SM3 Oil Pressure Warning

I had a similar issue with my SM3. The oil pressure light would come on intermittently, especially when the engine was hot. The loud mechanical noises you're describing are concerning. Did you notice any oil leakage around the engine?

Thanks for the quick response! I haven't noticed any obvious oil leakage, but I'll double-check more thoroughly tomorrow in the daylight. What was the cause of your low oil pressure and loud noises? Was it indeed the oil pump that failed?

In my case, the low oil pressure and engine noise indicated an imminent oil pump failure. Oil pumps are positive displacement pumps. When they fail they cannot generate the required pressure in the oil circuit. Given your symptoms and that you've already changed the oil filter, I'd strongly recommend taking it to a workshop to get the oil pressure properly tested. Continuing to drive it could cause serious engine damage.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I checked again for oil leakage but found none, so it does sound like an oil pump issue like you suggested. I took it to the workshop today, and they confirmed it. The oil pump was indeed defective. They quoted me 755€ for the repair. It's a hefty sum, but better than a completely wrecked engine. Thanks again!