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523ss View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01-July-2007 at 12:03

Hi all,

I am new to the 3 series forum having traded in my 5 series for an E46, i have a question that i know has been covered before regarding oil consumption, just need some reassurance from you guys that would know. My E46 2.2 (2001) has covered 100,000k, i do drive it quite hard and it seems to consume around 1/2 - 1ltr of oil every few weeks or around 1000 miles, is this normal or should i be concerned?

Any reassuring advice appreciated.

Thanks

Shawn
96 E39 523i SE
2001 E46 2.2 S.E silver black leather
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Hi. My 328ci e46 doesn't drink any oil. (touch wood) and I aint shy with the right foot either. As for the 2.2 i honestly can't say.
E46 328ci now sold :(
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Points: 309 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jamsieboi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-July-2007 at 12:54
my 325 uses about half a litre every 2 - 2.5 k which ive been assured is quite normal, i would think half a litre ever 1000 miles is quite alot but it might not be unusual.

my biggest problem is i find the oil level stick really hard to read i need to put it on some tissue to see what the level is and im not sure how accurate that is so really i rely on the yellow light too much

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M52 engines don't seem to use much if any oil whereas the M54s (?) on facelift E46s seem to use oil judging by other owners reports. BMW tolerances used to be 1litre every 500 miles.
Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea

Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit
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I concur with stone island... M52 oil use is unusual but BMW mechanics have told me it's quite normal on an M54.

None at all is the amount my M52 uses... ...for now...
Beating around the bush.
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my 330 likes the oil
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I'm with Alym786 my 328ci diesn't drink oil in fact over 15k miles i used only 0.5 litre! my car's done 92K miles now.
2000 328Ci vroooooooooom
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Points: 95 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 523ss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02-July-2007 at 07:28

Thanks, im not sure what oil is in it at the moment as ive only just aquired it, what oil would any one suggest, i used magnatex in my 523 and it didnt seem to use a lot?

 
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2001 E46 2.2 S.E silver black leather
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My E39 530 gets though 1 litre every 1500-2500 miles depending on how I drive.
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Originally posted by Stone-IslandV8 Stone-IslandV8 wrote:

M52 engines don't seem to use much if any oil

Originally posted by fozzymandeus fozzymandeus wrote:

I concur with stone island... M52 oil use is unusual

My 523i (M52) takes a bit of oil - about 1L per 1-1.5K miles but I would drive her hard enough.
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As others have said, the M54 engines do have a little bit of an appetite but there don't seem to be too many reports of it being a significant issue, even at high mileage.  My 330 was using a half litre every 6-700 miles on fully synth oil.  At the last change my indy swapped it to Mobil 10w-40 mineral and it hasn't needed topping up in the past 4-5000 miles.  Most of my driving is decent long runs so I don't think the change in grade from the recommended will do it much harm as long as I change it more frequently to compensate for it not being a BMW LL certified oil.
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Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

My 523i (M52) takes a bit of oil - about 1L per 1-1.5K miles but I would drive her hard enough.

It does seem overall that the most reliable and long lasting engines that BMW have done in recent years are the M50 engine up to '95 and the post nikasil M52.  If reasonable precautions are taken on things like water pumps, viscous couplings, etc. they seem to last forever.  It'll be interesting to see how the M54 ranks alongside those in the coming years.



Edited by Dergside
Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.

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e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci.
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Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

Originally posted by Stone-IslandV8 Stone-IslandV8 wrote:

M52 engines don't seem to use much if any oil

Originally posted by fozzymandeus fozzymandeus wrote:

I concur with stone island... M52 oil use is unusual

My 523i (M52) takes a bit of oil - about 1L per 1-1.5K miles but I would drive her hard enough.


Is yours an M52TU? Maybe a difference. Remember mine's old enough! M52 with extra free nikasil.
Beating around the bush.
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Mine is M52 (non TU) also!

Edited by kbannon
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Ah, well, y'see, yours'll be the exception that proves the rule.

Oh yes.
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Dunno what mine is? Just know its a 2001 (Y)..... My E39 was an M52 with free nikasil......hence it went.........
96 E39 523i SE
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i've the m54 2.2ltr engine, would use around half ltr every 1000 - 1500miles, i had e36 with m43 1.8ltr engine before which was a peach, never needed a drop, looked into it when i upgraded and seems to be the norm, wouldn't be anything to worry about unless it's leaving it on the driveway.

I know if the oil used in the engine over it's break-in period isn't right it can damage the oil seals and cause it to burn / loose alot more oil over the yrs. bit of useless information.....correct me if i'm wrong.
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Seems high to me. My 2.2 320 has used 1.5 to 2L in 10k miles since I got it @ 50k. I have heard wildly varying reports about oil consumption though, yours is probably around the middle.

So long as it's not leaking or leaving clouds of blue smoke behind, the important thing is you're aware it needs to be checked regularly
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Originally posted by 523ss 523ss wrote:

Hi all,

I am new to the 3 series forum having traded in my 5 series for an E46, i have a question that i know has been covered before regarding oil consumption, just need some reassurance from you guys that would know. My E46 2.2 (2001) has covered 100,000k, i do drive it quite hard and it seems to consume around 1/2 - 1ltr of oil every few weeks or around 1000 miles, is this normal or should i be concerned?

Any reassuring advice appreciated.

Thanks

Shawn



M50 never used oil really...
M52TU used less...
M54 does burn oil but depends and varies a lot...
       LL04 is first to try - if it burns a lot of that then
       try LL01 (lower spec - but good enough for M54)
       if it exceeds 1ltr/1,000mls then you either put up with it or spend big bucks...

If it was mine - I'd keep topping up with LL01 and watch the level - never wait for the yellow light,

HTH,
Eddie.
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The usage is heavy, as far as BMW are concerned 1ltr every 1000 miles is within limit.

Do you know what oil you are currently using?

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