Z4 3.0i oil light issue

[JSz4]

About 2 months ago the orange oil warning light started coming on on the dashboard when I turned off the engine. Due to the fact that it didn't come on every time I turned it off, and when I checked the oil level (when the engine was cold) the oil seemed to be at the top of the notch on the dipstick, I assumed the sensor was faulty. I called a local BMW specialist who said this was most likely the problem.

However I recently read on here and in the manual that the oil should be checked about 10 minutes after the car has been driven a reasonable distance. When I did this the oil was about half way along the notch on the dipstick. I've since topped it up so the oil is at the top of the notch and the warning light doesn't seem to be coming on at all when I turn off the engine.

I just wanted to check if it's likely that I've caused any damage to the engine by driving it for a while when the oil has been half way along the notch on the dipstick? I'm hoping the sensor is just pretty sensitive and it measures the oil quite conservatively and if the oil was genuinely low the warning light would come on when I was driving, is this correct?

 

[Chris_D]

wouldnt worry about it.
when the light goes red and ur engine starts overheating is the time to start squirming.
good to keep an eye on level tho.
if its an e85 have a check for slow leaks around oil filter housing, sump and cam cover...
a new ccv can also cure high oil consumption.
if you really want to see how long an engine can run on NO oil just go to youtube. theyre all over there.

 

[MACK]

The Oil level sensors are a common fault on the M54 series engines, more a case of when not if they play up.
Oil level wise don't worry even if you had gone below the minimum on the dipstick these engines can stand loosing a fair bit more than that with out causing any damage, although I don't recommend it.

 

[JSz4]

Ok thanks for the advice and yes it's an E85. Just really annoyed with myself as I've been using the car for about 2 months with the light often coming on when I turn off the engine but the manual says if you see the light you should top the oil up as soon as possible. As the oil was still half way up the notch hopefully no damage was done.

Considering it was only about 500ml I don't think the oil consumption is high as that's the only oil I've added in the 5 months or so I've had the car and have been doing a lot of short journeys and it's been pretty cold.

Just out of interest why is the oil reading higher when the engine is cold? I don't think I've ever had a car that you check the oil when the engine is warm before.

 

[Chris_D]

Short journeys is really bad for your engine in general and is the kiss-of-death for the ccv systm, as youre building up condensate which turns into gunk rendering the ccv inefficient and causing eventual high oil consumption.
I just replaced my ccv for a cold climate version and oil consumption has dropped off to nothing wheras before it would drink a litre per 1000miles.
Buy a bike for the short journeys you lazy b@stard!

 

[buzyg]

Buy a bike for the short journeys you lazy b@stard!

:lol:

 

[JSz4]

Short journeys is really bad for your engine in general and is the kiss-of-death for the ccv systm, as youre building up condensate which turns into gunk rendering the ccv inefficient and causing eventual high oil consumption.
I just replaced my ccv for a cold climate version and oil consumption has dropped off to nothing wheras before it would drink a litre per 1000miles.
Buy a bike for the short journeys you lazy b@stard!

Haha! It's only 8 miles each way but I do cycle it when it's not so blo@dy cold thank you very much!!

It probably needs a decent long run once a week at least, I've noticed a reasonable amount of mayo appearing on the underside of the oil cap which I assume is just condensation and the result of the cold and short journeys.

 

[Chris_D]

Short journeys is really bad for your engine in general and is the kiss-of-death for the ccv systm, as youre building up condensate which turns into gunk rendering the ccv inefficient and causing eventual high oil consumption.
I just replaced my ccv for a cold climate version and oil consumption has dropped off to nothing wheras before it would drink a litre per 1000miles.
Buy a bike for the short journeys you lazy b@stard!

Haha! It's only 8 miles each way but I do cycle it when it's not so blo@dy cold thank you very much!!

It probably needs a decent long run once a week at least, I've noticed a reasonable amount of mayo appearing on the underside of the oil cap which I assume is just condensation and the result of the cold and short journeys.

Yep. If it's on the filler cap it will be all over the underside of the cam cover. I'd def be thinking about taking the cam cover off for an inspection and a subsequent gasket replacement as well as swapping in a new ccv system before things go south..,, :wink: