PDA

View Full Version : Dipstick Color


pedro2u
06-25-2020, 03:49 PM
My eyes are old and could use a break now and then.... but why would they make the dipstick a color that's similar to the color of oil? Really???? This my 3rd BMW over 18 years, and every time I check the oil it annoys me. What's wrong with yellow or white to contrast with the color of oil to make it easy to see?

I know, lay it on a paper towel, or use bright lights etc. But they didn't have to make it so hard

End of rant :mafia
PdZHP
06-25-2020, 04:24 PM
100% agree!
28firefighter
06-25-2020, 05:36 PM
I’m colorblind, so I’ll third this.
pedro2u
06-25-2020, 05:47 PM
In researching, I'm seeing that the e46 316 and 318 have a RED dipstick! That's an improvement! Doesn't say it fits our cars:

11437505490
Dipstick
From:04/01/2001To:-Weight:0.027 kgPrice:$15.30
Part 11437505490 was found on the following E46 vehicles:

3' E46, 316Ci, Coupe, N40, EUR, (BD71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316Ci, Coupe, N40, EUR, (BM71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316Ci, Coupe, N45, EUR, (BX71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N40, EUR, (AY11) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AY31) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AY32) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N45, EUR, (EY11) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (EY31) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (EY32) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Touring, N42, EUR, (AX31) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Touring, N42, EUR, (AX32) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Touring, N46, EUR, (EX31) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316i, Touring, N46, EUR, (EX32) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N40, EUR, (AT11) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N42, EUR, (AT51) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N42, EUR, (AT52) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N45, EUR, (EZ31) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N46, EUR, (EZ51) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 316ti, Compact, N46, EUR, (EZ52) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N42, EUR, (BP71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N42, EUR, (BP72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N42, EUR, (BW71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N42, EUR, (BW72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N46, EUR, (BY71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Convertible, N46, EUR, (BY72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N42, EUR, (BD91) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N42, EUR, (BD92) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N42, EUR, (BV71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N42, EUR, (BV72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N46, EUR, (BX91) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318Ci, Coupe, N46, EUR, (BX92) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AY71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AY72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AZ71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N42, EUR, (AZ72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (ET75) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (ET76) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (EY71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Sedan, N46, EUR, (EY72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Touring, N42, EUR, (AX51) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Touring, N42, EUR, (AX52) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Touring, N46, EUR, (EX51) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318i, Touring, N46, EUR, (EX52) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318ti, Compact, N42, EUR, (AU51) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318ti, Compact, N42, EUR, (AU52) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318ti, Compact, N46, EUR, (EZ71) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
3' E46, 318ti, Compact, N46, EUR, (EZ72) : Oil pan/oil level indicator
John in VA
06-26-2020, 04:30 AM
In researching, I'm seeing that the e46 316 and 318 have a RED dipstick! That's an improvement! Doesn't say it fits our cars:
11437505490 Dipstick
It could be a different overall length which might not be accurate in the 330, and doesn't stay that bright red for long. Who will buy & try?!
t.er
06-26-2020, 07:04 AM
It could be a different overall length which might not be accurate in the 330, and doesn't stay that bright red for long. Who will buy & try?!+1 to this, whoever buys it will have to carefully check that it matches the length of the original, if not then it has to be returned.

I can't speak as to how good it is but ECS Tuning has their own aftermarket dipstick (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/billet-aluminum-oil-dipstick-black/009424ecs01-02~a/) with a silver background.
pedro2u
06-26-2020, 07:32 AM
+1 to this, whoever buys it will have to carefully check that it matches the length of the original, if not then it has to be returned.

I can't speak as to how good it is but ECS Tuning has their own aftermarket dipstick (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/billet-aluminum-oil-dipstick-black/009424ecs01-02~a/) with a silver background.

it would be great if anyone with a 316i or 318i E46 would measure the overall length of their red dipstick as well as the distance to the full and down 1 qt marks! That would save me $50. Any Euro contributors out there?

I've seen that billet dipstick on ECS for $60 - that's tempting!!

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-parts/billet-aluminum-oil-dipstick-polished/009424ecs01-01~a/
pedro2u
06-26-2020, 07:38 AM
and just to be sure dipstick diameter in case the dipstick tube happens to be a different size
Galapolis
06-26-2020, 08:12 AM
I can ask someone over in the German forums to measure their dipstick.
pedro2u
06-26-2020, 08:14 AM
be careful how you word the question......

:facepalm
fredo
06-26-2020, 08:38 AM
:rofl
johnrando
06-26-2020, 08:46 AM
Lol! I have the billet dipstick, little things like that make a difference to me.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
Galapolis
07-01-2020, 02:49 PM
I finally got an answer.

The N46B20 dipstick is 57cm long from where the top plastic part starts right to the tip. From the top to the min. fill level it's 55cm, from the top to max. fill level it's 53cm.
pedro2u
07-01-2020, 05:03 PM
I finally got an answer.

