I couldn't stand not having a dipstick on my '97 EVC AT, so I added one.
One supplier offered a kit using OEM parts from the earlier models, about
$150 IIRC (money pit), but the dealer charged $450 to change the fluid
(money pit). The proper level could only be read by the factory VAG system
or the VAG COM dongle and hack, which I had (money pit).  It just drove me
crazy not having one, especially since those transmission were all poor
quality, and even the factory rebuild parts were junk.  Couldn't make a
decent quality valve body apparently.  I sold it before I had to rebuild it
to the tune of $4500 (money pit).  It would have been cheaper to own a boat.

Most BMWs are leased, as are most other luxury cars, and people would never
check the oil anyway.  That's why BMW started including maintenance in their
leases--they got back too many cars with trashed engines.

Stuart
'85 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 9:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Oil pressure gauges and engine life

a late VR6 Eurovan  with auto trans doesn't have a trans dipstick either.
it's a 'sealed unit' .
there is no checking the fluid level in it ..
either it's working properly, or it ain't.  Then it's rebuild time I gather.
Not cheap either.

On 5/9/2012 8:19 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Yes they do have an engine oil dipstick. The dipstick tube is also
> designed to be used with suction equipment to change the oil. My '98
> Audi A8 does not have a dipstick for the automatic transmission.
> Checking the level is a real treat!
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Beierl [mailto:dbeierl@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David
> Beierl
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 10:48 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: RE: Oil pressure gauges and engine life
>
> At 10:34 PM 5/9/2012, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> I had an '88 560 SEL and now have a '92 600 SEL. Both had a low oil
>> level warning light in addition to the oil pressure gauge. The low
>> oil level light
> But they did have a dipstick, yes?  I think the light is great, it's
> removing the dipstick that bothers me.
>
> Yrs,
> d
>