Check Oil Light - BMW Forum

nlercher · 08-11-2009, 08:20 AM

My check oil light comes on about ten seconds after I start the car, stays on for ten or so seconds and then goes away. Does anyone have any help they can offer?? I have a 2000 323I. Thanks

witeshark · 08-11-2009, 08:40 AM

Is an oil change a bit over due? Are you sure the oil level is good, and was the filter change skipped at the last oil change?

nlercher · 08-11-2009, 09:16 AM

It came on this weekend and the oil change was a bit over due. I took it to get an oil change yesterday and they told me they changed the filter. I guess I will look to make sure. I just bought the car saturday. Thanks for the help. I know the oil level was good.

witeshark · 08-11-2009, 09:18 AM

Best of luck with it!

nlercher · 08-11-2009, 03:13 PM

I was told it could be the oil sensor light going bad. Has anyone had this issue??

drz · 08-11-2009, 10:13 PM

Is it yellow or red? Yellow indicates you are a quart low. And yes, the sensor has been known to fail on these cars.

BMD325CI · 08-18-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlercher

I was told it could be the oil sensor light going bad. Has anyone had this issue??

My 325CI had the same problem at your. The problem is the Oil Pressure Switch went out. So when you start the engine the light on because it does not have enough pressure, but when you drive for a few second the light will turn off.
It cost about $23 for the OPS. You can easily replace it on the next oil change.

Good Luck

darkhorse737 · 08-18-2009, 02:21 AM

Shouldnt that be considered normal??? The initial light up of the oil light is standard to just about every car - self diagnostics to say the sensor and cicuit is operational. And a few seconds after car is up and running, oil light goes OFF, if the level/pressure is fine as the case may be.

Oil light STEADILY LIT, that is a different problem. That means you are low on oil and need to replenish; or oil sensor is stuck.

RE: oil sensor probs - I've seen this happen in many bimmers, especially those cars that haven't been serviced on a regular basis.,, esp the oil changes.

The oil sensor is pretty much like you toilet bowl float. it rises up and down a shaft along with the current oil level.

Over time, sludge builds up in the shaft and gets stuck... If it does get stuck in the lower levels, thts when u get the oil light. In really dirty engines, it takes a little time before it "unstucks" itself so it can play freely. Or as the shops like to declare "REPLACE"....

05lcBMW · 08-18-2009, 08:37 AM

if yellow means you are a quart low on oil, what does red mean?

BMD325CI · 08-18-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05lcBMW

if yellow means you are a quart low on oil, what does red mean?

Red mean you should stop right away. and definitely check the oil level.
The yellow light come on after the engine running is not normal.
At first I thought the same way, but any other car I drive is not like that.
I took it to the shop. They said the Oil Pressure Switch no good.
On the E46, they said there is no Oil Sensor. So I replace the OPS, the yellow light turn within seconds after the engine running.

Hope that will help you.

05lcBMW · 08-19-2009, 02:56 PM

i just changed my oil two days ago and the red light comes on when i come to a stop. when i accelerate it turns off. any ideas as to why it does that?

darkhorse737 · 08-19-2009, 03:43 PM

Relative to the whining noise that you just posted.

Couple that to oil light problems... I seriously think you should have your oil pressure tested immediatley.

The whining noise, coupled with oil light ON could very well be that u lack oil pressure or have NO oil pressure. DANGEROUS!!!

Better to play safe now than be sorry later

05lcBMW · 08-20-2009, 02:14 AM

i think that its the sensor that is going bad. but i will have a mechanic check it tomorrow.

chrisc4290 · 12-07-2011, 10:33 AM

Is the oil sensor on the E46 an optical or mechanical device, ie pressure?

My next oil change is 4900km away and the dip-stick is 2/3 the way up the two indicators, but now and then the yellow light comes on (once a week)

If the oil were dark would the light come on? I used Castrol synthetic oil last change and a new filter and noticed that with one month, oil was dark.

Should I change the oil now and not wait the 4900km, which will take me a month.

Car has done 115000 km