640D strange oil warning

[splinters]

Hi folks, hopefully some of you can help me out with this.

I got my 640D car serviced a few months back, all routine.

Then about a month ago when I started it I got a Drivetrain error when the car started up. I didnt know what to do so I powered it off, tried it again 2 mins later and the error disappeared and hasn't come back since. Great, simple sensor quirk I thought. Driven a few thousand km since then and no issues at all.

So then this morning I knew my rear brake pads were due to be changed soon so I jumped into the Service menu on the Idrive to see when, and the first thing I see is a warning for Engine Oil Too High.

There's no dipstick so I can't see if its actually too high or just a sensor. It seems odd that it wouldn't display the warning when the car is powered on. There's really nothing to indicate there's any problems when I power on the car, until I look in the Service menu.

I don't expect anyone to diagnose this over the forum, but does it seem strange to anyone else that an oil too high message wouldn't come on when you start the car? That combined with the Drivetrain warning last month has me worried now there could be something major wrong.

Or am I just being paranoid, considering the car is driving fine, no error or warning when starting. Perhaps its just a case of the engine oil actually being topped up a bit too high on the last service. I wouldn't really go into the Idrive Service menu often so its very possible its been like that since the last Service.

[MARKPRIOR]

so i had this in my old 530d (F10) and a friend with a 730D has also had it..

its the DPF, when it performs a regen it dumps more diesel in the cylinders than usual, some of this slips past the rings and lands in the oil, so you meter is correct the oil is to high. drop around 1/4 litre out and recheck. if the oil smells quite diesely or is to thin i would change

[splinters]

Ahh ok, that sounds less serious then I thought. Thats good news!

As for draining the oil, I wouldn't even know where to start.

I checked a few youtube videos and a few seemed to suggest this approach. As I'd only be draining a small amount does this seem practical?

[MARKPRIOR]

i think you can see the sump plug through the plastic undertray (you could on the 530 anyway) , but you always run the risk of spilling it all out lol, not tried that method on but cant see why it wouldnt work tbh

[splinters]

Perfect, I'll give that a try. Appreciate the advice, I'm a bit clueless with this stuff.

[splinters]

Doh! Just copped the method in that video requires the tube to go down the dipstick tube which I don't have, good old BMW removing the manual dipstick.

I'll call into my local garage tomorrow. I presume they wouldn't charge me much just to drain a small bit of oil. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

[NINJA59]

There is a service dipstick on the 640D.

Go to the passenger side with the bonnet open look at the back of the engine and you will see an unlabelled dipstick .

More than likely your oil has been diluted by diesel from the DPF cycle. Try not to repeat it too often otherwise it will remove all lubrication, and either way you might be better changing the oil before the schedule is due circa 10k or every year.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...90#11438513535

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...stick/G7TmcbAV