Intermittent oil warning ?

[Calps]

Occasionally after a drive, when I turn off the ignition, the oil light icon will illuminate on the dash, and give a little beep. My immediate reaction each time is to check the oil level, so I turn the key (sometimes starting the car, sometimes not), and press the button on the dash for the oil level sensor reading. And each time, without fail, it tells me everything is fine and dandy.

The car is always parked in the same place, so I'd have noticed by now if any oil was getting out, however my curiosity is getting the better of me and I'm wondering if this is just a glitch, a consequence of the oil pressure dropping upon stopping, or if it is trying to draw my attention to something else (like a possible fault on the oil level sensor). It's not throwing any codes, and only happens every 4th of 5th spin.

It's going off the road for the next few months, and will be getting a full oil change in the new year, so I'll know for certain then if it is running low, and I'm not overly concerned in the near term, but if anyone has experienced similar issues, or wants to float some theories (mad, conspiracy, legitimate, or otherwise) as to what might be causing this, I'm all ears.

 

[AveZ4coop]

The beep and orange oil light is advising you that an extra 1 litre of oil is required to fill to optimum level, but the current level is not causing danmage. It is a feature that only occurs when you switch off the ignition and is quite normal.

If you have a serious oil level issue the warning will be on all the time.

 

[grannyknot]

Have you checked the dip stick?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I'm guessing it's got the N52 engine and there is no dip-stick on those!

You use a button on the instrument cluster to get a display on dash.

 

[Z450]

As others have said it is likely the car is advising to top up by a litre of oil

 

[buzyg]

Agree with the above. Stick half a litre of oil in and it should go out.

 

[grannyknot]

I'm guessing it's got the N52 engine and there is no dip-stick on those!

You use a button on the instrument cluster to get a display on dash.

No dipstick? My goodness, what has the world come to.

 

[enuff_zed]

I'm guessing it's got the N52 engine and there is no dip-stick on those!

You use a button on the instrument cluster to get a display on dash.

No dipstick? My goodness, what has the world come to.

I think they realised there are so many dipsticks forming the seat-to-wheel interface that another one under the bonnet would be superfluous.

 

[grannyknot]

[/quote]
I think they realised there are so many dipsticks forming the seat-to-wheel interface that another one under the bonnet would be superfluous.
[/quote]


I guess only a highly trained BMW specialist with proper equipment can access a problem like that, = $500 invoice.

 

[Calps]

The beep and orange oil light is advising you that an extra 1 litre of oil is required to fill to optimum level, but the current level is not causing danmage. It is a feature that only occurs when you switch off the ignition and is quite normal.

Thanks AveZ4coop & all - I was unaware of this feature. I think I need to RTFM

That said, shouldn't I get a similar message when I run the oil check when the car is tuned on? (I understood this was the purpose of the oil level sensor in the absence of a dipstick). I'm not doubting the above btw, but it seems unusual to me that this would only be flagged when turning the car off, and not picked up by the sensor itself during a routine check (and was feeding my "is there a fault in the sensor" mantra).

I'm guessing it's got the N52 engine and there is no dip-stick on those!

You use a button on the instrument cluster to get a display on dash.

Correct - e86 with N52 engine. I generally enjoy advancements in technology, but my kingdom for a dipstick on this occasion.

 

[Barty]

X2 on the above; I really miss an old-fashioned dipstick.

The sensor does seem fairly accurate. At least more so than the one in my previous Alfa, which was easily messed with on even the slightest of hills.

From what I understand, the BMW system only reads when the oil is up to temperature. Additionally, adding oil after the amber oil light came on takes a while (50 odd miles I think?) to reflect on the measurement readout. So don’t rush in with another addition of oil if the meter doesn’t reflect your first addition immediately; give it a bit of time instead.

I recently got the same amber oil warning. Added 500ml and the readout now shows bang in the middle. This further supports the suggestion (as per the manual) of adding 1 litre when the light comes on

 

[Mr Tidy]

The sensor does seem fairly accurate. At least more so than the one in my previous Alfa, which was easily messed with on even the slightest of hills.

From what I understand, the BMW system only reads when the oil is up to temperature. Additionally, adding oil after the amber oil light came on takes a while (50 odd miles I think?) to reflect on the measurement readout. So don’t rush in with another addition of oil if the meter doesn’t reflect your first addition immediately; give it a bit of time instead.

I recently got the same amber oil warning. Added 500ml and the readout now shows bang in the middle. This further supports the suggestion (as per the manual) of adding 1 litre when the light comes on

Yes that sounds exactly the same as my experience with my first 2 Coupes and my current 330i.