Is it just me, or did Mini go out of it's way to design an un-readable oil dipstick? (2013 MCS)

Anyone have any solutions to this? I'm thinking of drilling a hole or filing a groove or two in the "used oil colored" brown plastic tip so it's obvious where the oil level is -- but I wouldn't want that brown plastic breaking off as a result...
Would a white plastic tip have been so hard to produce? It's almost like BMW wants you to run your engine oil low for more repair cost....
(I'm NOT cynical -- I own a BMW motorcycle -- BMW corporate IS kinda that kind of evil)

 

This bitc#, gripe and/or complaint has aired herein since the first Gen 1 hit our shores. I just touch the tip to the shop rag to see how much of it gets stained with oil. Consider yourself lucky to have a dip stick, the new models don't. It's just a matter of time before a nanny component fails and an engine seizes up.

 

(always) Glad it know it's not just me...
I tried searching but didn't find anything...
Surely there's a "fix" if it's a common complaint.

The Flying Brick is the nick name of my BMW's 3cyl engine -- coincidence? Mines a '92 K75S still running strong...

 

People drill holes, dremel grooves or buy a Cravenspeed replacement. Also laying onto a piece of paper towel.

The Cravenspeed was ok, if a bit pricey. Not sure why they can't just have an old fashioned metal end that served drivers pretty well for a lot of years.

Us 3rd gen folks don't even get a dipstick to complain about.

 

Thanks!

Would love to see a pic from anyone that's modified their dipstick, and how well it's held up -- can't have the customer (wife!) tell me I caused bits of plastic to break off and enter the engine...

 

Stationed down in Key West back in '67 and joined a very active sports car club. I was driving a '62 TR at the time. One of the club member drove a classic Mini which became known as 'the flying brick'. I thought it sounded about right for a screen name here.

 

I took a flat file to opposite sides to create two flats down the length of the plastic. Makes all the difference in the world in reading the level. Did mine about 30,000 miles ago with no issues.

 

I am glad I still have one too. My wife’s 5 series does not have a dip stick. Before changing the oil the last time I used the “electronic dipstick.” It read as 100% full. After draining the oil, it was just over a quart low.

 

Package this up and send it to the geniuses that don't think one is necessary .

 

I presume the new "no dipstick" MINIs warn you when the oil is low.

 

Hopefully!

 

Evidently from recent posts, only after over two quarts of a 5 quart sump are gone!

 

Here is the old thread on the updated R56+ dipsick, i had the old full metal one on my 2007 R56 thats was really hard to read:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ipstick-2.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ipstick-7.html






https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...stick-fix.html

 

One does not refill the engine using the electronic dipstick as an oil volume measuring instrument.

The engine is oil is drained following the proper drain procedure then the correct amount of oil is added to the engine. With my JCW it takes 5 quarts and the tech adds either 5 1 quart bottles of oil to the engine or perhaps he has access to 5 quart jugs. (I have caught a glimpse of these jugs I just never got close enough to see if they contained JCW oil.)

At the Porsche dealer the engine oil was dispensed via a oil gun at the service bay. The gun had a digital readout that showed to a 0.1 of a liter how much oil had been dispensed.

Then the electronic dipstick is used to check the level to ensure it agrees with the *known* correct amount of oil in the engine.

If the electronic dipstick doesn't agree one doesn't add or remove oil but replaces the electronic dipstick. It is defective.

I really appreciate my JCW and its electronic dipstick. My other car has a dipstick and it is hard to read.

My previous cars, Porsche, one had a dipstick and an electronic dipstick the other just an electronic dipstick. I very seldom bothered with the dipstick. With both cars I could check the oil level while sitting at a light. The JCW requires 60 seconds to take a reading.

 

They didn't fire the guy who created the unreadable oil dipstick. He is now head of engineering for the Gen3 and Next Gen Mini's.
(supposed to be a joke)

 

You thought it was a joke -- no joke -- the engineer probably got a fat bonus for designing something to last a couple hundred miles past warranty and then epically fail -- like the BMW K series final drives that had NO provision to check the level or add gear oil -- life time fill they said -- what they did was fail shortly after the 20K warranty. Not even so much as an "I'm sorry from corporate" -- mostly denial as they discreetly covered their tracks...

 

Thanks so much for this!
While the oils draining I'll be filing the stupid dip stick...

 

Welcome, glad to help.