Z4 Oil light again..
Discussion
Had this a few months ago. Oil light kept coming on at the end of a journey, indicating low oil. Checked dipstick after approx 5 minutes from warm (As explained in the manual), half full of oil. Did this many times, always half full.
Booked it into local dealer who patronisingly phoned to explain it was low on oil and did I want it topping up. No I did not. Collected car from them, immediatly checked oil using the method explained in handbook and... half full. If you check the oil the second you turn the engine off it registers as min on the dipstick but then of course it does, as the oil hasnt drained back into the sump yet. Check it when you are supposed to, and its fine. Surely BMW should know that.
Anyway, put half a litre in and up to the max mark. Problem went away.
It's back. Checked again, suprise suprise, half full. Nowhere near minimum.
Any tips for avoiding the patronising rubbish about it needing oil? I've read the fault codes on the car and there is no fault code showing for the level sensor. Car is a 2003 Z4 3.0i.
Booked it into local dealer who patronisingly phoned to explain it was low on oil and did I want it topping up. No I did not. Collected car from them, immediatly checked oil using the method explained in handbook and... half full. If you check the oil the second you turn the engine off it registers as min on the dipstick but then of course it does, as the oil hasnt drained back into the sump yet. Check it when you are supposed to, and its fine. Surely BMW should know that.
Anyway, put half a litre in and up to the max mark. Problem went away.
It's back. Checked again, suprise suprise, half full. Nowhere near minimum.
Any tips for avoiding the patronising rubbish about it needing oil? I've read the fault codes on the car and there is no fault code showing for the level sensor. Car is a 2003 Z4 3.0i.
Fox- said:
I dont think its using oil, I think the sensor is triggering the oil light when it shouldnt. As I said, its half full of oil yet the light comes on.
oh, you mean half way between the min. and max. mark? sorry i misunderstood mate. if it's still above the minimum...then yeh must be dodgy sensor i would have thought.190E Matt said:
Fox- said:
190E Matt said:
[quote]It's depressing enough walking past your E39 530i every day! 
Every day! Where abouts do you walk? It's an F plate isn't it?
edit: just seen it's 2002. i'm. jealous. very. much. so.
I've had it for some time, I guess its getting on a bit I cant think of anything else I'd rather have. I thoroughly enjoy it.ian in lancs said:
Fox- said:
ian in lancs said:
Put some oil in
It doesn't need any oil. Thats the point.oil approx half - light
put more oil in - no light
not really difficult is it?
The light is supposed to come on when the oil level is on minimum, not when its half way up the dipstick completely within safe normal tolerances.
What is the point in having a dipstick if the light comes on when the oil is half way between min and max? Surely thats not how it is supposed to work?
Edited by Fox- on Wednesday 25th February 23:32
Fox- said:
It effectively halves the range of the car between oil topups though. This is surely unacceptable.
Why does my 530i not do the same?
fox,you need to monitor the oil consumption if its a issue,and contact the dealer,some manufacturers say using a litre of oil every 1000 miles is ok,i would not be happy with this though ! Why does my 530i not do the same?
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