Overhead oil light on?

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  • danalyse
    Advanced Member
    • Apr 2009
    • 153

    #1

    Overhead oil light on?

    The overhead oil light has just come on. The manual says it measures oil level rather than pressure. The stick says I was about 3/4 of quart down. Should this light have come. Added a few drops and light is still on...is there a reset of some sort. Where is the sensor.
  • McGyver
    R3V Elite
    • Jun 2009
    • 4427

    #2
    did you restart the car? if that doesnt work unhook the battery, wait a minute, then hook it up again.
    sigpic
    1987 - 325i Convertible Delphin Auto [SOLD], 325i Convertible Delphin Manual [SOLD]
    1989 - 325i Convertible Bronzit m30b35 swapped [SCRAPPED], 325i Sedan Alpine Auto[DD]
    1991 - 325i Coupe Laguna Manual [Project], 535i Sedan Alpine [SCRAPPED]

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    • jlevie
      R3V OG
      • Nov 2006
      • 13530

      #3
      If the oil level is in between the marks on the dipstick and that light is on, there's a problem with the oil level sensor (most likely) or with the wiring and/or overhead check panel (least likely).
      The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
      Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

      Comment

      • IRUNEDM
        E30 Enthusiast
        • Oct 2009
        • 1122

        #4
        i have the same issue. subscribed
        Feedback
        Instagram - @e30_mtech2

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        • llll1l1ll
          Mod Crazy
          • Dec 2003
          • 782

          #5
          I never trust that stupid light.

          That light is there as an emergency only. Like, pull over now and add oil asap emergency.
          Me: "I can't wait to redline my car!"
          Mark: "Didn't you just break a rocker arm?"
          Me: "Yeah, I don't think I've learned my lesson."
          Mark: "You never will."

          Comment

          • bataangpinoy
            E30 Mastermind
            • Jul 2008
            • 1636

            #6
            mhmm. ^^ when i see that light, my car gets two quarts asap.
            My feedback:
            http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=186328

            http://e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74911

            Instagram:
            @gears_n_glory

            @functionmotorsports

            Comment

            • atldohc
              Grease Monkey
              • Nov 2008
              • 359

              #7
              Originally posted by danalyse
              The overhead oil light has just come on. The manual says it measures oil level rather than pressure. The stick says I was about 3/4 of quart down. Should this light have come. Added a few drops and light is still on...is there a reset of some sort. Where is the sensor.
              this is normal. when my oil is low about 3/4 quart my light comes on as well. i just add that 3/4 back up and restart the car and the light is gone. my s52 burns about a quart between oil changes, so i keep a bottle of oil in the trunk. if you only added a few drops then you need to add the rest up to the full line and see if that resets it first. the level sensor is in the top of the oil pan near where the ground cable bolts to the pan on the driver side of the engine, if youre running the m20 that is

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              • iignite
                Advanced Member
                • Oct 2008
                • 125

                #8
                take out the oil level switch and spray brake clean/carb cleaner in there good. Make sure all the gunk comes out.

                I had that light on for months until I actually did something about it, annoyed the hell outa me though.

                Comment

                • TrentW
                  R3VLimited
                  • Aug 2008
                  • 2815

                  #9
                  /\ Yes. Try cleaning the sensor first--

                  Comment

                  • netcsk
                    E30 Mastermind
                    • Apr 2004
                    • 1609

                    #10
                    2 quarts probably makes you overfilled.
                    The light should come on by the time you are a quart low at the bottom of the normal range on the dip stick (before engine damage).

                    Originally posted by bataangpinoy
                    mhmm. ^^ when i see that light, my car gets two quarts asap.

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