How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car near San Francisco, CA

Your vehicle requires motor oil in order to perform properly. In at least this one respect, your BMW is just like any other vehicle on the roads near Redwood City and Burlingame. Knowing how to check your car’s oil near San Francisco is essential, but the steps you need to take in your BMW might be a little different from what you’re used to.  Although you can always get under the hood and check the dipstick, we’ll show you how to make the most of your BMW car or SUV’s electronic oil monitor below.

How to Check the Oil Level in Your BMW

New BMW vehicles use a condition-based service monitor in order to help you care for your vehicle on schedule. If you just want to be sure that you’re good to go, you can look for the BMW oil light on your dashboard:

• An orange-yellow oil light means that you need to add more motor oil. You can pick up an approved product at our San Mateo parts department or schedule a BMW service appointment at your convenience.
• A red oil light is trying to tell you that your oil pressure is low, and that you need to take immediate action.

If you don’t see a light, but you want to make sure you’re topped off, here’s how to check your car’s oil level:

1. Turn your vehicle on and let the engine run. Make sure you’re parked on level ground.
2. Your steering wheel controls allow you to cycle through the display options beneath your gauges. Click through until you see the oil lamp.
3. Press the BC button to enter. A small bar should pop up on screen, with a clock beneath it.
4. When the clock hands stop moving, you’ll be able to read your oil level.
5. If you see a +1 (or some other number), you need to add more motor oil. If you see “MAX,” your level is full.

Older vehicles allow you to check the oil level using a dipstick, and most new BMW models also include one. Either way, this job is even easier than rotating your tires at home. Check your owner’s manual for details.

How to Add More Oil to Your BMW near San Francisco

Now that you’ve learned how to check the oil level in your BMW, you may have realized that it’s time to add more oil! Although you can always schedule service to have an expert take care of the issue, adding more oil manually is a relatively simple task:

1. Make sure you’ve picked up fresh, approved motor oil from our San Francisco BMW Parts Center.
2. Turn off the ignition and give your vehicle a moment to cool down.
3. Pop your BMW vehicle’s hood, and locate the oil filler cap.
4. Unscrew the cap, but be careful! If you haven’t waited long enough, it may be hot to the touch.
5. Add more oil using a funnel. Work slowly, and use your dipstick to check the level as you go.

Need to Schedule a BMW Service Appointment?

Need an oil change? Our auto service technician experts can help change your oil to help get you back on the roads of San Francisco, CA. Get started by scheduling a BMW service appointment with our BMW service center near San Francisco in Burlingame, CA.

View Current BMW Service Specials & Parts Offers

Need BMW auto service? Does your vehicle need a specific part? Check out Peter Pan BMW’s current specials on BMW service and parts today!

For More DIY Tips, Turn to Peter Pan BMW

Whether you’re wondering how to change a car tire or you just want to learn more about your BMW service schedule, how to remove corrosion from a battery, or where to get a BMW oil change, our team is happy to answer your questions. Need to stop in for a quick fix? Make sure to check out our BMW service specials before you make the trip from San Francisco or Palo Alto.

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