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      07-15-2018, 06:24 PM   #1
mainsoda
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ECS dip stick question

I bought an ECS dipstick and while it is really nice, when I lay it next to my stock dipstick the lengths seem a bit different.
The ECS seems shorter.
I've always had a bitch of a time reading the stock dipstick and the new one is super easy to read.

I think the oil reads high on the stock dipstick, but reads low on the ECS.

Am I crazy? Have you guys had any experience with this?

I'm changing my oil for the first time next week and from what I've read the S54 takes 5.5 to 6 liters. But I also understand that it never entirely drains all the oil out.

Is it really this difficult, are the Germans insane, or is it me?

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      07-15-2018, 08:39 PM   #2
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I have the ECS dipstick as well and based off my personal experenice it works 100% perfect as far as oil level.
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      07-15-2018, 08:53 PM   #3
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My stock stick had always been difficult to remove. How is the ECS in this regards?
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      07-16-2018, 08:02 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
My stock stick had always been difficult to remove. How is the ECS in this regards?
Like butter, it gets a little hot but it never sticks like the stock dipstick.
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      07-16-2018, 09:40 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
Like butter, it gets a little hot but it never sticks like the stock dipstick.
Thanks. That's a plus for the ECS stick. However, your observation about it concerns me a bit to switch over. The ECS stick may be a bit shorter, but if you lay it down side by side with the top end lined up, does the MAX level on both sticks line up? The low end may not matters as much if it is indeed just a tad bit shorter.
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      07-16-2018, 10:09 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
Like butter, it gets a little hot but it never sticks like the stock dipstick.
Thanks. That's a plus for the ECS stick. However, your observation about it concerns me a bit to switch over. The ECS stick may be a bit shorter, but if you lay it down side by side with the top end lined up, does the MAX level on both sticks line up? The low end may not matters as much if it is indeed just a tad bit shorter.
This. Max level definitely more important.
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      07-16-2018, 10:12 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
I think the oil reads high on the stock dipstick, but reads low on the ECS.

Am I crazy? Have you guys had any experience with this?
IF memory serves, the S54 has a semi dry-sump setup unlike most BMW engines. There's a full-on "wet" sump that the crank and the fuel pump share space with on the bottom of the engine, but there's also a secondary "dry" sump storage that stores an extra liter of oil to prevent oil starvation at high G forces.

Again, this is based purely on memory, but I recall in the owner's manual, it calls for reading the oil level after it's been warmed up (the car's been running for x numbers of minutes, oil up to operating temp at around 185º), then engine shut off, parked on level ground, wait 15 minutes then take a reading. If you take a reading right after you shut the car down, there's quite a bit of oil in the dry sump reservoir and you will read low. If you let the car sit for an extended period of time, the oil from the dry sump reservoir drains back into the wet sump and you will read HIGH.

Or it could just be the aftermarket dipstick is shorter.
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      07-20-2018, 02:27 PM   #8
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OK so I had quite a morning and I have what I think is a pretty good story.

So I am preparing to do an oil change tonight after work. I am still trying to figure out my dipstick issue here, but with the new knowledge that I need to warm the car up and turn it off and wait one minute before checking the level I get to work this morning with the car warm and park on a level spot in the parking lot. Then I grab my old stock dipstick and put it in to check the oil. As I'm pulling it out I hear a distinct snap and I pull the dipstick out to this horror.



Awesome, I just wanted to confirm my oil level compared to the ECS dipstick and now I have a piece of plastic lodged in my dipstick shaft.

I just bought a Topsider oil extractor so I thought I might try my hand at using this to suck it out. Yeah I know what your thinking, and it didn't work. I tried 10 times.

So at this point I figure I might as well try to drain the oil and see what happens. I get just about all the oil out (the Topsider is awesome) and as I go to pull the tube out of the dipstick I hear a clink. I thought I might have imagined it so I did it again, same clink! So i put the tube in a third time and draw it out very very slowly. Then to my extreme delight I see the red plastic end come out of the tube. I fist pumped and and exalted more joyously than I like to admit.





