Well, I ogled the dipstick for the first time today, at my first oil change, and waaaal, it doesn't look like the graphic in the manual. It looks like the photo below. My guess is that the proper level is between the two flares in the fiber part of the tip. Anybody else got one that looks like this?

I'd still like to have something like the Cravenspeed piece (spendy), but they still only list it for the 1st Gen. cars.

 

My 07 September 2007 build MCS has a spiral wound wire, say 14 gauge steel, dipstick with a brass* tip. The 'full' and 'low' indicators are brass ferrules spaced about two inches apart perhaps inch and a half above the tip. In short, looks very different from yours.

* My apologies, original post said it was plastic tip ... only plastic in entire dip-stick is the pull-up ring ... just checked.

 

Just checked mine - yup, I have the same lame @$$ design. I suppose we should be grateful that we have a dipstick given the fact that the MINI's cousin does not come with one.

 

Do you mean lame like mine or the spiral wound one?

 

Sry; lame like ours.

 

Just checked Cravenspeed's website, and it looks as if they are selling a version for the R56:



Has anyone purchased one for the late model MINI? If so, thoughts?

 

I bought the dipstick from Cravenspeed for my O8 MCS. Just a few comments. Because the handle is metal, it gets hot, unlike the OEM plastic handles. Also, the picture on their website shows it is marked with gradations between a L and F mark. The ones I received are just marked with Xs.

 

Hoonu, I've got the same dipstick as you do. I intensely dislike it.

I just cannot get an accurate reading on it. I have to try it 3 or 4 times to get a reliable sense of where the oil level is.

Someone said to lay it down on a clean white paper towel and see where the oil absorbed into the towel. Kinda riduculous if you ask me.

 

Huh. MossMini was listed as their "preferred" vendor, and they don't list a second generation fitment. Behind, I guess.
Hadn't thought of that, thanks! But, I guess I commonly check the oil with it pretty well cold, if not stone cold, so it might not make much difference. Wouldn't want to be surprised though.

That's kinda bush. Did you contact them by any chance? For 80 bucks you'd think they could at least match their own picture.

 

My '07 MCS had the "slinky" dipstick, but my new '08 MCS has the new fiberglass & plastic dipstick. It's no doubt cheaper than the "slinky", and it's a bit of a throwback to the R53's dipstick. None of them are easy to read compared to a good 'ole American steel dipstick, but the fiberglass/plastic one is defintely lighter.

 

Ok, but what do you really judge Oil measurement with on the stupid Plastic pointed tip deal. I try to keep it dead between both bulges...not even sure if thats correct but I've never gotten a warning.

 

Next oil change, if you can wait a bit at three quarts and check your dipstick and then add a quart and check again and then,
add that last pint to show Your 4½ Quart Level Mark.

I have the all steel dipstick and three quarts is lower 'ferrule' four quarts is midway and 4½ is a little less than ¼ inch below the top 'ferrule'.
This is when cold and hot oil will read a ¼ inch or so higher.

To get the most accurate reading, take a small piece of paper (paper towel is too absorbant),
fold it in half and lay the dipstick in the fold and squeeze it for a good reading.

 

I'm glad to know that I'm not alone. I felt like a total idiot at the gas station when I went to check my oil for the first time in my new Clubman.... only to find that I had never seen a dipstick like it before and couldn't read it!

 

My Range Rover is like this too. Not sure if it is a standard BMW thing or not. I think they are hoping you will rely on the computer to tell you if it needs oil or not, lol.

 

I just use my finger to see where the oil level is on the dipstick.