330i Oil lamp indicator on...

[Bmw 325i 7803]

As of late I have noticed that sometimes, roughly every 2-3 drives especially if the ground isn't level when turning off the engine the Oil lamp stays lit for about 20 seconds. I checked the oil, it was nice and brown as usual and it didn't appear to be short at all. I have another 9250 miles according to the indicator or 4 months (BMW does it every year for free if you dont meet the quota) till oil change time as I'm at 4200miles and 8 months since I bought the car.

Any idea what the oil lamp staying lit after turnoff means?

 

[jaime-330]

If it's only about 20 seconds you should not worry about it much. I have similar experiences on my previous 323 and in my current 330i. Take it to the dealer, it is usaully a sensor problem. In new engines they tend run a bit short of oil before the first service interval and if that is the case the Dealer will tell you that it is normal.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Thanks for your input, I think I'm just going to ignore it since it only pops up intermittently and who really cares if it's down say 1/4-1/2 a quart I doubt that would do anything. Maybe I'll give the dealer a call if it starts doing it every shutoff.

P.S. Nice first post

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I noticed something strange I had about 2.5 gallons left in the tank and the Oil lamp indicator came on while I was driving yesterday so I decided to give one of the dealerships a call and the female SA who answered told me I was just a little short on a bit of oil (obviously, by definition) and that I could drive around without a problem but I should stop by the parts dept. and purchase a quart of "10w 40 high quality synthetic BMW oil" from them as soon as I can and add it to the engine. However, after I filled up on 14.5 gallons of premium and turned on the engine the light went off and hasn't gone on since. She also told me this isn't covered under warranty...

This makes me wonder, if the car is actually short on oil or could it be a bad sensor? Has anyone heard of having to pay out of pocket for oil before? I thought it was free maintanence and wouldn't the 1 quart burned oil indicate somethings wrong??

Would adding a quart of oil to the engine even if the oil level is within the square make sense, or should I play dumb and say a strange yellow light is coming on when I'm driving and bring it in for a service appt and make them pay for it?

 

[Wadula]

i have the same issue. every now and then the oil light came up, it was lit yellow. the light came up when i died the engine for example when parked. not every time and mostly when the ground was not level. i found out that this happened when the oil level in the engine was near, at or even lower than minimum.
when i fill it up again, the light disappears. i did that once now. i´ll let you know whether it happens again, i.e. if my engine burns oil.

your problem seems to be the same as mine. i suggest you monitor your oil level closely and regularly. it is nothing to do with the gas you put in. that would be too weird, especially as it did not make any difference with me.

 

[jaime-330]

Are you checking your oil level after running the engine for a few minutes, if you are doing it before you warm up your engine it may not be giving you an accurate reading. I'm almost 100% sure that what I said before about being "short of oil" is rigth on the money. However It could be the sensor also. My 330i is about 2 years older than yours. And so far mine had the airbag sensor changed once, my rear brakes sensor failed the first time so that the day it finally warned me about needing brakes service it was too late and on my way to the dealer I totally destroyed my rear rotors. The female SA is right oil is not covered under warranty but I would not advice to add it yourself let the dealer do it for you. And as it happened to me after the first oil change, it won't happened againg. I did my second oil change today and from the first service to today's It did not burned oil at all its only at the begining. Good luck and enjoy your 231hp.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Jaime: I think that's what I'm going to do, go to the dealer and buy a quart of the oil and ask them to add it for me. Oh and I only have 225hp to enjoy but from what I understand it's merely a conversion factor accounting for the 6hp difference.

Wadula: Thats exactly what happens, die the engine put it in park when the ground isn't exactly level and the light comes on. I think I'll add the quart and see what happens.

Anyone know how much a quart of 10w 40 synthetic oil should cost? or should I pay $ealer price and let them add it? Thanks for the replies.

 

[bmwrocks]

Jaime: I think that's what I'm going to do, go to the dealer and buy a quart of the oil and ask them to add it for me. Oh and I only have 225hp to enjoy but from what I understand it's merely a conversion factor accounting for the 6hp difference.

Wadula: Thats exactly what happens, die the engine put it in park when the ground isn't exactly level and the light comes on. I think I'll add the quart and see what happens.

Anyone know how much a quart of 10w 40 synthetic oil should cost? or should I pay $ealer price and let them add it? Thanks for the replies.

Two things.

One, why are you so concerned about letting the dealer add the oil for you? Anyways, I thought from your first post that the oil is not low. DON"T add oil to the crankcase if it doesn't need it. Too much oil is as harmful as too little.

Two, if your yellow light is a recreatable problem, why don't you recreate it for them and let them fix it? The light should not come on under normal circumstances. I assume you are not parking on some unusually steep angle when you see this.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Two things.

One, why are you so concerned about letting the dealer add the oil for you? Anyways, I thought from your first post that the oil is not low. DON"T add oil to the crankcase if it doesn't need it. Too much oil is as harmful as too little.

Two, if your yellow light is a recreatable problem, why don't you recreate it for them and let them fix it? The light should not come on under normal circumstances. I assume you are not parking on some unusually steep angle when you see this.

I actually am not concerned about letting them add the oil for me, but I wouldn't want to be adding too much oil if it doesnt need it. Hence since the dealers fix is to ADD oil at my expense I'd rather let them do it. That way if it causes any harm it's on them not me. And yes the oil level is not low

As for the light coming on, it is an intermittent problem but it occurs usually at a gas station I stop at or when I am parked on an uphill street. It is not an unusually steep angle either.

I just called the dealer and they explained to me that the 3.0 engine is more dependant on oil and it burns oil enough to require me to add a quart. Since the oil sensor is in the front of the pan and when the engine is at high rpms it could come on as well as when it is parked on a steeper than level gradient. It's interesting one dealer wants me to bring it in for an oil topoff, another wants to gauge the oil level and add it if needed and if it's not schedule an appt. to replace the sensor. So now it's either add oil or let the dealer play with it...

Oh and btw, the other SA wants me to add 5w 40 synthetic oil. Now which one is correct 10w or 5w? These dealers are laughable.

Edit: I called a 3rd dealership (life quality) and the person answering the phone told me to add a quart of synthetic oil. I asked if BMW uses 5w 30 oil, and to my astonishment they told me "5w 30/40 10w 40 if you're just adding a quart it's all the same." No wonder they have the lowest service rating.