Oil light coming on Randomly?

[Bounce]

Welcome mate.Could it be the oil pump starving the engine of oil,if you have warranty i would get it to a dealer.Someone with better knowlege should be on here later,i wouldn't drive it anymore.;)

[outnumbered]

Even if you don't have warranty, get it to a dealer !

My previous non-CSL E46 M3 needed the oil pump replacing at about 50K miles. The symptom in my case was it started to take a long time for the red oil light to disappear after starting the car. They reckoned that the oil pressure was marginal even when the light had gone out.

[grumps]

When you say a long time for the oil light to go out how long!

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Shepp80- I think the low oil pressure
warning light defaults at approx 0.8 Bar.

So at say 1.0 Bar oil pressure, ie
Red light out and amber light on,
pulling say 7000 rpm on 1g of lateral force,
on your Track Day, your engine
might last about 1 maybe 2 laps.

S54 Oil pumps are known to suffer from
several issues, the lock nut for the
oil pump sprocket works loose, and
the pump will loose pressure, or the
front pick up mesh get clogged and
does not feed the rear sump pan
quick enough and so on.

Take it do a dealer and have a oil pressure
test done, and if that's inconclusive
I would recommend your drop the
oil pan and check the pump etc.

I also note your another one who likes
to take the Airbox off to use the Dipstick.


Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Dan]

Funny you should post this up, our next door neighbours car does it, (BMW E46 325i Vert) he has an Orange oil light flash up when he drives it, it's done it for a year and never had a failure or problem of any sort whatsoever!

Our new BMW (also E46 325i Sport Vert) seems to have a tendancy to flash the oil light on every now and again as well, it was red the first time so I checked the oil and level was ok, put some in just as a matter of course, now it only comes on amber.... weird!

[mattCSLnut]

Funny you should post this up, our next door neighbours car does it, (BMW E46 325i Vert) he has an Orange oil light flash up when he drives it, it's done it for a year and never had a failure or problem of any sort whatsoever!

Our new BMW (also E46 325i Sport Vert) seems to have a tendancy to flash the oil light on every now and again as well, it was red the first time so I checked the oil and level was ok, put some in just as a matter of course, now it only comes on amber.... weird!
Oil level sensors that are screwed onto the bottom of the sumps are a common E46 failure item :banghead: Both of my previous non M E46 2000 MY 328i Touring and the 2001 MY 320d Touring needed these replaced. Best done at an OIL & FILTER service intervals :thumbs:

[Dan]

Thanks Matt, the first thing I said was sensor when the light came on!

Trouble is next oil service isn't due for 11k+ miles! Might get a sensor and put the car up on the ramp one weekend.

[NZ_M3]

My money's on the sensor also. Rare to see the pump go to be honest.

[mattCSLnut]

Thanks Matt, the first thing I said was sensor when the light came on!

Trouble is next oil service isn't due for 11k+ miles! Might get a sensor and put the car up on the ramp one weekend.

Changing the oil early won't harm the engine mate ;) that's for sure :hahaha: It's been a few years now since I swapped one of these out but it's worth getting a price from EuroCarParts... it's the same part with the part number ground off, as it makes the identical unit that BMW sell, look very expensive :whistle:
Some pix of what it looks like below

[Dan]

I'm astounded you have pics for this eventuality Matt! :hahaha: :thumbs: :thumbs: Very much appreciated mate, I will pop up ECP and see what they can do, it looks like it couldn't be simpler tbh! Famous last words... :bigcry:

Cheers again mate ;)

[Dan]

Have just checked and it's £82.60 on ECP, how much did BMW bloody want!?

[mattCSLnut]

Have just checked and it's £82.60 on ECP, how much did BMW bloody want!?

I think it's into £100s :banghead: Cheeky bastards :ban: knowing it's a common fail part :whistle:

[shane@mbtech]

The level sensor cost me £111 from BMW!

Ive had the sensor fitted, drove down the road a few miles, and the light has come back on again!!!!!! :banghead:

Ive pressed the oil level switch within the car and its reading -06L??

But i had checked my oil yesterday when changing the sensor and it had the correct amount in??

Not sure what the hell is going on? its not smoking or anything?!!

any more suggestions?

Yes, get your oil pressure checked as you wont find your answers on a forum. :thumbs:

If i'm right the oil level sensor is not related to oil pressure, it relates to your oil level, so changing this will make no odds to your oil pressure.

Dont chance an engine failure, if its under warranty send it to dealer and dont accept it back until fault is found.

[NZ_M3]

Constant Pressure valve (common failure part over time and drops oil pressure below 1 Bar)

Part no.
11 11 1 318 185 (http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/11111318185/)

item 10 below

http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/NzQ2MjRfcA==.png

[shane@mbtech]

ok thanks, but am i right in thinking that the oil level sensor controls the amber light and the oil pressure controls the red light, on the dash??

Im not 100% sure to be honest, if it is and you have a new sensor fitted a wiring fault is most probable.

What does the manual say?

[shane@mbtech]

the computer is saying that i have -08 oil today.

i just took air box off again...and the oil level is well above maximum.

think you must be right....got a track day tomorrow, thing are always a worry when it to do with oil...

think it will be going into BMW when i get back


If you think you have oil pressure issues dont do a trackday. SUICIDE!

[glendog74]

What he said ^^^

If the oil is overfilled - that is also not good on a track day...

[_Nathan_]

When you say computer do you mean the long term or immediate readings? Long term may take a while to catch up with reality...

[Dan]

Well glad you AND the car survived the track day mate and had a good one by the sounds of it! :thumbs:

On the plus side the oil light hasn't been back on in our car for a good few days now either! (touch wood) :thumbs: