I "checked my oil" today with the electronic readout. On the readout there is a minimum level and maximum level. Does this represent a one quart difference. ( if it reads at the minimum level is it a quart low?). My readout indicated about 25% below max.

 

Anyone using/ burning oil in their cars yet?

 

not used any yet (at least that's what the electronic dip stick says), almost 4000 miles.

 

It will tell you when to add oil, if needed. It reports in 1/2 quarts. The minimum line is still normal, it's only if it's below that when you'd need to add anything.

 

It will tell you if you go to the electronic dipstick to check? Or is it always checking on its own at some frequency and will then automatically alert you if it's needed?

I suspect you still need to initiate the check to make sure the prerequisites have been met...

 

It will always tell you if the oil's low. We've had these in various cars for seven years now, including an oil guzzling N54 and never had a single issue with them. I know it's hard to get used to, but they seem to be fool proof.

 

The R56 would give you a "low oil pressure" light, but you are down more than a quart if that comes on -- so I don't know if that's what you meant.

And that car was basically impossible to read the dipstick and it indeed did like to use oil between oil changes. So, I for one am happy to see the electronic dipstick, but I'm still not convinced it's going to alert all on it's own at one quart low.

 

Our N55 and N55 have both alerted when half a quart low, without manually checking.

 

Ok, that will be great. I tried to find something in the manual you can download (which is one of the worst written manuals I have ever purused), but only found the procedure to initiate the check and nothing to indicate it would auto notify when one quart low (or a half quart).

 

I had several N55 BMW engines, and it worked fine in them, notified me once when down a litre/US quart. I think the MINI system is direct copy from BMW. If it tells you to add oil, add 1 litre/US quart.

 

[QUOTE=red bread;3951249I know it's hard to get used to, but they seem to be fool proof.[/QUOTE]Anvils and crowbars are foolproof. Soon as extra parts get added things can go wrong. There's still a whole lot of us old school types that don't trust all the whizbang gizmos. How 'bout something unseen craps out and it forgets to tell you what you need to know?

 

Were you worried when we got rid of crank starters too, or electric fuel level sensors? Hundreds of thousands of BMW's have had them for years now and I've never heard of any issues with the oil level sensors. I admit that I didn't like the idea initially, but it's been a non event. Worry about how the car drives, how direct injection causes carbon build up or how Minis are known for weak clutches, but you won't find me worrying about the oil level sensor.

 

It is my understanding that the car does the oil level check rather often. You are only alerted when there is an issue. I will miss the old-school dipstick, as it is part of my fuel fill-up routine to check the oil. But, I am also excited about this "new" technology. We trust computers to handle so many other variables about our cars (timing, fuel level, throttle position, braking) why not let them worry about the oil too. No sense in fighting progress.

 

I'm worried about the reliability of BMW electrics and computers. How much more is the electronic oil measuring system over a dip stick? Mini couldn't even get the dipstick right in Gen 1&2. Just sayin....

 

Now the cars will stop for every walmart shopping bag floating across the road so you don't have to watch for traffic or control steering any more. Won't be long before the gal in her travel van that hit cruise control, got up and went back into the van for a drink will be spot on. Turn on the key, doze off and get out when the car arrives at your destination. Motoring will be as rare as buggy whips. The downfall started way back when they came up with that danged steering wheel instead of the old reliable tiller. (We need a grumpy old fart smilie)

 

And can't wait for all the google driverless cars to start running into everybody.

 

Don't forget the Amazon drones! They should really screw with collision alerts and laser cruise control.

 

The nice thing about the new oil level sensor is the convenience and that you can pull over to the side of the road, add some oil when the idiot light so directs and hope that it isn't too late. For many years I operated machinery that had electronic oil level sensors that provided the same convenience. The Feds certified those systems but also out of a sense of caution (since pulling over to the side of the road was a challenge) also mandated a manual oil level monitoring system aka a dipstick--in addition to--just in case. I had a modicum of trust in the electronic version except when I traversed various large ponds of salt water. Then before every departure I would always hike up onto the top of the engine, pop the "bonnet" and manually checked the oil-- just in case. If ever I purchased a 3rd gen MINI, I would feel far more comfortable with a manual dipstick--in addition to--just in case.

 

...found one.