New complaint? This is an ongoing complaint!

Here you go dpcompt (easily fixed with a grinder or file, drill if still not happy):

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-dipstick.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-dipstick.html

Grind off the lower bulb so it doesn't pull oil up into the tube on removal, then file flat on two oposite sides like a normal dip stick. The oil is easy to read on the dull filed flat surface, because the oil will try to complete the circle around the flat surfaces making it thicker in the center of the flat surface.

If that still doesn't do it for you, drill small holes to the shinny center rod. The oil will fill the holes for an even easier read.

Cheers! :beers:

 

I appreciate your ingenuity, but its totally asinine to require owners of new cars to either replace or alter a dipstick ( especially a car that historically consumes oil at a high rate and has long oil change intervals). I am 60yo and have owned many cars and this is the first that I have owned that had a dipstick that was so difficult to read. In addition, you read the owners manual and check the oil in a conventional manner with no warning whatsoever from the BMW folks, you will get an incorrect reading unless someone overfilled your engine. While I will continue to enjoy my second Mini( the first one had a different dipstick that read like any other car), I still think that if some one has some problems caused by low oil levels, they have a very good claim against BMW.

 

Once a week inspection, over let's say six years of having the car, would be right around 25 cents per oil check if using the Craven stick. Or, using the pull and wipe method, something like 960 pull and wipes over six years. Give or take. The filing and notching mod would be all right too, if it makes the oil easy to see. I'd worry about either applying paint or chemicals to the stick, unless they were sure to be high heat tolerant and chemical tolerant. Gunk getting into the filter defeats the purpose.

 

Yep, agreed dcompt, but it is what it is. :-)

 

Joannie,
I just ordered my Cravenspeed dipstick.
Don

 

 

Don't be complaining about the dipstick or BMW may get the bright idea of just eliminating the dipstick as it has done with a number of its other models. Just saying.....

 

Likewise, agree 100% about a change in design being needed, but like Joanie syas "It is what it is" for now...

Good luck with the Craven stick. Some say it is hard to slide in and out (too tight?) and others had the end come off (although I think they claim to have fixed that problem).

Good luck with warranty issues if the end falls off

 

I don't know about the end coming off, but it slides in perfectly with zero effort.

 

The ones that didn't fit well were a small batch that got double coated in powder coating, and were replaced immediately. The ONE that came off, did so before ever being put in the car, and was refunded or replaced. They fit perfectly now, those little glitches being all worked out. I tugged on mine after reading that, and it would take two elephants playing tug of war to pull that spring off! If you read to the end of those threads, you find that everything was taken care of by Craven both quickly and without question. He seems to be a very stand up kind of guy!

 

+1

i ordered 2 of them, one for me one for my dad, neither fit, called craven, they were already aware of the double powercoat problem, and they overnighted replacements

great bunch out there

scott

 

Does this dipstick work on the 2009 and 2012?

 

I just installed a Gen2 Cravenspeed dipstick....what a great design!

Oh, and reading the oil level is now not an issue.

 

After receiving and installing my new Craven dipstick, I discovered that my oil level was too high and the repair shop had overfilled my engine. I went back to the shop and they pumped out half of a quart.

 

Welcome to our happy world! Now you actually *know*.....

 

Glad it worked out for you. Too bad you had to put out the big buck$...

Are you listening MINI?

 

I'm not trying to hijack but since we are on topic. My dipstick broke and part of the stick is in there. I tried taking it out with a stick that they sell in auto zone but I think it just pushed it deeper do you think it ill affect my car?

 

I just received the craven speed stick I'm disappointed how go you read this thing where is the good level DVD the under or overfill area. Came with no instructions. Not much better the what mini supplied

 

Which version do you guys have, I noticed on the web there's one with a thin end and one that's thicker?

Which is the 'new' version?

 

did craven address the hot metallic handle of the gen2 dipstick and that some are too tight of a fit that it require a clamp to get the dipstick out?

 

I believe so, I just got one and it fit perfect. My only issue is when I ordered it, the one pictured on outmotoring was different then the one I received??

 

If the craven dip stock is do great then it should be easy for someone to tell me what indicates low, good, high levels of oil. A good dip stick has this indicated on it in some way so far I'm disappointed. Didn't solve the problem I had with the one mini provided.

Having part of the dip stick break off should not damage the engine believe it will just fall to the bottom of the oil pan might be able to remove it during the next oil change but I would recommend getting to the dealer ASAP to that it removed.

 

I have the gen 2 version CRMC 0640

 

Oookay, I see my misunderstanding....the dipstick with a thicker end is for the 1st gen.....the one with the thin end is for the 2nd gens. Just checked this on Cravens website.

I feel like the 1st gen craven speed dipstick is better.
What do the grooves represent in terms of measurement of oil? I'm not that impressed either.

 

wow, so you were not seeing the overfill with the stock dipstick?

guess where the extra oil ends up? ... it gets churned up, goes out the pcv and lands on the intake valvescausing the massive deposits seen by many!

scott