Question...

[AutobahnSHO]

Doesn't the E90 not have a dipstick?? Not a good thing IMO.

I knew newer cavaliers don't have a tranny dipstick, but ENGINE OIL???

[The Pirate]

I knew newer cavaliers don't have a tranny dipstick, but ENGINE OIL???

Yeah, no crap, right?  I don't know that I would ever buy a car without an oil dipstick.

[The Pirate]

Apparently E90s don't need them.  Another thing they don't need is the steering wheel.  It's just there for looks.

Knight Industries Two Thousand is back in the shape of a 3er.

[ro51092]

I don't think my A4 has a transmission fluid dipstick either. That's the E90's only flaw, no damn oil dipstick. Why the hell did BMW choose to do that?

Whatever, the rest of the car PWNS.

[The Pirate]

I don't think my A4 has a transmission fluid dipstick either. That's the E90's only flaw, no damn oil dipstick. Why the hell did BMW choose to do that?

Whatever, the rest of the car PWNS.

Manual transmission cars typically don't have a dipstick.  Instead, there would be two plugged holes on the casing of the transmission.  The lower one is the drain plug, and the higher one is the fill plug (fill til it's level).  My car's transmission takes just over two quarts, I know this because I changed it a few weeks ago.

[ro51092]

Manual transmission cars typically don't have a dipstick.  Instead, there would be two plugged holes on the casing of the transmission.  The lower one is the drain plug, and the higher one is the fill plug (fill til it's level).  My car's transmission takes just over two quarts, I know this because I changed it a few weeks ago.

Really? I didn't know that. 

[850CSi]

Manual transmission cars typically don't have a dipstick.? Instead, there would be two plugged holes on the casing of the transmission.? The lower one is the drain plug, and the higher one is the fill plug (fill til it's level).? My car's transmission takes just over two quarts, I know this because I changed it a few weeks ago.

My A4 had a dipstick, it was a 5-speed Manual. This one's also a stick.

[850CSi]

Did you walk up to your car and say:

"Car: Check oil level now."

The on-board computer gives a readout of oil level and mileage to maintenance.

[The Pirate]

My A4 had a dipstick, it was a 5-speed Manual. This one's also a stick.

The 3er has a tranny dipstick too?  I know the manual tranny no dipstick thing isn't a hard and fast rule, but I'm surprised that that many cars would have one. 

Could be a German thing, I've never worked on a German car before.

[850CSi]

The 3er has a tranny dipstick too?? I know the manual tranny no dipstick thing isn't a hard and fast rule, but I'm surprised that that many cars would have one.?

Could be a German thing, I've never worked on a German car before.

Ooops, I was talking about Engine oil. I'm not sure about tranny oil, it's probably the same as Ro's A4, because I don't remember seeing anything about it in the menu.

[The Pirate]

Ooops, I was talking about Engine oil. I'm not sure about tranny oil, it's probably the same as Ro's A4, because I don't remember seeing anything about it in the menu.

Ah, that makes a bit more sense.  I was wondering what the hell the Germans were thinking!

[Danish]

Manual transmission cars typically don't have a dipstick.  Instead, there would be two plugged holes on the casing of the transmission.  The lower one is the drain plug, and the higher one is the fill plug (fill til it's level).  My car's transmission takes just over two quarts, I know this because I changed it a few weeks ago.

IIRC, to check the gear oil lever you take out the top bolt and stick your finger in. The bottom of your finger should have some oil on it

[AutobahnSHO]

IIRC, to check the gear oil lever you take out the top bolt and stick your finger in. The bottom of your finger should have some oil on it

Ditto that on the SHO.  Most manuals are probably the same.
To me an auto should have a dipstick or the engineers were 'sticks themselves.

[The Pirate]

IIRC, to check the gear oil lever you take out the top bolt and stick your finger in. The bottom of your finger should have some oil on it

The car has to be completely level for it to be accurate as well.  I had some problems getting mine level when I changed it.  I ended up fabricating a wood block of sorts to set on the jacking point that would keep the car completely level with the passenger side front wheel off.  With that wheel off, there is easy access to both plugs.  It worked out quite nicely, and I remembered to save the wood block for future procedures.