watsi

I have a 2002 320i. I'm a car newbie.

The yellow oil light has been coming on once a month for about 3 months now. Everytime it comes on, i add the BMW branded oil. I don't drive aggressively and I don't hit high RPMs (<3500) or speeds (<140 km/h).

I was wondering if this yellow oil light coming on is a problem? And I ran out of the BMW branded stuff. Can I mix in something else like Castrol GTX 5W-30?

Thank you.

Antiburn

Since your car is so new I reccomend staying with the $4.50 a quart bmw oil. its ridicilous but I would try some castrol beucase thats what all BMW dealers use.
and make sure its SYNTHETIC, otherwise your seals deteriorate, or so I heard.

daniel 61

Hi ! I assume your car is still under waranty, the problem with the yellow light is that , the oil level sensor is probably faulty ,a very common issue on these cars. Normaly this light comes on when oil level reach absolute minimum( just a little below lower mark on the oil dipstick). I do not think the 3 years car is burning oil , you have to add oil once a month, my BMW is 5 years old and I never add the oil betwen 7500 miles changes. If the oil is betwen to marks , there is no way light comes on. Contact dealership and let them change the oil level sensor.

Antiburn

The light can also come on if you drive your car pretty hard. You may not think you do but if you do alot of highway driving or pull away from stops fast that can also case oil consumption. Same thing with coolant.

daniel 61

So, you are saying,that it is normal 3 years old BMW burning oil to the level, when he has to add oil every 1 month- no way! unless rings are cracked and valves seals gone.Even with a hard driving this car can not take 1q/litre of oil every month(the quantity betwen upper and lower mark on the dipstick)

watsi

Thanks for the replies guys. I made a service appointment next weekend to have BMW take a look at the car. I'll keep adding oil in the meantime.

beemer5

the car is not telling him he is low on oil... that is what the on board computer would say, right,. I think it is the sensor that sayes the oil has thinned and is in need of an oil change...