The N46B20 dipstick is 57cm long from where the top plastic part starts right to the tip. From the top to the min. fill level it's 55cm, from the top to max. fill level it's 53cm.

that's great information, thanks for chasing it. I'm trying to think of something I've got that measure cm more than a ruler.... I may take a shot at comparing it in inches tomorrow and will advise:
t.er
07-01-2020, 05:10 PM
that's great information, thanks for chasing it. I'm trying to think of something I've got that measure cm more than a ruler.... I may take a shot at comparing it in inches tomorrow and will advise:

lol your measuring tape doesn't have metric units? Oh, you 'muricans :rofl
sillieidiot
07-02-2020, 01:08 AM
lol your measuring tape doesn't have metric units? Oh, you 'muricans :rofl

Well, some people can't even measure correctly in metric lol I had to deal with this with a customer recently trying to design something for him in CAD. He gave me metric units that were off by like 5-10mm. He said he only measures in imperial normally. When I told him to measure it that way, it was exact wtf. It was the same measuring tape. :rofl
t.er
07-02-2020, 06:42 AM
Well, some people can't even measure correctly in metric lol I had to deal with this with a customer recently trying to design something for him in CAD. He gave me metric units that were off by like 5-10mm. He said he only measures in imperial normally. When I told him to measure it that way, it was exact wtf. It was the same measuring tape. :rofl

lol how does that even happen? At least for me I could do imperial with a ruler, it just sucks because I have to think about the fractions. Metric is just reading sections of 10 mm, within each cm, so much more straightforward.

Over here it's mostly in metric, even in Detroit the big 3 all work in metric. But you do get the occasional old-style company here, I've sent drawings in metric, only for them to respond back saying "can you re-send the drawing with imperial dimensions as well" then every single dimension has to be dual-dimensioned :facepalm
pedro2u
07-02-2020, 07:30 AM
oh, I'm with ya!

As an Engineer, I've worked in manufacturing all my life, and everything is metric (which of course is simple and much better). But around the house, the only measuring devices are imperial sadly
John in VA
07-02-2020, 08:04 AM
As an Engineer, I've worked in manufacturing all my life, and everything is metric (which of course is simple and much better). But around the house, the only measuring devices are imperial sadly

Stanley (& others) make tape measures with metric markings.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-8m-26-ft-FATMAX-Tape-Measure-Metric-English-Scale-33-726/203725256
pedro2u
07-02-2020, 09:50 AM
Stanley (& others) make tape measures with metric markings.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-8m-26-ft-FATMAX-Tape-Measure-Metric-English-Scale-33-726/203725256

Thanks John. Seems every measuring device at home is used for home projects/renovations, always in feet or inches, or even yards. It's time I owned your suggested tape measure!
webster
07-02-2020, 09:53 AM
had some ECS store credit so i just picked up the polished billet dipstick, didn't even know that existed. given my oil consumption and non-stop checking of the oil level, this seems like a worthy buy. thanks guys! lol
johnrando
07-02-2020, 11:33 AM
had some ECS store credit so i just picked up the polished billet dipstick, didn't even know that existed. given my oil consumption and non-stop checking of the oil level, this seems like a worthy buy. thanks guys! lolJust be careful because they get hot! Just use something to hold the handle with when warm.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
sillieidiot
07-02-2020, 01:54 PM
lol how does that even happen? At least for me I could do imperial with a ruler, it just sucks because I have to think about the fractions. Metric is just reading sections of 10 mm, within each cm, so much more straightforward.

Over here it's mostly in metric, even in Detroit the big 3 all work in metric. But you do get the occasional old-style company here, I've sent drawings in metric, only for them to respond back saying "can you re-send the drawing with imperial dimensions as well" then every single dimension has to be dual-dimensioned :facepalm

Yup, totally agree. I just like to measure everything in metric cause it's way easier to remember and convert.



oh, I'm with ya!

As an Engineer, I've worked in manufacturing all my life, and everything is metric (which of course is simple and much better). But around the house, the only measuring devices are imperial sadly

You know it's funny that when I was learning how to be a machinist, they teach everything in imperial. The accuracy was to the thousandth. They gave you this chart to memorize. I still never memorized it, only for the test lol You would measure with a tape measure that only goes down to 1/16th. Then you would have to convert everything back to a decimal in order to use the machine. It's like they purposely give you an extra step so you can mess up your measurements lol
pedro2u
07-02-2020, 03:19 PM
this may be an obvious question, but are the Canadian and European dipsticks measuring quarts or liters....?

Is it 1.1 liters between the full and add lines?
pedro2u
07-02-2020, 03:28 PM
answered my own question... RTFM

The oil volume between the two marks on the dipstick corresponds to approx. 1.1 US quarts/1 liter.

I guess all my life we'd just call that "down a quart"