BMW i3 Oil Pressure Light and Engine Knock Symptoms

Hey there! I faced almost identical issues with my 2015 BMW i8 Hybrid last winter. The oil pressure warning light kept flickering, followed by those worrying engine knocks, especially during cold starts. Turned out the oil pump was failing. The pump's internal components had significant wear, causing inconsistent oil pressure throughout the engine. This is definitely a serious issue that needs immediate attention, as insufficient oil pressure can lead to severe engine damage. Had it fixed at a garage recently. They had to replace the entire oil pump assembly, plus clean out some debris that had accumulated in the oil passages. The whole job took about two days, but it was worth it. The engine's running smooth now, no more warning lights or knocks. My advice? Don't drive it much until you get it checked. Oil pressure problems can wreck your engine pretty quickly. Make sure whoever works on it has experience with BMW hybrids, they're a bit different from conventional engines.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it's really helpful to hear from someone who's dealt with the same problem. Since you had yours fixed, I'm particularly curious about the cost of the repair. Would you mind sharing how much you ended up paying for the oil pump replacement and cleanup? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Really appreciate your help!

Happy to give you the full update! Just had my i8 sorted last month, and I can tell you it was worth every penny. The total came to 755 € for the whole job, including the new oil pump and the cleanup work. I know it's not cheap, but considering what could've happened to the engine if left unfixed, I'd say it was money well spent. And the car's running like a dream now! That annoying oil pressure warning light is completely gone, and those scary knocking sounds are history. Haven't had a single problem since the repair. The engine's purring like it should, and I'm back to enjoying those smooth rides again. Just make sure you get it sorted soon, you definitely don't want to risk engine damage. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way by waiting a bit too long initially. The peace of mind after getting it fixed is totally worth it. Let me know how it goes with yours!

Just wanted to give you an update on my BMW situation. Finally got it sorted at a new mechanic, and you were spot on, it was the oil pump! Ended up costing me about 800 € for the whole job, slightly more than yours but they also found and fixed a minor electrical issue while they were at it. The repair took three days, but wow, what a difference! The engine's running super smooth now, no more scary warning lights or those nerve-wracking knocks. Should've done this sooner, but at least it's fixed now. The mechanic I found was great too, really knew his stuff about hybrids. Thanks again for your advice, it really helped me make the decision to get it checked out properly. You probably saved me from some serious engine damage! Catch you later.