Oil consumption

[apexlocator]

Originally Posted by mister2d

Actually there's only one member in this thread who states unacceptable consumption. The rest are in line with what's documented.

Yes, accordingto BMW. But what if they set the number to 1 qt every 500 miles? Acceptable? I think it was a statistical study to find a mileage number just out of range of liability or admittance of quality control issues...who knows, except bmw.

If I had read this forum prior to buying my m5, I would have skipped it, having dealt with oil issues with other manufacturers. I am fortunate though to not suffer from oil issues with this m5. Although a top off is free, it would've been a pita and disruption to my schedule.

[mister2d]

Originally Posted by apexlocator

Yes, accordingto BMW. But what if they set the number to 1 qt every 500 miles? Acceptable? I think it was a statistical study to find a mileage number just out of range of liability or admittance of quality control issues...who knows, except bmw.

If I had read this forum prior to buying my m5, I would have skipped it, having dealt with oil issues with other manufacturers. I am fortunate though to not suffer from oil issues with this m5. Although a top off is free, it would've been a pita and disruption to my schedule.

Yeah perhaps. But I've had very similar consumption on a round of cars I've had. I'll list them.

E36 M3 x 2 (80K miles)
E39 M5 (40K miles)
E63 AMG (70K miles)
981 Porsche Cayman S (brand new)
AMG C63S (brand new)

Normal oil consumption has been documented in every single manual of these cars. If it ever got to the point of significant oil consumption, then I would worry.

[Maverick997]

2014 with 27000 miles.... Never had to add a drop between services so far....previous E60 M5 and Panomera I added 1qt/1000 miles.....takes maybe 3minutes to add a quart including opening hood, to tossing the empty bottle......also gives you a chance to check under the hood that all is in order...little PM check ....

[JMD]

I find this to be quite amazing! My story with a bit of a history.

First, I have a '12 535i Sport (bought new),...had to add a quart of oil some time around 7500 miles or so. After that,..never had to add any oil between oil services. At least not yet.

Bought a 2010 X5 M with 53k+ miles on the clock and drove it all the time. Never had to add an ounce of oil!

Bought a '12 550i M Sport X/Drive and put over 15k miles on it,...never had to add an ounce of oil.

Traded the '10 X5 M and a '10 X5 4.8 Sport for a '12 X5 M and haven't had to add an ounce of oil to the '12 X5 M------> Yet!

Recently traded 550 for a '12 M5,....and had to add a quart of oil around 1200 miles of new ownership,...and just had to add another quarter, although I've yet to calculate the mileage difference, but I know it hasn't been 2000 miles, etc.

Side stepp'n a bit,....I once owned a '79 320i (...with the awesome 2.0L 4). It was my first BMW and from then on, I've been hooked like a greedy Bass fish on BMW cars. The problem is, I inherited a car with an engine that had bad valve guide seals and it used a quart of oil per tank of gas! It didn't have an oil leak or was a smoke blower,...just burned the oil. No lie!

Now, I know that all engines burn a little oil,...it's the inherent nature of the 4-stroke engine. What I don't get is how and why does a $107K+ car uses a quarter of oil every 750 to 1200 miles or so. This makes zero sense at all.

That said,....everyone's pain is my pain as well! Now, FWIW,...I came in to the F10 M5 knowing it burned a little oil.

Oh well...

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by JMD

I find this to be quite amazing! My story with a bit of a history.

First, I have a '12 535i Sport (bought new),...had to add a quart of oil some time around 7500 miles or so. After that,..never had to add any oil between oil services. At least not yet.

Bought a 2010 X5 M with 53k+ miles on the clock and drove it all the time. Never had to add an ounce of oil!

Bought a '12 550i M Sport X/Drive and put over 15k miles on it,...never had to add an ounce of oil.

Traded the '10 X5 M and a '10 X5 4.8 Sport for a '12 X5 M and haven't had to add an ounce of oil to the '12 X5 M------> Yet!

Recently traded 550 for a '12 M5,....and had to add a quart of oil around 1200 miles of new ownership,...and just had to add another quarter, although I've yet to calculate the mileage difference, but I know it hasn't been 2000 miles, etc.

Side stepp'n a bit,....I once owned a '79 320i (...with the awesome 2.0L 4). It was my first BMW and from then on, I've been hooked like a greedy Bass fish on BMW cars. The problem is, I inherited a car with an engine that had bad valve guide seals and it used a quart of oil per tank of gas! It didn't have an oil leak or was a smoke blower,...just burned the oil. No lie!

Now, I know that all engines burn a little oil,...it's the inherent nature of the 4-stroke engine. What I don't get is how and why does a $107K+ car uses a quarter of oil every 750 to 1200 miles or so. This makes zero sense at all.

That said,....everyone's pain is my pain as well! Now, FWIW,...I came in to the F10 M5 knowing it burned a little oil.

Oh well...

