Oil warning light come on, HELP!
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Forum Name: BMW ///M Power
Forum Discription: Ask your BMW M Power Technical Questions here (M1, M2 hybrids, M3, M5 & M6)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=33174
Printed Date: 20-May-2024 at 06:53
Topic: Oil warning light come on, HELP!
Posted By: jonny 320is
Subject: Oil warning light come on, HELP!
Date Posted: 04-September-2006 at 13:29
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A friend has just taken the M3 down to moseley motorsport to have an inspection II done, he noticed that it was leaking some oil from around the Oil pressure switch but wasnt that bothered about it. Came to leave and 10 mins down the road the oil warning light has come on. Of course he doesn't want to drive it any further in case it is something major. The car has hardly been used in the last year, it hasn't been thrashed, the light has never even flickered before, There are no signs of oil leaking anywhere else, so i'm wondering what's going on. Could the pressure switch fail? or are we talking something more serious, strange this has only happened straight after an inspection II. ------------- * '88 320is - Dolphin Grey - FOR SALE * '97 528i se - Montreal Blue www.pixometry.com |
Replies:
Posted By: andyclient
Date Posted: 04-September-2006 at 13:34
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Switches can and do fail After checking the oil level the switch would be my next thing to check cheers Andy ------------- 
01 E46 320d Touring 88 E30 M3 Sadly Gone 93 E36 325 TD Gone but still going 87 E30 Hartge 325 (gone but not forgotten) |
Posted By: UweM3
Date Posted: 04-September-2006 at 16:15
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If your oil level is so low that the OIL PRESSURE WARNING light comes on, you have already done some damage to your engine.
The setting of that switch is low that I would bet the engine doesn't last for 5 miles driving without taken damage. Take the conector plug off and clean it with brake cleaner if you had oil leaking around the switch. Of course checking the oil will do no harm 
And yes, switches do fail. Ask thepits, who had the same issue at Gaydon. ------------- E61 520d, slow and buzzy but my wallet likes the mpg..... |
Posted By: jonny 320is
Date Posted: 04-September-2006 at 16:25
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Well it ain't low oil level, it happened after having its service so it was more than full. Hope its just a faulty sensor, fingers crossed, moseley is looking at it rigt now! ------------- * '88 320is - Dolphin Grey - FOR SALE * '97 528i se - Montreal Blue www.pixometry.com |
Posted By: thepits
Date Posted: 04-September-2006 at 22:10
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If you are talking about the the 'low-oil' light on the high-up centre console, then don't worry - it doesn't work on an E30 M3! If you are talking about the oil (can) light on the dash, as UWEM3 says, I had a scary time at Gaydon when mine came on - but no nasty noisies, and plenty of oil = faulty switch - which was proved when I changed it on monday. Phew! a cheap result for a change!
p.s. - funny, mine failed just after an oil-change as well ------------- Cats know your every thought. But don't care. |
jonny 320is wrote:
Posted By: Andy S
Date Posted: 05-September-2006 at 17:24
I have not heard of switch eating oil  Is it something
garages have discovered to make us panic and spend more money with them??? just a thought ------------- E30 M3's never die |
Posted By: thepits
Date Posted: 06-September-2006 at 21:56
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Oh they don't eat it, they just suck it up, and then spit it out out again. Thats what happens with older cars - they get incontinent ------------- Cats know your every thought. But don't care. |
Posted By: steeldonkey
Date Posted: 08-September-2006 at 00:39
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i have had crappy oil pressure switches on pretty much every e 30 i have owned, so i think its as common as hell for them to go, loads of the guys i know have had them go. they.......are.......just..........crud. |