south yorkshire
the yellow light comes on sometimes when i stop but the oil level seems ok? What do i do? Im going on a road trip today any advice whether to topp up or not?
oil warning light- help please
- Thread starter paddy wright
- Start date
If the oil level IS correct then you must not add more oil. That can be as, if not more, dangerous than too little. Check it as per the manual on level ground at temperature and iirc warm.
If the light remains on then you have a problem either with sensors (which is only annoying) or the engine and shouldn't be thinking road trips in it until rectified.
That said if it's only sometimes and when you stop and not while actually driving I'd be happy to drive it, but not thrash it.
If the light remains on then you have a problem either with sensors (which is only annoying) or the engine and shouldn't be thinking road trips in it until rectified.
That said if it's only sometimes and when you stop and not while actually driving I'd be happy to drive it, but not thrash it.
Mine does this. The dealer said it was due to the incline of my driveway. Are you parking it on the level? If so then it sounds like a sensor. If not, the gradient on which you park can affect the reading temporarily. Mine does not do it if I park on the flat
From Page 86 of the Owners Handbook..........
Engine oil level.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow while driving:
The oil level is at the absolute minimum; refill as soon as possible. Do not drive more than 30 miles/50 km before refilling.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow after the engine has been switched off:
Add engine oil at the earliest opportunity, e.g. when you stop to refuel.
Engine oil sensor
The warning lamp lights up in yellow within 20 seconds after the engine is started:
The oil level sensor is defective. Please have it checked by a BMW center.
Checking the oil level
1. With the vehicle's engine at normal operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted driving for at least 6 miles/10 km, park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch off the engine
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way into the guide tube and pull it out again 5. The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick
Engine oil level.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow while driving:
The oil level is at the absolute minimum; refill as soon as possible. Do not drive more than 30 miles/50 km before refilling.
The warning lamp lights up in yellow after the engine has been switched off:
Add engine oil at the earliest opportunity, e.g. when you stop to refuel.
Engine oil sensor
The warning lamp lights up in yellow within 20 seconds after the engine is started:
The oil level sensor is defective. Please have it checked by a BMW center.
Checking the oil level
1. With the vehicle's engine at normal operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted driving for at least 6 miles/10 km, park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch off the engine
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way into the guide tube and pull it out again 5. The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick
im on a flat leveled surface and i just noticed my lite came on when i turned off the car.... its right in the middle when i checked it so the oil isnt the problem... i hate these sensors 
How would i change the oil level sensor? can i do it myself? Thanks guys.
SSG S
How would i change the oil level sensor? can i do it myself? Thanks guys.SSG S
I occasionally get a yellow oil light when turning off the engine. It corresponds to a lower (but not minimum) oil level reading on the dipstick.
I spoke to a service guy at my local stealer who informed me that the warning sensor is quite sensitive, and that it's trigger level doesn't match the bottom of the dipstick. So he advised me to keep the level near the top marker, which is what I do.
Incidentally, you'll notice that the dipstick illustration in the owners manual doesn't match the design of the dipstick in the car, and that the illustration shows a much bigger range between the top and bottom levels on the stick. So it might be that stick in the car is overly conservative with the levels (hence the small operating band between top on the stick and bottom on the sensor) but, as stated above, overfilling the oil is too big of a risk to take so I'll put up with frequent small top-ups and occasional yellow lights and keep it near the dipstick top marker.
I spoke to a service guy at my local stealer who informed me that the warning sensor is quite sensitive, and that it's trigger level doesn't match the bottom of the dipstick. So he advised me to keep the level near the top marker, which is what I do.
Incidentally, you'll notice that the dipstick illustration in the owners manual doesn't match the design of the dipstick in the car, and that the illustration shows a much bigger range between the top and bottom levels on the stick. So it might be that stick in the car is overly conservative with the levels (hence the small operating band between top on the stick and bottom on the sensor) but, as stated above, overfilling the oil is too big of a risk to take so I'll put up with frequent small top-ups and occasional yellow lights and keep it near the dipstick top marker.
. Ill keep it closer to the top from now on 
thanks for the explination drew I had the yellow light appear after switching off the ignition after descending a mountain pass. It was pretty steep in places and the car had its nose down about 20 degrees for about half hour all told.
I was parked up and on the level when the ignition went off. Same as you, when I checked the oil, it was right down the middle. Checked it again when I got back up to the top, all was good still so I put it down to the steep downward incline on the run.
Its not recurred in 4 months, but I havent come down any big hills lately...
I was parked up and on the level when the ignition went off. Same as you, when I checked the oil, it was right down the middle. Checked it again when I got back up to the top, all was good still so I put it down to the steep downward incline on the run.
Its not recurred in 4 months, but I havent come down any big hills lately...
Since the refill I have not topped up. I also keep the oil level slightly below maximum as hard cornering or steep slopes might cause oil starvation