So I'm still not exactly sure how to check my oil, but I feel good that my engine won't explode from plastic bits.

I fill the new oil as I measure the old oil taken out so as to leave it the same. The oil looks the same on my aftermarket dipstick . Here is my issue with the dipsticks incompatibility. Do I have a bad stock dipstick or a bad aftermarket dipstick? What do you guys think?


Last edited by mainsoda; 07-20-2018 at 05:40 PM.. Reason: picture reorder
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      07-20-2018, 03:29 PM   #9
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Thanks for the update and pictures. I would definitely raise the issue with ECS. Their stick will cause you to overfill
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      07-20-2018, 03:36 PM   #10
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Agreed, that doesn't look right at all. From what I've seen (never had to use myself), ECSTuning has good, responsive customer support.

They offer a number of similar dip sticks for different vehicles so it's possible this was a mispack.
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      07-20-2018, 05:23 PM   #11
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I did contact ECS and they said they are looking into a possible wrong part. So far they have only sent me a return procedure, but I don't want to return it.

They did confirm that the M3 and the Z4M S54 engines are the same.

I don't know what is going on exactly, but I know one thing for sure. I will never put that stock plastic dipstick in my car ever again. That end snapping off scared the crap out of me.
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      07-20-2018, 05:56 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
I did contact ECS and they said they are looking into a possible wrong part. So far they have only sent me a return procedure, but I don't want to return it.
Why not return it? It is useless to you, as the min/max ranges are way off of the OEM dipstick.

Let us know how this turns out. That stock one breaking off like that is certainly concerning.
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      07-20-2018, 07:42 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gpraceman View Post
Why not return it? It is useless to you, as the min/max ranges are way off of the OEM dipstick.

Let us know how this turns out. That stock one breaking off like that is certainly concerning.
Really the only reason I need it right now is becuase it's the only working dipstick I have.
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      07-20-2018, 07:59 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
Really the only reason I need it right now is becuase it's the only working dipstick I have.
Not really, as if the oil level showed up on that ECS dipstick, you will be well above the max mark. Other than keeping the dipstick tube covered until you get a usable replacement (the broken one can do that), the ECS one is doing you no good.
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      07-21-2018, 06:56 PM   #15
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Forgot to mention earlier. I think it's either a incorrect ECS dipstick or faulty. First thing I did when I got mine was measure my stock with the ECS and it was exactly the same.
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      07-21-2018, 07:50 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4M_GT3 View Post
Forgot to mention earlier. I think it's either a incorrect ECS dipstick or faulty. First thing I did when I got mine was measure my stock with the ECS and it was exactly the same.
What's the ECS part number? It's difficult to find the correct one on their website. Thanks.
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      07-21-2018, 09:27 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
What's the ECS part number? It's difficult to find the correct one on their website. Thanks.
This is the one on my receipt.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...422ecs01-03~a/
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      07-21-2018, 11:35 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4M_GT3 View Post
Was that the part# on the packaging for the dip stick that you received? I bet they just grabbed the dip stick meant for a different engine.
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      07-21-2018, 11:39 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gpraceman View Post
Was that the part# on the packaging for the dip stick that you received? I bet they just grabbed the dip stick meant for a different engine.

I have no idea bud, it was 7 months ago.
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      07-21-2018, 11:43 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4M_GT3 View Post
I have no idea bud, it was 7 months ago.
Sorry, seemed like it was something that you had just bought.

Looking on the ECS website, they do offer dipsticks that look like that for other engines. So, they likely just sent you the wrong one. Being so long since you bought it, hopefully ECS will work with you on getting you the correct one.
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      07-22-2018, 01:59 AM   #21
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This is the stick that I have.

View post on imgur.com


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      07-22-2018, 12:15 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
This is the stick that I have.

View post on imgur.com


Thanks for posting the part number - their website does so that it's for our cars. Definitely get them to replace it for you.

I just placed an order for one. First thing to do will be to compare it to my OE - Will report back when I receive mine

Last edited by XMetal; 07-22-2018 at 12:24 PM..
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