Guys, this is getting silly.
There is nothing tricky or untrustworthy about the oil dipstick.

Yes, oil level is hard to read when the oil is new and clean (roll the bottom of the dipstick on a paper towel and it will show where oil is, and where it isn't). After a few K miles the oil gets darker, and is easy to spot on the dipstick.

Being surprised that you are 3 quarts low of engine oil is not BMW/MINI's fault, it's driver's!

a

 

agreed. dipstick is difficult to read but not impossible. some MINI drinks oil and i always check the dipstick to make sure oil is shown on second/top nub of the dipstick. being 3 qts low, there should be loud harmonic timing chain noise that would alert driver something is wrong. i don't fully blame driver but MINI is a high maintenance car.

 

I agree as well

 

All valid points up thread, the oil level bears watching carefully. I am glad for the synthetic oils because they save a lot of engines given these scenarios that not much can be done about except to check the oil every 1k miles.

 

The situation with the dipstick is that many of us have learned the hard way not to trust it.

My first experience with the false dipstick readings happened several years ago when at 46,000 miles my 2008 MINI Cooper S got an amber "CHECK ENGINE" light. I took it to the dealer and I was shocked when the service adviser told me that that cause was low engine oil. Especially, since I had been checking it regularly.

To afadeev,

I feel this problem is real...not silly. MINI should have recalled the dipstick a long time ago!

Why not provide drivers with a "normal" dipstick where you just wipe it clean and push it in and remove it to get an accurate reading? How many other cars have you owned that you have to roll the tip of the dipstick on a paper towel to assess the oil level?

To systemlord,

You're 100 percent correct...this is the exact reason why MINI eliminated the dipstick in their newer models.

Take care,
mini_wisconsin

 

Glad to have an easy to read, simple metal (OEM) dipstick on my R50!
This is one of those things that are so easy to do right ... but "progress" gets in the way.

 

Whatever happened to the flat type (blade like) dip stick that had a Min line and a Max line machined into the metal? Even with new oil you could still see where the flat metal was wet with oil and that's how I checked my oil for 10+ years, never had to double dip. Manufactures need to stop trying to reinvent the wheel! There are those manufactures that think they can often fail making things worse, this is one of those manufactures I'm referring to.

 

Systemlord,

Flat type (blade like) dipstick.

mini_wisconsin

 

I am all for the flat-blade type dipstick, as I am used to that. But in buying a Mini, I knew going in that there may have to be some "adjustments" made to my NORMAL thinking. Progress, at it's best, or worst. Adapt and overcome. Learn the differences before, or learn them later. This is precisely why we need this forum. Thanks to all who have contributed, and to those who have learned painful lessons. Not everyone knows how different and special our little cars are, and very few will ever understand.
Thus the uniuqeness. The quirks. The pride in ownership, and ultimately, the pride in continued ownership. This sets us apart, I feel, in a world of jelly-bean look-alike cars. I hate jelly-bean cars. Therefore, I drive a MINI.

 

Perhaps true for you, but it's a pretty difficult dipstick for myself and others to read. I've wrenched on my BMWs and MINIs for two decades and would consider myself a very proficient mechanic. I check the oil levels every week on both cars and did so prior to the dealer issue I wrote about a couple months ago. The dipstick was entirely covered in oil to the very top bulb while it was exhibiting the symptoms myself and others had described. If the majority of we who participate in this forum are confused by the dipstick, folks who are enthusiasts and could be considered a tad more savvy than the average MINI owner who don't even know how to open the hood (my wife), I think there's a problem with the way the dipstick is designed. CravenSpeed's product designers and those who have purchased their dipstick would also agree, I'm certain.

What's puzzling to me is why dipstick designs have to change so frequently. I mean, weren't there three different styles among the R56 alone? The E36 dipstick was the best iteration of a dipstick design I've ever seen in the BMW/MINI world. Totally fool proof and beautiful.



All that being said, after two months (since the fiasco I wrote about in October) of not trusting the oil levels registered on the stock dipstick, I finally ordered the Craven version. Here's to a new year filled (pun intended) with proper oil levels.

 

The oil storage bag comes in handy to keep an extra bottle in the back just in case you have to top off. Comes with the funnel, wipes, and gloves.

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_OIL_STORAGE_BAG_2000_2001_2002_2003_2004_2005 _2006_2007_2008_2009_2010_2011_2012_2013/

 

Another reason to just purchase the cravenspeed dipstick! I can't recommend it enough, super easy to read, night and day over stock.

 

Just bought a used Craven dipstick, and YES! I can confirm that this is a very good purchase. I never really had a problem reading the stock dipstick, but the Craven makes it sooo much easier! And my 2011 N18 does not seem to consume much oil at all, at least thus far at 33k miles. 5k oil and filter changes, always BMW factory filters and Mobil 1 0w40 Euro-Spec oil. I must say that I still use the "roll it on a clean paper towel" method for checking my oil. Old habits die hard, I suppose. Someone else mentioned taking the dipstick out, laying it aside, leaving the hood open overnight (so you don't forget your dipstick is out LOL), and checking the first reading you get the next morning upon first plunge of the dipsick. This eliminates the possibility of "dragging" oil from the tube onto the dipstick, and getting a false reading. I think this is a fantastic idea, now if I could just remember to do it!

 

I have one and now I don't have my bottle of oil siding around anymore, I love it!

 

To the people with the stock dipstick, before I got my cravenspeed stick I used this method which yielded good results every time.

First run the car and let it cool down a bit. Then take your first reading. Ignore whatever is on the stick and wipe it off.

Place the stick back in but not ALL the way in. I used to use my thumb as a spacer to know when to stop. This allows the base of the bulb on the stick to drag up the remaining oil in the tube without introducing new oil to the tube. I repeat this process 3-5 times or until the bulb come out clean two pulls in a row.

Lastly, place the stick all the way in, and check your reading. After checking, I would usually do the towel rolling trick just in case. I saw another forum member mention this method and sure enough it worked well for me.

Still, prefer the cravenspeed stick method!

 

I think for most (me at least) it comes down to not having a hassle at all, the Craven is quick and simply and that's what makes the job simple. Call me lazy if you will considering how often I check my oil (every gas up 300-600 miles). Pull it out wipe it re-insert it pull it out check reading done.

 

Awesome

Pretty strong velcro, I had mine mounted under the rear deck lid and it held very well as a test. Holds to the seat back very well also.

 

I was told by my local dealership my 07 Mini "uses" about 1/2 quart of oil a month. Sounds like BS to me, but after a little over 130K it does use it. No leaks, No smoke, Just "missing" oil every month.