Oil... what could be wrong

oo7ml

Active member
Hi, i was getting a yellow oil light on my dash when i turned off my car for the last few days but the light did not appear every time i turned off my car. As the manual states, you are nearly out of oil and that you must top up as soon as possible. However, i checked my oil every day for the next few days (parked on a flat surface and the left the car off for 10 minutes) and it was always reading as 1/2 full.

I then got the yellow light when i was driving, and as the manual states, you should stop and top up immediately, so i put 3/4 of a litre into the engine straight away. I then went for a drive, parked on a flat surface, turned off the car for 10 minutes and checked the oil and the dip stick was reading as full. The light has not come back on since.

I can't get my head around this one, has anyone ever experienced this before or do you know what could be wrong, thanks in advance
 
My does the same thing perodically. I called the dealer and they said it has something to do with the fuel pressure. They said to unscrew the fuel cap and reinstall. The light goes out after a day or two. From what the dealship said it is a common occurance in the 06's. Not sure it applies to your car.
 
Sounds normal (for the zed) to me... needs a top up every now and again... the yellow light can be very intermittant when it comes on.
 
Yes, but the dip stick read as half full or half empty (what ever way you smart ars*s want to read it... lol) :P :P :P do you not think it is a little strange that, the light came on when i turned off the car (which means top up the oil very soon) but it was already half full... then it comes on when i am driving (which means top up oil immediately) but it was already half full... i find it a bit strange
 
Ok, i am having the same problem again, i am really baffled by this.

My oil light is showing up on my dash again when i turn off my car. I had topped up the oil (500ml) since last posting on this topic (3 weeks ago).

My oil level reads at exactly 2 in the following pic:

oil.jpg

Why would i need to put oil in it then... any ideas
 
Its probably a sensor reading problem. It happens sometimes, and it gives a yellow light without reason. check if sensor needs replacement
 
konas said:
Its probably a sensor reading problem. It happens sometimes, and it gives a yellow light without reason. check if sensor needs replacement

Cool, thanks for the reply... when you mean check if the sensor needs replacing... you mean bring it into BMW or is there a DIY job for this, thanks again for your help
 
I would go to BMW. Dont know any related DYI.

Edit: Its No 14 to the link:
http://bmwfans.info/original/E85/roa/Z4%203.0i-M54/ECE/R/N/2003/04/mg-11/ill-11_2187/
 
Ok cool, thanks, just while we are on this topic and while i am waiting to get this sorted, would you put your trust in the light on the dash (the sensor) or your trust in my dip stick which reads full
 
un1eash said:
I would trust the dipstick if the car is on level ground, cold and be sitting for a few hours.

Yes it has been sitting on flat ground for nearly five hours and i have just checked it, it is at the 2 mark on the dip stick
 
I have recently been subject to this problem. I have a 3.0SE 2003 Z4 which i purchased in November 2008. I have had this car for 8 months now and have been checking the oil levels every few months which have all read at number two on the pic shown earlier. A few times now the yellow oil light flashes on whenever i turn the engine off. I have checked the oil everytime the light shows but it always reads at the number 2 mark on the pic.

What should i do??? i saw the earlier comment in that the oil cap should be removed but under the impression this only works on o6 models??

Would appreciate some advice!!!!

Thanks
 
Funny you mention this as i have only got around to ordering a new oil sensor this week. I have done quick a bit of research on this problem and apparently the early z4's are prone to this problem... it scared me a bit at first but each time i checked the oil (which i do every 2 weeks) the level seemsed fine on the dip stick, hope this is of some help to you...
 
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