briantii]

The real issue this addresses is running an engine low on oil. With extended oil change intervals it’s easy for an engine that burns a little oil to run low or OUT of oil. Yes, us car people check the oil frequently… but most owners don’t. With the electronic monitoring of level the car will freak out with warnings and the owner will KNOW they need to add oil and the car will even tell them how much - usually a full quart. I’ve got two cars with electronic level monitoring - a BMW and an Audi. Honestly it’s no big deal and is kind of handy even.

[@gaara4667]

It’s not that deep Regular folks don’t care about it or take care of their cars themselves. These are the same folks that actually fill BMWs pockets, not the minority that buys their old cars to work on them.

[@singular9]

Could have just used a dip stick. Could have no oil but got to warm up to find out lol.

[@patx35]

I love that they gave a BS excuse for needing an oil level sensor, as VANOs or VVT does not need an oil level measurement to operate. It actually goes by oil pressure, and you can hear a very faint rattle on startup until it reaches operating pressure.

[@S58b58]

Thank you

[@GenXContent]

What if BMW saw major profit loss in Europe as people changed their BMW oil by extracting the oil through the dip stick. Something VW allows you to do until today. I can change my VW oil after a long drive in and about 24 min by sucking it out and the oil filter is in the engine bay on top.

[@MrGuvEuroman]

oil level and oil pump fail detection sensor 😀

[@kern417]

@@MrGuvEuroman ✨multi-purpose✨

[@bitinvaderaddict137]

Maybe that's what they call as an indirect measurement, as opposed to what's called a dipstick which is a direct measurement.

[@ahmadabufare5272]

It also doesn't read when it's due for an oil change. Stops at like 25%. #440i GC

[@MrSamPhoenix]

Why not just add a conventional dipstick in addition to the sensor?! What if the owner can’t find a battery?

[@donovananderson396]

I hate the way it’s done, I checked the oil once using I drive. Saw where it says oil is at minimal level. Ordered 8 liters of oil figuring it was bone dry. Panicked thinking I have major oil leak or oil burning. Added one liter and it said it’s st maximum level. My car is a M3 E92 which uses liquid Molly $20 per quart. Why not add a dipstick for peace of mind.

[@busterscrugs]

I don't see how the oil level sensor has anything to do with the VANOS system. VANOS is not much different from any other VVT cars using cam phasers, and none of them use an oil level sensor!

[@SupraSav]

I am surprised this isn't more widely known.. While driving my E92 335i(N54) it felt like it would hit boost harder when the oil was just filled. When the car was ready for an oil change around 4500kms(It was FBO so I did oil changes early, top mount oil filter to boot), I would notice the boost felt like it would kick in much less aggressively, and the oil sensor would indicate add +1L. When the oil was topped up oh man the boost kicked in hard.

[@HassanAli-sr3dy]

❤️👌

[@phillm156]

2016 SQ5 had oil leak from oil level sensor. But it was giving some occasional false readings for last 4 yrs. I added a dipstick ($40) as a fail safe. There was a plastic cap for a dipstick. Dumb design.

[@tommerlin6579]

There are cases, 2l less or 3l over top called 100%. Shit

[@nourjebokji7054]

Don't trust it every 3k mils drop your oil and Measuret it if you want your bmw to last and your transmission oil and filter every 50k Replace it.