Check Engine Oil Lev warning problem
 

I've got a 2003 X5 4.4 with 66K miles that is throwing this warning on the dash. It dings and turns on after the car is turned off.

Here is what I have done thus far without success:
Checked the oil level and this is good (oil was recently changed after the replacement of the valve cover gaskets)
Replaced the oil level/condition sensor in the bottom of the oil pan ($175)

Do I need to reset the computer somehow or start looking at other possibilites for the light?

Check the connector to the oil level sensor. See if any oil or dirt got into it and the contact is bad. Also inspect the wire for damage while you are at it.

How long has the light been on since your oil change? if its only been a few days the dash warning light should dissappear on its own after a few days of driving...

I am not clear why the oil level light would come on after you turn the engine off, but I do know that there is an anti-drainback valve in the oil filter housing, so that the oil does not all run down into the pan when the engine stops. I wonder whether that drain-back valve is functioning correctly?

It is also conceivable that you got a bad oil level sensor when the new one was installed.

Oil change was done ~4 weeks ago. The light has been on every since that day.

I replaced the sensor last night. After replacing it, I started the car in the garage and let it run for 2-3 minutes before turning it off. It did not throw a light that time. However, it has every since I started driving it today and turning it off.

Are you saying the warning light will clear itself? I'm only puzzled because it did NOT come on last night in the garage after immediately changing the sensor. It came on after driving it today and turning it off,which makes me think the sensor was not the problem.

Maybe drain/rechange the oil to verify the correct amount was added. Don't know if you/BMW/indy did it. I guess if you did it, you would know.

Let's narrow it down. If I understand the problem correctly,.....

It isn't the change oil light we are talking about, it is the level light.
You can check the oil level with the dipstick, and know that the level is correct.
You appear to have had the check level light on continuously since the oil change and valve cover gaskets were done. Perhaps something happened during that service.
You have now replaced the sensor yourself, the oil level light went off right away after that procedure, but it is now coming back on, only after you shut the engine off (not when the engine is running).

Is that correct so far?

If you can connect this back to the oil change and valve cover repair, could you revisit that shop and ask them why the light is on after they worked on it?

My friend, who was a BMW tech, did the oil change. Would this light come on if the oil was over filled?

It's the Check Engine Oil Level light

Yes, if anything it could be a tad high. The oil dipstick was replaced during the last service (the tab you pull the dipstick with broke recently). What I am not sure is if the new dipstick is exactly the same as the original or not (not even sure if that would matter, but worth mentioning). I will check with my friend (a former BMW tech) who did the service to confirm.

Yes, it's been on since that time.

We changed the sensor, filled the oil, started the car in the garage for 2-3 minutes, and the shut it off. The light did NOT come on when shutting off the X5 the first time. Now, after driving it today a few times, the light comes on each time I turn off the car.

My friend did the service and is assisting me in this process. I've not had a chance to speak with him today (he works odd hours with his new job and lives a good hour from me). He felt the sensor would resolve the light as they are known to cause problems with age.

I want to get more input from the group here to see what could be the culprit. I know I am baffled.

Thanks for the input thus far.

I have seen incorrect dipsticks used before. It would be worth validating how much oil is in the engine.

I'll look into this tonight and get back to the group.

The oil level sensor is a relatively common problem at higher mileages on most BMW engines/models.

All you need to do is simply change the oil level sensor, which is only 3 10mm nuts and one plug. Easy to do with your next oil change. (oil has to be drained to change it, on bottom of oil pan) And no computer clearing or anything is needed after replacement, just plug and play.

I think you may need to remove the metal plate under the engine on the X5 to get access to it, but that isn't that big a deal.

Weasel,

The oil level sensor was replaced last night.

Sorry, didn't read thoroughly enough. :D But 9 times of 10 that is the problem...

Do you fall within the specs of this?

Same issue with mine at 62K. Happened twice in 3 weeks. was thinking may be a loose connection at the level sensor. I just had an oil service in Jan '10.

Now I see I am not the only one with same issue.

It can be a dirty connection, and in the shop if the level sensor itself isn't the issue I check the wires from DME to sensor as well as the resistance in the connector. But that isn't often an issue.

Mine was built in 11/02 and I believe has those headlights.

Then you may have something else to look into... maybe your lighting control module needs to be recoded. You could get the dealer to check your service history and see if it has ever been recoded since that bulletin was released.

Weasel... Thank you for posting that TSB above.. My buddy took it and had the update performed.. All is well now!

Bad news is.. I traded the X5 and picked up a new 335i... I will miss the X, but it was time for a sedan.

Thanks to all on here that have helped and perhaps I'll be in another X5 in the future.

Well you at least owe us some pictures!:wow:

I will tomorrow. It's cloudy and rainy right now.

Here is a picture of the X5 replacement:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...W/3153b510.jpg

Have fun with that 4 door 300HP twin turbo beast! And be sure to use good top quality gas withthe lowest ethanol levels you can find! (the 3 series seems to be more prone to high pressure fuel pump failure than other models, but they have updated parts now so you should be fine)

Damm those corn growers. I used to LOVE LOVE crossing over 1 state line just to get back to MTBE ...

I have not followed ethanol lately but I think they are bucking up to 15%.
Damm those corn grower lobbyists..

I started only getting gas at a local corner store that uses Louisiana refinery gas with NO ethanol! I repeat... 0% ethanol! The station I used to go to had ethanol in the regular, but not the premuim for the last year or so. But now they have ethanol in the premium too so they lost my business and I told the owner that too.