norcaldude

My first post here. Just bought a 2004 3. They swapped the engine before I bought it with another 2.0. Goofy thing is they didn't have the dipstick in it when I was checking it out.

Guy came out with one and said he's pretty sure its the right one lol. If someone could measure their dipstick and take a picture of the end I would really appreciate it. On this one it looks like the oil is a quart low but I really don't want to over fill it. There's also no part number on it or anything..

Thanks in advance!

OFF TOPIC:I'm loving the car so far. Its fast enough for me and looks sweet. Not sure about the mpg though lolol.

Conrad Hoffman

The 2004 dipstick is quirky. The only time I can get a decent oil level is if the car has been sitting overnight. If the engine has been run recently, the oil level will look a quart overfilled. Also, if you don't get the level on the first pull, after that the oil level will look a quart high.

The 04 was the first model year and mine has been the most expensive car I've ever owned. Hundreds of dollars in repairs every month on things that should never fail. Front wheel bearings several times, air conditioning clutch, bushings and control arms and the paint (I use that term loosely) was junk. The car is rusting out like an old Vega on the rear quarters, and things like the window pillars, that normally don't rust on most cars, are also rusting out. The 3rd brake light also rusted out of the trunk lid.

I love to drive the car, and they did so many things right, but that first year should be avoided at all costs.