There is one "flaw", if it can be called that, with the S63TU that I can come up with regarding "oil consumption". From every bit of technical documentation and engineering resource I've asked, there isn't an oil level sensor with the exception of the lateral load scavenging pump sensor. It utilizes CBS (Condition Based Sensors) to trigger Check Control Messages instead. There may be the appropriate amount of oil in the system, but it's become diluted enough, the pressures before and after the sensors indicate "low oil level". My E60 M5 needed not one, but 2 LITERS be stored in the trunk at all times and that was absolutely due to oil burnoff. With this F10, all the other S63TU, N63TU, and with the exception of one N63, (bad clamps on the return lines did need oil once prior to repair) hand to heart, I have not added a single drop of oil to any of them.

There seems to be a connection to break-in, driving style/conditions, and build date. I'm starting to wonder if ethanol content might have a role to play as well.

[apexlocator]

Originally Posted by miamiten

There is one "flaw", if it can be called that, with the S63TU that I can come up with regarding "oil consumption". From every bit of technical documentation and engineering resource I've asked, there isn't an oil level sensor with the exception of the lateral load scavenging pump sensor. It utilizes CBS (Condition Based Sensors) to trigger Check Control Messages instead. There may be the appropriate amount of oil in the system, but it's become diluted enough, the pressures before and after the sensors indicate "low oil level". My E60 M5 needed not one, but 2 LITERS be stored in the trunk at all times and that was absolutely due to oil burnoff. With this F10, all the other S63TU, N63TU, and with the exception of one N63, (bad clamps on the return lines did need oil once prior to repair) hand to heart, I have not added a single drop of oil to any of them.

There seems to be a connection to break-in, driving style/conditions, and build date. I'm starting to wonder if ethanol content might have a role to play as well.

Your research/theory would lead to an eventual over load of oil though if any is added.

[apexlocator]

Originally Posted by Maverick997

2014 with 27000 miles.... Never had to add a drop between services so far....previous E60 M5 and Panomera I added 1qt/1000 miles.....takes maybe 3minutes to add a quart including opening hood, to tossing the empty bottle......also gives you a chance to check under the hood that all is in order...little PM check ....

Well, 3 minutes + the drive to/from dealer. Again I'm lucky to not have to deal with this oil issue thus far.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by apexlocator

Your research/theory would lead to an eventual over load of oil though if any is added.

I agree and still leaves me scratching my head a bit. Diluted oil (caused by fuel blow-by) will lead to burnoff. But by how much? No one seems to want to answer that or several other questions when it comes to N/S63 motors and lubrication. Hell it took dealers a couple of years to stop putting the wrong oil in the damn things.

The fill was originally 8.5L (8L in the pan, 0.5L in the filter). It was then revised to 9.0L. There's another 1.2L of Capacity in the oil cooler and supply lines, 0.3L in the bypass lines, and approx 0.4L in the catch cans (not sure if that's combined or individual). That's almost 2 extra Liters of volume in the system and diluted oil will blow back up past the rings just like the fuel that made its way down in the first place. There's probably just enough actual consumption occurring along with a significant amount of "extra capacity" to keep it from overfilling unless one intentionally does so.

[Rearview]

Good point, miamiten.

[ur20v]

This is a very common problem with ALL marques. Its due to the low weight oil needed for fuel econ and the slipper pistons needed for power. A good Break-in is required to save glazing the bores... lots of load off load by varing throttle and rpm, never steady state, luging or high revs. It allows the rings to bed in and cool off- every time to accelorate the rings are forced into the bore, when you let off you cause a vacuun that cools and lubricates the rings.

[JMD]

Revisiting the thread: I just reviewed the mileage from my last service ticket and it looks like my 1 quarter oil usage will be around every 3000 miles.

[Grayblack]

I think it's hit or miss. My 13' M5 needed oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. My 14' has not needed any refills between normal service. I followed the same break in procedure with each vehicle.

[ur20v]

You may have followed the break-in to the letter but did your PDI'ing / servicing tech!?

[Rearview]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

Mine is in the shop for Oil Consumption Analysis. 4qt of oil within 1k miles, that's 250 miles per qt. Pretty much the same mileage as a modern Diesel engine.

I doubt it will pass the test. I don't want a new engine, but most likely going back to an F80 M3. The S55 doesn't drink oil and has better mpg.

JNoSol, what were the findings, next steps? Are you in your M3 already?

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by Rearview

JNoSol, what were the findings, next steps? Are you in your M3 already?

I have to wait 1k miles so they can monitor the usage. It doesn't mean anything because 2.5qt per 1k miles is considered normal according to the BMW Service Bulletin.

[apexlocator]

WTF??? I thought it was 1qt / 750 miles max. 2.5qt / 1k miles is unacceptable. Do you have a link to the service bulletin?

[Rearview]

Thanks for sharing ... sorry to hear.

[ur20v]

Drain some out before it goes in- that way it WILL be excessive and they will do something!?

[TheHouseWon]

Jnosol "downgraded" to a gorgeous 911

Good for him, shame on BMW!

[ur20v]

awesome, I have gone the otherway - GT3 to M5, will be back in a GT3 (or GT2 as I love turbos!)

[celicatoe46m3]

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

Take it to the dealer for a top ups, they are required to under the SB. Walmart also has the oil for cheap. By the gallon.

Free oil from the dealer? Is this applicable to in warranty cars only?