m325i 709 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 My oil light came on, check oil, a little bit low, topped it up, light went off. Then light came on again, (flickering), oil level is fine, no leaks. I am hoping it is electrical, but does the oil lighht mean anything but low levels? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 Is it the oil light in the check panel (in the roof) or the on in the dash? If it the roof one, then it does only mean low level of oil (if you have topped it up, then I'd say your sensor was stuffed). If it is the oil light in the dash, then that means low oil pressure. You will want to get that looked at by a mechanic. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattA 164 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 If it is the oil light in the dash, then that means low oil pressure. You will want to get that looked at by a mechanic. QUICKLY Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted November 1, 2004 If it is the oil light in the dash, then that means low oil pressure. You will want to get that looked at by a mechanic. QUICKLY i.e. before you drive it anywhere. Reminds me of several stories of people driving their car with the oil light on to the mechanics and never actually making it. Oh, and the woman who asked a petrol station attendant what the light meant. he told her, checked the oil, and put about 2 1/2 litres in. She then drove along to the next gas station, and the light was on a gain, so she copied the attendant and put another 2 litres in. At the fourth gas station, the attendent there noticed she hadn't checked the dipstick before adding oil, so talked to her and got the full story, and thought - crikey! major leak here, or no oil pressure, so checked the dipstick. it was WAY over the top mark. Told her to go and see the mechnic on site. She drove accross the forecourt and never made it. Turned out that she had WAY over filled it, and caused major engine damage driving accross the forecourt. What happened? The first attendant correctly diagnosed the oil light. The women then forgot to release her handbrake properly and mistook the handbrake light for the oil light, and just kept topping her car up! Sorry - O/T I know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted November 2, 2004 She drove accross the forecourt and never made it. Turned out that she had WAY over filled it, and caused major engine damage driving accross the forecourt. What happened? The engine had so much oil in it that as the piston came down in to the crankcase it could not displace the oil,and as you cant compress a liquid something else had to give..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted November 2, 2004 My oil light came on, check oil, a little bit low, topped it up, light went off. Then light came on again, (flickering), oil level is fine, no leaks. I am hoping it is electrical, but does the oil lighht mean anything but low levels? quite common for the oil pressure switch to fail ( check for leaks around it at top of engine at back left hand side).easy to change . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted November 3, 2004 The engine had so much oil in it that as the piston came down in to the crankcase it could not displace the oil,and as you cant compress a liquid something else had to give.....It was a rhetorical question Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted November 6, 2004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 709 Report post Posted December 1, 2004 When to BMWorkshop to see what the light was on for. It was looking all bad as the sensor in it was quite new. But replaced it and its sweet now. Man im so relieved! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted December 1, 2004 When to BMWorkshop to see what the light was on for. It was looking all bad as the sensor in it was quite new. But replaced it and its sweet now. Man im so relieved! Good stuff, that must be a huge relief. It is good when a potentially big (and expensive) problem turns out to be a really minor issue.Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites