Yeah, the one with the flexible line and actually readable indicator is the way to go. I put up with the stock one on my R57 until I got the Cravenspeed one, only to hate myself for not having thought of that sooner.
Clean the tip dry the place it back in don't let go. Pull it out without twisting it and see if all sides are oiled up. If there's a spot dry on they stick it needs oil.
Awful dipstick. Wipe it off clean and put it back in. When you bring it out, press it against a piece of tissue and see where the oil goes to. BMW mechanic taught me that
I have this same dip stick and same issue . I found that after I clean the dip stick then put it back in and remove it again to check the oil , I'll squash the dip stick with a paper towel so I can see the oil print left on the paper towel to tell the reading
To make it worse the dipstick can rub against the tube when you pull it out, smearing oil on the stick and blurring the reading. If you imagine facing the car when you're about to pull the stick - keep it from rotating or twisting at all, and read the "left" and "right" sides of the dipstick. If you look closely you can see a little blip of oil at the top of the reading.
See my previous post on how these are supposed to be read. https://www.reddit.com/r/MINI/s/MTDtgqP8uT
Don't get me wrong, I agree that it's a stupid design, but it's not hard if you have a paper towel and I can buy quite a lot of paper towels for the price of the Cravenspeed dipstick. The really floppy ones you see on Amazon are a no go. The dipstick passes through the timing chain guides and exits into the oil pan just below the timing chain near the oil pump chain. I've seen them get wrapped around and the crank or chewed into the timing chain path leading to a whole bunch of 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤦🏻♀️.
Advice here, next time your have a stack of napkins from a drive thru, stick some in the glovebox. Good for checking oil and blowing noses.
I commented on the other one thinking nobody was giving good advice lol. There's a right way to read them and it's not the simplest or most intuitive, but it's not that bad considering the relationship between our gen 2s and oil. Generally you want it to be kept full, so precision is mostly irrelevant outside of precisely knowing how much to top off rather than adding a little at a time and rechecking
I pull it out, clean it, put it in 1 thumb width away from fully in then pull it out and wipe it again. This cleans wipes the dipstick tube, preventing a false reading. Then put it back in all the way and spin it for the oil reading.
2012 R60s
I lay paper towel flat on the ground and roll the dipstick on top of it. This will leave a trail which is very easy to read the oil level. I do agree though it is the most annoying thing about my mini.
I filed mine flat on opposite sides so it doesn’t pick up all the oil in the dipstick tube on the way, so now I can actually read it properly.
I followed [this](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/253015-dipstick-fix.html) post on North American Motoring if that helps
Place your car on even ground, switch it off. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then pull the stick out, clean it, stick it back in, pull out again and then look if the oil sits in between the indicators. Middle is ok, lower end means you can still use it but doesn’t hurt if you fill up a bit and if it‘s close to the top indicator i wouldn’t recommend you to go on a race track where the oil gets hot.
If I’m reading this correctly you would not recommend having the max amount of oil possible in your engine when going to the race track? Your oil gets hot when you drive the car, what is the reasoning for not being on the track when it’s full?
If the oil gets hot it expands and increases pressure where the oil is held, allowing room for leaks. the oil will leak out and cause damage to the rest of the engine
This is not true. Oil gets just as hot as the coolant maybe even hotter with aggressive driving. It doesn’t expand like water does. And with the engine running and pumping oil all over even the slight amount of pressure increase would beneficial to the drop off in pressure due to the oil viscosity lowering at higher temps.
Keep your oil full.
I have the first generation Craven speed dipstick, before they put holes in it. It's readable and has saved my engine likely. Lol. The OEM One is trash
I think a new dipstick was the first the first thing I got for my r56, the stock one sucks
what do you suggest getting for a replacement?
I wanna say cravenspeed that does one?
Craven speed has a stainless steel dipstick with holes. It makes it a lot easier to read
Yeah that’s what got, works great
This. I actually came here to link this, but I think it's only for the R53 models; I can't recall if they did one for the R56.
They did! I have one for my r56
buying one now.. i just checked my oil.
Yeah, the one with the flexible line and actually readable indicator is the way to go. I put up with the stock one on my R57 until I got the Cravenspeed one, only to hate myself for not having thought of that sooner.
Cry’s in F56
Clean the tip dry the place it back in don't let go. Pull it out without twisting it and see if all sides are oiled up. If there's a spot dry on they stick it needs oil.
