That procedure is way too anal retentive. The difference between how much oil drains back into the pan after 1 minute as compared to how much drains back after 5 minutes is insignificant unless there’s a bunch of sludge blocking the drainback holes, in which case there’s a bigger issue at hand than the oil level. Wait 30 seconds to 1 minute and check it. If it’s in the okay zone, it’s good and you’re done.
It’s a German car, after all.
Don’t know which one you had, but I have a '05 M3 and it does have a separate light for oil pressure and oil level. The oil level light will light up yellow for “it’s getting a tad low” and red for “check the level NOW, dummy!”
The oil pressure light is mostly to inform you that you just fried an engine.
I have an '03 325Ci.
I thought that the yellow light immediately after the engine is turned off was the “it’s getting a tad low” light, and the yellow light when the engine is running was the “you idiot, stop immediately” light. Have never seen the red one.
Come to think of it - in my car, that light does flash yellow and red when the gauge cluster first turns on. So you’re probably right.
What a pain. I just get a text message (no, not an SMS) on the computer.
Mine has an ‘electronic dipstick’ that graphically shows the oil level on startup.
If it gets significantly low (about a quart) it flashes yellow until you fix it.
Letting it drop any lower lights a huge red STOP light.
It very rarely uses any oil between changes (12,500 miles recommended) but is very sensitive, compared to the physical dipstick.
I still check it around once a month or before any long journeys. Only had to add oil on two occasions in four years, about 1/2 a cup each time.
The wrong type of oil can ruin the effectiveness of the level sensor though.