Oil Light Came on

[kaidoy]

I have a 2004 330ci with 6200 or so miles on it. When I turn off the car the Yellow Oil light comes on. I think a few times it came on when I was driving it. I am assuming it's just that the oil is low and that I need to fill'er up. Not much of a mechanic so bare with me please, I pretty much have two questions.

1. Is this normal for the oil light to come on after only 6200 miles? Should I bring it in to the dealer see why it is burning oil?

2. To fill up the oil do I need to buy it from the dealer or can I just go to Kragen's or somewhere and pick up some synthetic oil? If so, then what brand would be better to mix with the factory oil? What type of oil exactly should I get?


Thanks a lot guys this forum is great!

[gek330i]

1. Yes it is perfectly normal for a new engine to consume oil, even with less than 6,200 miles.

2. I recommend you go to the dealer and buy the BMW Synthetic to top up (read manual, not too much!) If going to the dealer is a pain, BMW recommends Castrol Synthec 5W-30 or Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30 for 3 Series.

Finally dude, I'm not going to b*tch about it, but yes I will, you should check your oil and this would not happen. At least, *at least*, once a month (or more). While you are at it, check coolant level and tire pressure.

[LDV330i]

About 3 weeks ago my yellow oil came on. I immediately checked the dipstick and the oil level was close to max. My car 3,600 miles at the time. The light has never come on again. :dunno:You need to always check your oil level via the dipstick everytime to fill up with gas The yellow oil light is only a secondary back up and you should not rely on it.

You just can't buy any old synthetic oil because it must meet certain requirements. Aside from the BMW oil, I believe Mobil 1 0W-40 meets the BMW specs that oils must meet ACEA A3.B3 requirements.

Edit: Even though the Mobil 1 viscosity does not match the OEM viscosity is does meet the ACEA requirements. Mobil 1 5W -30 does not. At Mobil1.com site you can input your car info and they will suggest an oil that meets the manufacturers requirements. Mobil1 admits that they do not have an oil that matches OEM viscosity and meet the ACEA requirements. They recommend using the 0W-40.

[Artslinger]

Since you are not all that familiar with reading a BMW dipstick I suggest that when you're picking up the oil at the dealer, have a SA show you how to properly read the stick.

[blueguydotcom]

Finally dude, I'm not going to b*tch about it, but yes I will, you should check your oil and this would not happen. At least, *at least*, once a month (or more). While you are at it, check coolant level and tire pressure.


Bah, that's what sensors are for. :P

I just read further...now someone is talking about checking oil at every fill up. Oh my god, how paranoid. Maybe top off all fluids at each stoplight too? Better yet, monitor your tire pressure before each drive?

It's a car...they've run for over a hundred years without this kind of meticulous attention. And buying BMW oil? Man, Mobil 1 is good enough. It's simply a lubricant. It's not like BMW uses some super secret special oil designed for that super special, super hi-tech ZHP engine.

This guy should go to sams/costco/target and buy a jug of Mobil One and funnel. Go home, pop the hood, dump in a a few sloshes. The car will be good to go from there. If the light doesn't go off, add a bit more oil. If it's off, drive away. Add more the next time the light pops on. These cars aren't exotic or unusual.

[Alex Baumann]

Bah, that's what sensors are for.

That sensor means (almost) nothing. You must check your oil level regularly. Believe me, you'll appreciate that. I've burned an engine (it was many moons ago and I was real noob) because I was also thinking that the engine light would save my a-ss, if things go wrong. But I was wrong.

So, please, don't be lazy and check the oil. It takes a minute or two, not longer.


I am assuming it's just that the oil is low and that I need to fill'er up

It's written in the manual, what it means, when the light stays on. :)

[AndDown]

I have a 2004 330ci with 6200 or so miles on it. When I turn off the car the Yellow Oil light comes on. I think a few times it came on when I was driving it. I am assuming it's just that the oil is low and that I need to fill'er up. Not much of a mechanic so bare with me please, I pretty much have two questions.

1. Is this normal for the oil light to come on after only 6200 miles? Should I bring it in to the dealer see why it is burning oil?

2. To fill up the oil do I need to buy it from the dealer or can I just go to Kragen's or somewhere and pick up some synthetic oil? If so, then what brand would be better to mix with the factory oil? What type of oil exactly should I get?


Thanks a lot guys this forum is great!

I was having similar symptoms with the light coming on after turning off the engine - would not happen all the time, just occasionally. Turned out to be a bad oil level sensor which was replaced together with replacement of the old oil :thumbup:

[crash8168]

I have a 2004 330ci with 6200 or so miles on it. When I turn off the car the Yellow Oil light comes on. I think a few times it came on when I was driving it. I am assuming it's just that the oil is low and that I need to fill'er up. Not much of a mechanic so bare with me please, I pretty much have two questions.

1. Is this normal for the oil light to come on after only 6200 miles? Should I bring it in to the dealer see why it is burning oil?

2. To fill up the oil do I need to buy it from the dealer or can I just go to Kragen's or somewhere and pick up some synthetic oil? If so, then what brand would be better to mix with the factory oil? What type of oil exactly should I get?


Thanks a lot guys this forum is great!
you are supposed to check it at every fillup. the factory oil is castrol.

[tejenkins]

I believe there is a service bulletin on bad oil sensors. My dealer knew the problem when I brought it in after the light kept coming on as the engine was shuld off.