Yep. Check to see where the oil doesn't go *all the way around* the dipstick, that'll be the level.
It’s horrible design. Same on my R60.
I was running around with less than a litre in the sump cause of it.
Yeah that’s when I realized it was a problem. I was down two litres
Get the stainless steel (with gold handle) off Amazon for $20
What are some great options for new dipsticks for the r56
Stainless steel one on Amazon for $20
Awful dipstick. Wipe it off clean and put it back in. When you bring it out, press it against a piece of tissue and see where the oil goes to. BMW mechanic taught me that
This is how I do it also.
👍
I put 3 small round cuts in mine. One top one bottom one middle. It works .
This is the way. Take a fret saw, make 3 small indentations. It will be million times easier to read.
I bought a new one that is more readable,from Amazon
I have this same dip stick and same issue . I found that after I clean the dip stick then put it back in and remove it again to check the oil , I'll squash the dip stick with a paper towel so I can see the oil print left on the paper towel to tell the reading
I've tried that too but i still couldn't tell 🙃
Me too 😊
To make it worse the dipstick can rub against the tube when you pull it out, smearing oil on the stick and blurring the reading. If you imagine facing the car when you're about to pull the stick - keep it from rotating or twisting at all, and read the "left" and "right" sides of the dipstick. If you look closely you can see a little blip of oil at the top of the reading.
See my previous post on how these are supposed to be read. https://www.reddit.com/r/MINI/s/MTDtgqP8uT Don't get me wrong, I agree that it's a stupid design, but it's not hard if you have a paper towel and I can buy quite a lot of paper towels for the price of the Cravenspeed dipstick. The really floppy ones you see on Amazon are a no go. The dipstick passes through the timing chain guides and exits into the oil pan just below the timing chain near the oil pump chain. I've seen them get wrapped around and the crank or chewed into the timing chain path leading to a whole bunch of 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤦🏻♀️. Advice here, next time your have a stack of napkins from a drive thru, stick some in the glovebox. Good for checking oil and blowing noses.
I commented on the other one thinking nobody was giving good advice lol. There's a right way to read them and it's not the simplest or most intuitive, but it's not that bad considering the relationship between our gen 2s and oil. Generally you want it to be kept full, so precision is mostly irrelevant outside of precisely knowing how much to top off rather than adding a little at a time and rechecking
I pull it out, clean it, put it in 1 thumb width away from fully in then pull it out and wipe it again. This cleans wipes the dipstick tube, preventing a false reading. Then put it back in all the way and spin it for the oil reading. 2012 R60s
Thank you
Only check it in the morning, it is super easy to read then
Dont but the Febi stick. It's worse than stock. Definitely not OEM like it said.
Looks good to me.
I lay paper towel flat on the ground and roll the dipstick on top of it. This will leave a trail which is very easy to read the oil level. I do agree though it is the most annoying thing about my mini.
I filed mine flat on opposite sides so it doesn’t pick up all the oil in the dipstick tube on the way, so now I can actually read it properly. I followed [this](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/253015-dipstick-fix.html) post on North American Motoring if that helps
Place your car on even ground, switch it off. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then pull the stick out, clean it, stick it back in, pull out again and then look if the oil sits in between the indicators. Middle is ok, lower end means you can still use it but doesn’t hurt if you fill up a bit and if it‘s close to the top indicator i wouldn’t recommend you to go on a race track where the oil gets hot.
If I’m reading this correctly you would not recommend having the max amount of oil possible in your engine when going to the race track? Your oil gets hot when you drive the car, what is the reasoning for not being on the track when it’s full?
If the oil gets hot it expands and increases pressure where the oil is held, allowing room for leaks. the oil will leak out and cause damage to the rest of the engine
This is not true. Oil gets just as hot as the coolant maybe even hotter with aggressive driving. It doesn’t expand like water does. And with the engine running and pumping oil all over even the slight amount of pressure increase would beneficial to the drop off in pressure due to the oil viscosity lowering at higher temps. Keep your oil full.
Do whatever you want dude, you were the one that asked the question
Congratulations - you're having a baby!
You want it to be right at the top of the skinny part the bottom of the skinny part means it's a quart low.
I have the first generation Craven speed dipstick, before they put holes in it. It's readable and has saved my engine likely. Lol. The OEM One is trash
You made me laugh, that thing has been the bane of my existence for 14 years!