rsk289 Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Please, does anyone know how to disable this bl**dy sensor? I've had my 330 for 2 years, and am on sensor no.4 now. I've changed it myself, I've had BMW do it, with full reset - doesn't make any difference, a few hours (or weeks) later, it comes on again Sometimes just after start up for a few seconds, sometimes well into a journey when it will stay on until I switch off. It's a pain because my car ('52 plate) has the reinforcing plate which has to be removed to get to the sensor, with the bolts that are supposed to be replaced each time. Can't say I've done that every time... but it's gone beyond a joke now. It's not the car - my last 330 (a 2000 year) got through 6-7 sensors in the 9 years I had it. So please, I'm not interested in changing the sensor - I'm now pretty skilled at that. I just want to disable it - anybody know how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Syxx Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 I don't know if its possible to even disable it but I am suprised to hear you had to replace that many sensors, did you buy OEM or pattern as the copies aren't reliable. Also I'm certain there's a 2 year warranty on parts from BM like sensors etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Take the bulb out the dash if it bothers you that much fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 I replaced 2 sensors in 5 years, I don't think they are a particularly reliable part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf_corp Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 I replaced mine with an oem hella one about 2 months ago and the oil light comes on when i switch the car off sometimes after a long journey, a matter of turning the key once and the light is gone, but still. real PITA as i just changed the oil when i changed the sensor, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Have you checked the oil? And cant you just link it out? As the level sensor is just a switch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Have you checked the oil? And cant you just link it out? As the level sensor is just a switch I'm not sure it is - do you think jumping the connector leads together would do it? It's completely unnecessary as the car has a very reliable dipstick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Take the connector off and see of its two pins, at least then you know you can bridge it out. Or if it's got 3 or 5 good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf_corp Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 i think they have three pins AFAIK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozevans Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Turned mine off using ncs expert so can deffo be done. Can't remember the wording but it's on all the translations out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Seems wierd you've gone through so many. I mean it's known they're weak, but that many? You are fitting them correctly and putting the right oil in I take it? I got one from BMW in November and fitted it and it's been absolutely fine. If it's coming on mid drive then is it actually a sensor fault? Sensor fault always throws up a light on start up. Do you really check your oil really regularly? The only time my light came on mid trip led me to check my oil and it'd got VERY low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Hmmmm, this is a bit worrying, my car has had the oil light on at start up since I bought it the tail end of last year. Fingers crossed that when I change the sensor it stays fixed. My last 323 I drove for 8 years and the sensor never failed at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Hmmmm, this is a bit worrying, my car has had the oil light on at start up since I bought it the tail end of last year. Fingers crossed that when I change the sensor it stays fixed. My last 323 I drove for 8 years and the sensor never failed at all. I'd be interested to know! Yes, I check the oil religiously because the sensor is entirely unreliable. Some sensors have come on for around 30 seconds after start up and stay on for about a minute, then go out. Others haven't come on at start up, but after about 5-10 miles come on and stay on until the engine is switched off. The light stays lit for about a minute after switch off. Same routine when I next start up. It's annoying, because the last one was only coming on for a few minutes at start up, so as it was oil change time I bought a new one (BMW, but the dealer doesn't like supplying without fitting so some arm-twisting takes place) and fitted that. This one is of the variety that comes on late and stays on, and I'd rather have the one I removed! I'm not sure how many times I can remove this aluminium reinforcing plate whilst reusing the same bolts (which is the only way to get at the sensor), so I'm just staring at the bl**dy light for now. I restore classic cars, so I know how to maintain an oil level. This is ridiculous and unnecessary, hence the desire to disable it! If I take it to the dealer and ask them to switch it off at the ECU, can this be done? All warranties are long gone, so I'm not worried about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) Ok, so your oil levels are ok and you have the right oil in there. It seems wierd that you're light is doing very different things to the rest of us - every one elses only ever lights up on start up then goes out when they have a faulty sensor. What else in the oil system could cause it? Could there be a blockage somewhere starving the sump telling the sensor that the level is low? You'd not know that with the engine off and the oil running back in to the sump. Edited March 14, 2012 by Matt_330CI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebgreen Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 are you sure the light comping up at start up means a sensor fault? In most cars it comes on for a few seconds on first start up just to check its working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 When mine was faulty on my old 330, it would come on and stay on for ten secs on start up. Then go out as usual. Take it its definitely the yellow oil light, not red? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 The first sensor in the car stayed on late (as it is now), so I had the local independent BMW specialist dealership (ex-local dealer service manager) check this over. They found nothing wrong, changed the sensor, and it reverted to the 'coming on early' problem after about 4 months. They changed it under warranty and it was OK for 6 months or so, then started the 'coming on early' again. I changed it at the recent oil change, now it's back to the 'coming on late and staying on' routine. I don't think there's a drain-back problem - I think there's a fault in the sensors (most likely) or a fault in the wiring/electronics. As I mentioned earlier, I've had E46s for 12 years now and it's always been an issue. I just don't need the thing, but I hate driving around with an orange light in my face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 are you sure the light comping up at start up means a sensor fault? In most cars it comes on for a few seconds on first start up just to check its working. True, but then in most cars the light goes out as soon as the engine starts. I think the fault being described is where the light stays on for a minute or two after the engine is running, thats what my fault is anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 True, but then in most cars the light goes out as soon as the engine starts. I think the fault being described is where the light stays on for a minute or two after the engine is running, thats what my fault is anyway. It actually comes on a minute or so after starting, and stays on for between 1-2 minutes, then goes out (whilst you're driving, not just at ignition-on). But this current sensor's doing the other thing - coming on late and staying on. It's not going to be anything in the engine because the fault has changed in character immediately the oil and sensor were changed, nothing else done to it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 It actually comes on a minute or so after starting, and stays on for between 1-2 minutes, then goes out (whilst you're driving, not just at ignition-on). But this current sensor's doing the other thing - coming on late and staying on. It's not going to be anything in the engine because the fault has changed in character immediately the oil and sensor were changed, nothing else done to it at all. It must be annoying the f**k out of you mate. If I had to guess I would be looking at the connection/wiring to the sensor as you have had so many fitted it may become damaged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 It must be annoying the f**k out of you mate. If I had to guess I would be looking at the connection/wiring to the sensor as you have had so many fitted it may become damaged Certainly is! I'm also getting concerned about the bolts on this reinforcing plate - my earlier E46 didn't have it, so changing the sensor was very easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Are you talking about the large metal plate that runs the width of the car and that the plastic front tray screws to at the back of it? (back of plastic, front of metal) Wasn't aware you should replace the bolts if it is. I've had mine off 3 or 4 times now. I have to say, the more I read of this the more I think there's something wrong some where else. Have you had the wiring checked out for continuity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsk289 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Yes, the manual (even the Haynes manual) says these should be replaced each time they are undone. I haven't had a wiring check - I'm not sure anything would show as I get two different fault situations, and I'm guessing the time differential would indicate an intermittent. We all know what fun those are to find. I'll ask my local independent if it's possible to recode to switch the thing off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozevans Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Turned mine off using ncs expert so can deffo be done. Can't remember the wording but it's on all the translations out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Apparently leaving the key in pos 1 or 2 whilst dropping the oil can cause these to fail. Worth noting for next time you get an oil change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
