oil light flashes

[camberwears]

Hello all i have a 325es and ( every now and again ) when i stop the oil light ( in the cluster ) will flash and when i go it turns off .I have checked the oil level and it is full .if anyone can help with this issues please let me know .thanks in advance

[MTechnikII]

bad oil pressure switch,
how many miles on the car?

[camberwears]

thank you that is what i have been reading.i am buying one today and i have 217,456

[lateracer]

Might be a bad switch, but is more likely low oil pressure because it's a tired old motor. As bearings age/wear, lower oil pressure results.

What kind of oil are you running? It might need a thicker oil.

Use a heavy oil (40wt +) and get a magnetic drain plug, if you don't already have one, to look for metal in your oil pan.

[shay91]

majority of the time it'll be your oil sending unit/switch...

[MTechnikII]

I've been running 10W30 Mobil One in my E30 M20 for the past 8 years now has over 210kmiles so far no oil light problem, but you are right the weight of the oil does make a difference.
Henry

[jlevie]

I've been running 10W30 Mobil One in my E30 M20 for the past 8 years now has over 210kmiles so far no oil light problem, but you are right the weight of the oil does make a difference.
Henry

That oil is way too thin for an E30 in that climate. You should be using a 20w50 oil.

As to the OP's problem. The oil licght flickering on at idle could be a bad oil pressure switch, too thin an oil, bad or clogged filter, or wear in the bottom end of the engine. Replace the switch with a new unit. replace the filter with a Mann, Mahle, or Mobil-1, and use 20w50 dyno oil. If the problem persists, have a shop check the hot idle oil pressure.

[camberwears]

thanks everyone :) i bought a new oil pressure switch and it will be going in Tuesday ,and my buddy at BMW said he will do a pressure test also.but i did look at the switch and there is oil ( stains ) around it .i guess i know where my very small oil leak is at :( and yea i am running 10w 30 castrol syntech .i will change the weight this weekend as i am doing my timing belt and flushing my cooling sysytem again thanks for all the info ..i hope that is all it is .if not i guess i will be saving for a new motor

[MR 325]

20w50 should be in every M20, it's all I've run for the last 7.5 years.

[camberwears]

thanks everyone for the info and it was just the oil pressure switch..i have bought the new oil 20w 50 so it will be changed this weekend ..

[george graves]

200k miles, it's not a bad call if you want to throw in some motor-honey, restore, ect...I think they help a little bit with piston slap on higher mileage pistons.