Something to consider: I had battled the same issue a while back and replaced the sensor only to find the same fault showing for low oil level. It's not always the sensor. The wires for this sensor run down in front and along the oil pan. The wire wrap is almost always disintegrated from oil leaks and the wires rub and fray on the pan and the chassis reinforcing plate. As was my case, inspect those wires for a ground short too.

That's good advice. Always look at the wiring harness before replacing a sensor, any sensor.

I think I just figured out why my dipstick doesn't make any sense. I didn't want to go out in the rain to take a picture of it, so I just found one online instead. Looking at the photo of the part, it's obvious that part of mine is missing. That's why I couldn't make sense of the oil level. Duh!

Ouch... makes ya wonder where the rest of it went:yikes:... crap floating around in the oil pan/channels/weep holes/gallies!

ARGH!

Any who, curious what you find with the sensor/cable.

I had the entire front and bottom of the engine taken apart to replace the timing chains/guides. There was a lot of plastic debris in the engine from the failed chain guides. It's likely that the bits of the dipstick were mixed in.

Given the picture, and what you say is missing, you can see now where the MIN and MAX lines are, or should be. The MIN mark is still there, and the MAX mark is missing, but if the oil is anywhere on the stick between MIN and the part that's missing, then the level is okay, and the sensor is dying or dead. I'm going with dying else the message would happen every time your parked the car.

ok that would explain alot why you are not able to read the oil level. As you stated must have broke with all the other stuff roaming around in the engine. Well since all thats been replaced and clean just swap out the dipstick and you should be good.

He has a valid point. Forgot you were getting warnings. If you are still registering oil on the remaining part of the dipstick and still getting warnings on the gauge than yes its probably most likely the sensor

It's most likely the sensor. God, I don't want to drop that freaking skid plate again.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...y-diy-ers.html

FWIW: The dipstick was already broken when I bought the car. The first thing I did was check the oil because it was leaking all over my driveway.

Yes that Skid plate is robust but I am grateful that our X's have a real skid plate vs plastic ones that pretend to be a skid plate. 6 bolts and some wrenching and youll have it off. Since you put fresh oil in the vehicle you may just want to change the sensor on the next oil change interval.