General topics » Post break-in service oil level (high)

This seems to be a recurring issue...technician changes oil/filter (4 qts. BMW oil added) and the level after shutoff and a few minutes is at or above top of oil window (not just above the top of the circle IN the oil window, but above top of window itself).

I could probably siphon some oil out, but...do I need to? BMW says oil level needs to be within the circle or...ENGINE DAMAGE! Really?

I just had the initial service done on my '23 and the oil level is above the sightglass. I am thinking I might pop off a valve cover to look at the valve clearances and that should bring it down into the "good" zone.
On my '17 I would only add 3 1/2 liters and see where that ended up. Middle of the sightglass is what I am aiming for.
Frank

Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #2

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I just had the initial service done on my '23 and the oil level is above the sightglass. I am thinking I might pop off a valve cover to look at the valve clearances and that should bring it down into the "good" zone.
On my '17 I would only add 3 1/2 liters and see where that ended up. Middle of the sightglass is what I am aiming for.
Frank

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Yeah, make sure bike is properly level. If oil was drained and filled with the requisite 4 quarts, it should be within spec.

That oil overfill issue has happened to me every time I had my 2016 RS (which I have owned since May 2015) serviced by a dealer. Now I do my own oil and filter changes and add about 3.75 liters of oil to start. Then I run the engine to warm it up, park it on a level area, and recheck the oil level, bringing it up to the center of the sight glass with additional oil as needed.

It is very odd that this is still happening after all these years of manufacturing and servicing the WC boxer engines. You would think that by now BMW would provide an oil change quantity for normal servicing when not all of the oil can be removed from the engine. I suspect that the 4 liter quantity is for new engines having their oil added at the factory.

When I was using the BMW oil which comes in liter bottles I could not add all 4 liters.
When using quarts and I don't completely empty each bottle, 4 quarts puts the oil at top of the circle.

I suspect that the 4 liter quantity is for new engines having their oil added at the factory.

My thoughts on this repeated enquiry and since 2005 all my 'home oil changes' start at 3.8 litres for refills.

I have measured the old oil 3.8ltre I poured it back into a 5 litre container to confirm this. (older R1200's used 15W50 castrol which I could buy in 5 litres)

All I do, now I have a spare 1litre with older 'new oil' just add enough new oil up to 800cc. (also adding the 3 other 1 litres!)

Keep the rest of the new oil for next oil change or top-up, ride, rinse, repeat.

Any time I stop for fuel after refilling on mainstand, by the time I have paid and got back to the bike, quick check it is between level markers, all ok.

The oil level from the factory was perfect. I think techs just dump in 4 quarts because a totally empty oil reservoir will take 4 quarts and put the level at the top of the indicator window. But in an oil change, there must be residual oil remaining that puts the level over the top. Taking the extra time to parse this out is probably not something busy techs want to do...so we get overfilled engines.

But, hey...the break-in service only cost $540 (choke!). I know there's inflation, but I suspect there's more than inflation baked into that number. A little shocked, to be honest...

Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #8

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But, hey...the break-in service only cost $540 (choke!). .

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #10

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #8

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The oil level from the factory was perfect. I think techs just dump in 4 quarts because a totally empty oil reservoir will take 4 quarts and put the level at the top of the indicator window. But in an oil change, there must be residual oil remaining that puts the level over the top. Taking the extra time to parse this out is probably not something busy techs want to do...so we get overfilled engines.

But, hey...the break-in service only cost $540 (choke!). I know there's inflation, but I suspect there's more than inflation baked into that number. A little shocked, to be honest...

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I'd heard the cost of living had rocketed in the US but $540 to change the oil and kick tyres?

That's 433 sterling, double what I paid on Tuesday for the recent service on my R1200RS at my local BMW dealer. This included changing the final drive oil as well as engine oil.

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Don't get me started. These guys are the only BMW dealer anywhere near me. They're a big company that bought out another local dealer (Yamaha), and they sell boats, RV's, snowobiles and jet skis. They're very focused on profit and it's beginning to annoy me. That service was way overpriced. What really got my attention was the notation on the invoice stating they gave me a "complimentary" inspection. Say what?

This is the one down by Tacoma along I-5?

What really got my attention was the notation on the invoice stating they gave me a "complimentary" inspection. Say what?

Do they say you were "a nice young man, a very nice young man!"

Any notation regarding being " under tall, not ovewweight" although we have assisted by "lightening your wallet"

At least they tested your blood pressure and ability not to collapse from shock after reading their invoice