MPJ Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Noticed today that the 'Yellow' oil level warning light is coming on, checked oil level and it was between the marks but topped it up anyway to the top mark, it still comes on for a short time after starting engine (light comes on 25secs after starting engine, stays on for 15 secs then goes off, it don't comeback on again until next time you start the engine) this may have been happening for awhile but only noticed it today when I raised the steering wheel a touch, the rim would have been obscuring the light. I had an diagnostic done on it yesterday for something else is it possible this has triggered it? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbonse Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 This is a comon problem on e46. It does it on my car as well. I spoke to my mate who works for bmw as a technician who also owns a e46. He told me his car does the same and its something to do with the oil level sensor. He is going to replace mine when he does the oil service on my car in the next few weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Sounds like an oil level sensor http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/diy_oil_level_sensor.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes, its a common fault, mine does it too. Think the new sensor is over £100 from the stealers. I will be changing it when I next change the oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) If it comes on after you start the car it's a faulty sensor. If it comes on after you turn the car off it's low oil. If it's red, stop as soon as safely possible to minimise engine damage! Edited February 29, 2012 by mit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Oil level sensor, roughly £105 + vat from memory. By the sounds of it these are made from cheese and fail on almost every single E46 known to man. If you're insanely good and remembering to check your levels dont bother with it. If, like me, you only remember when your either halfway through a 100 mile drive or 20 miles away from your car, get it changed as soon as you change your oil, or even use this as an excuse to change the oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJ Posted February 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) Thanks for rapid replies, sounds a like faulty sensor then, it can wait until it's next oil\filter service, will just have to keep an eye on the oil level manually till then, don't know what you would do on my new shape 5 series that don't have a dipstick at all you're reliant on a electronic readout telling you the oil level. Edited February 29, 2012 by MPJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mintimperial Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) Yeah Level sensor is buggered..Had same on mine. Change the sensor next oil change and keep an eye on levels until then. By the way , don't buy a pattern part! oil level sensors which aren't OEM don't last long from my experience...had 2 which lasted less than 6 months each. Go direct to BM to buy one...think mine was about £114 inc VAT. Been fine for 19 months now. Edited February 29, 2012 by mintimperial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Oil level sensor, roughly £105 + vat from memory. By the sounds of it these are made from cheese and fail on almost every single E46 known to man. If you're insanely good and remembering to check your levels dont bother with it. If, like me, you only remember when your either halfway through a 100 mile drive or 20 miles away from your car, get it changed as soon as you change your oil, or even use this as an excuse to change the oil. If your car is losing so much oil you have to worry about it over a 100 mile drive I'd suggest you have a much bigger problem to worry about than your oil level sensor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 If your car is losing so much oil you have to worry about it over a 100 mile drive I'd suggest you have a much bigger problem to worry about than your oil level sensor! He didnt say that though, he said he had a bad memory and would only remember to check it halfway through a 100 mile journey.....which is quite different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 He didnt say that though, he said he had a bad memory and would only remember to check it halfway through a 100 mile journey.....which is quite different. Yep, all I meant was I only ever remember to check my oil when it's physically impossible to check my oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I never bother to check my oil unless the light goes on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mintimperial Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 If you know the sensor is working (i.e. not showing yellow for 30 seconds) whats the point?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkey1984 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Id love to know if theres a way to bypass this sensor in some way, i dont need lights to tell me about oil as i check my levels regularly anyway, but i would love to get rid of this orange light without having to pay over 100 pounds, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I said don't bother changing the sensor unless he doesn't check his oil regularly. If he doesn't check his oil and his oil level sensor is faulty then the only thing that will remind him to check is the sound of his pistons grinding against the bores ones day and a nice cloud of smoke. It certainly will never hurt to check your own oil instead of relying on a light however. Even if your sensor is fully functional. Manual car maintenance will always be better than waiting for something to go wrong and be told about it via a light that you didn't ever need to have light up. Check and top up oil every thousand miles or wait till the oil is low enough that the light comes on and you need to put X amount of oil in? That light doesn't come up as soon as the level dips... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Matt, I think we're agreeing with eachother and wording it differently lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Id love to know if theres a way to bypass this sensor in some way, i dont need lights to tell me about oil as i check my levels regularly anyway, but i would love to get rid of this orange light without having to pay over 100 pounds, Take the bulb out of the dash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Matt, I think we're agreeing with eachother and wording it differently lol Not sure we are. I just said it's always useful to check your oil without having to wait for a light. (If I could remember lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I was kind of saying that too (i.e. don't rely on the light) but then went on to say I rely on the light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mintimperial Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I was kind of saying that too (i.e. don't rely on the light) but then went on to say I rely on the light +1 Also, don't bypass the light to save £100...it will probably cost more in it being a pain in the arse to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 It's £100 + the cost of the oil remember - usually something you can wait to do until your next Oil Service... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mintimperial Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) Oh totally...not an urgent matter, but def worth doing when you change the oil (as I said in my previous post ) I did exactly this...unfortunately it started playing up a week after I changed my oil lol. Edited February 29, 2012 by mintimperial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJ Posted February 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I don't rely on this light to tell me my oil is low anyway I had only manually checked the oil level a couple of days earlier and knew the level was ok, I spotted this light purely because I had adjusted the steering wheel position which brought the light into my line of sight, when I saw it I had pulled away a bit sharpish and round a corner and wondered at first had I had a bit of oil surge it was only after checking the oil level. As I said in my first post my 5 series has no dipstick at all and the level is shown on a screen if that failed how would you check your level? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcjdavis1 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 HI. Check link for Sensor. http://www.bmwpartso...uk/Product-484/ .Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozevans Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Turned mine off with ncs expert. Do it old school with the dip stick!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
