I have tried everything to get a reading off the f-ing dipstick on my '12 r56s.
The dipstick is a total joke. Knowing that Minis can use oil and BMW states that is normal for the minis to use oil, maybe we should complain to the Feds. What do you guys think?

 

I bought the Cravenspeed dipstick because the OEM one is so terrible. It's really nice.

 

That seems like a very expensive solution when the manufacturer should fix the problem for free.

 

What's so hard about pulling the dipstick out, placing it on a clean cloth or paper towel and reading the oil level from the oil residue on the cloth next to the dip stick?

 

There is nothing wrong with the dipstick. If you have a hard time pull the thing out at night, clean it and set it aside. In the morning when it's all cool and oils completely settled out of the tube, put the stick in and back out once to get an easy and reliable reading.

 

There are ways to get a reading from it, but it's still a bad design when compared to the dipsticks of most other cars.

 

The SAs at Stevens Creek MINI this morning were suggesting that people paint the end of the dipstick white in order to show the oil better. That's definitely a thought; the dipstick has definitely gotten easier to read as the oil has darkened, and white would make the contrast easier to see...

I wonder what kind of paint I can use? Hmm...

 

Using the multi-dip technique mentioned in earlier discussions in NAM, I'm confident that the readings on the OEM dip stick are correct.

 

+1 This is what I do. The dipstick is a pain.

 

just use oil indicating paste . . . that's what is used when sounding ship fuel tanks.

you apply a small, thin layer of indicator paste at the area of the sounding tape you expect the level to be when u drop the bob. The paste that comes into contact with oil changes color from white/invisible to bright red. Once the level is read you wipe off the paste.

of course, I just use the paper towel method on the cars

 

Yeah, it's one of the worst dipsticks I've seen. Use a paper towel and get the reading from that. I'm not spending big bucks when I can use a piece of paper towel.

 

I bought the Cravenspeed dipstick. Yeah, it's not cheap... but I can check my oil any time, any where... like in the gas station during a long trip. It's accurate, easy, AND it isn't so stiff in the tube that it could break off, as some reports of OEM dipsticks have claimed.

It's a little less than $80, shipped We spend that on a dinner for four at a decent restaurant, with a couple of drinks. Over the lifetime of the car, how much does that amount to? $12 a year?

Sure, the manufacturer SHOULD fix the dipstick. It's hard to read. It should be the easiest thing to use, it is so simple and important. But they haven't. So I'd rather pay the $80 and be able to check it easily and correctly. Let's see... check the oil once a week, 52 weeks a year, times at least six years... how much is that 'per check'? How much is a new engine again?

I'm happy with the Cravenspeed.

 

Also, it isn't just about being able to see the oil on the stick. It's about being easy enough to use, that you WILL do the checking, and not put it off. Since some of the dipsticks drag oil up into the tube, an inaccurate reading is just as bad as no reading at all. It needs to be easy and reliable, so that people will check it regularly. Several people in our club have the Cravenspeed now, and they like them very much. We bought nice cars that we want to (need to) take care of, to protect our investment. So until MINI rethinks the dipsticks, I highly recommend the Cravenspeed stick.

 

If I refused to fix anything on my car "that MINI should fix for free" I'd be a sad panda.

 

+1

 

The Craven Speed stick works. It's expensive but works.

Again, +1 to JoanieB and chrunck.

 

Did they change the dipstick after 2010? I haven't had any problem reading mine.

Dave

 

 

Perhaps we have officially hit rock bottom on complaints eh?

 

You have the old engine. Mine is an N18 and the dipstick situation is different. My old '08 had the n14 and the dipstick was very easy to read.

 

Yes,
they changed the dipstick. The solution from one of the smartasses that I just let the car sit overnight wouldn't work very well on a trip when stopping at a station, would it?

 

I just drove over 2,000 miles in the last two weeks, San Diego to Boise Idaho and back. Checked the oil twice on the trip, as well as other fluids and the tire pressure. Easy peasy with that Slinky like dipstick! Have you seen a video of how it works? It's really cool.

 

"It walks the stair, without a care, and makes the happiest sound,
it's the hit of the day, when you're ready to play,
Everyone wants a Slinky!"



There's also a guy who filed off the top **** on his OEM dipstick, and filed the plastic flat on one side, as well as putting grooves in it. That would address most of the issues, for just an investment in time. The thread is on this forum somewhere.

 

Joanie,
Thanks for your responses. I think that I will break down and buy a Craven. I intend to put a lot of miles on my current Mini ( an '12 R56S Hardtop ). And I want to keep the oil level correct.
Thanks, Don

 

Hi Joanie,

Where did you get your Creven dip stick?