I just purchased a used 2003 Z4 and am having some trouble reading the dipstick level. The end of the dipstick has a ball at the end and about 4 inches up there is another ball. About halfway between these balls is a grooved notch and between this notch and the ball at the end of the dipstick is another notch. My oil level is at the top notch. I am assuming this means full. Just want to make sure I'm reading this right. Let me know if my explanation is hard to follow. Thanks in advance.

Don't you have a owner's manual? If I recall it was explained pretty clearly in the manual and that it even has an illustration of the dipstick and a pretty detailed paragraph on how to read the dipstick.

Don't you have a owner's manual? If I recall it was explained pretty clearly in the manual and that it even has an illustration of the dipstick and a pretty detailed paragraph on how to read the dipstick.

Yes, I do have the owners manual. However, the depiction only shows the two balls and not the grooves. I just wanted to double check this with someone who has actually seen a 2003 Z4 dipstick.

I'm pretty sure it was shown in the owner's manual, but in case you need a confirmation, the top notch is where max fill is.

Ah, the dipstick...remember the good old days when there actually was one on a BMW?