325 oil light

I have a 2002 325i with 120,000 miles. For a while now, the yellow oil
light will come on just after I start the car. It goes out after a
couple of seconds. It doesn't happen every time. It never goes on after
I've been driving; it's only sometimes after I have started it. The oil
level is ok. My regular maintenance non-BMW mechanic says it is perhaps
just a sensor malfunction. Does anyone have any experience with this
problem? I'm reluctant to take it to the dealer for a $1,000 computer
fix ream-job bill!
thanks,
David Newton

It is a problem with the oil level sending unit, which lives on the very
bottom of the motor, and is easy to replace. You can buy the sesnor on eBay,
and your mechanic should have absolutely no trouble installing it on the
next oil change.

I have an '00 323 with the same problem -- the oil light comes on about
30-ish seconds after the engine is started, and remains on for 30-ish
seconds and goes out, then never comes on again. The oil level is excellent.

I think this is one of those over-engineered circuits, and you can ignore
the false signal.




"David Newton" <plato6 DeleteThis @ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:13nah6p9rv80d6d@corp.supernews.com...
>I have a 2002 325i with 120,000 miles. For a while now, the yellow oil
>light will come on just after I start the car. It goes out after a couple
>of seconds. It doesn't happen every time. It never goes on after I've been
>driving; it's only sometimes after I have started it. The oil level is ok.
>My regular maintenance non-BMW mechanic says it is perhaps just a sensor
>malfunction. Does anyone have any experience with this problem? I'm
>reluctant to take it to the dealer for a $1,000 computer fix ream-job bill!
> thanks,
> David Newton