Z4 Oil Pressure Warning: Common Causes & Real Solutions

Hey there! I've got some experience working on BMWs. I had a similar issue with my 2003 BMW 3 Series (and I also own an X3). Had the exact same symptoms, those warning lights scared me at first. Turned out I was way past the maintenance interval and the oil was pretty contaminated. Took it to my trusted mechanic who did a thorough oil change with a filter replacement and system flush. Cost me around 165 Euro but totally worth it, problem solved and no more warning lights. If you want me to share more specific details about what my mechanic checked, could you share: What's your current mileage? When was your last oil change? Are you noticing any unusual engine sounds? Just want to make sure you're not dealing with something different than what I experienced.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Z4 is currently at 94392 KM and had its last service about 8 months ago. Haven't noticed any weird engine noises, but the warnings started popping up during my last drive. I'm actually relieved to hear your issue was resolved with an oil change and system flush. I was worried it might be something more serious. Did your mechanic mention anything specific about the oil quality when they checked it? Just wondering if I should expect anything else besides the basic oil service when I take it in.

Hey again! Thanks for those details about your Z4. Yeah, when my mechanic checked my 3 Series, he actually showed me how dark and gritty the oil had become. Even though yours was serviced 8 months ago, contamination can still happen, especially if you do a lot of short trips where the engine doesn't fully warm up. In my case, the mechanic also pointed out some small metal particles in the old oil, which apparently is pretty normal wear and tear, but too much of it can trigger those warning lights. Since you're at 94K km, it's around the same mileage where I had my issue. The good news is that since you're not hearing any weird noises (like I wasn't), it's probably not a major mechanical problem. My mechanic did suggest checking the oil pressure sensor while he was at it, turns out these can sometimes get gunked up and give false readings. Maybe worth asking about that when you take it in. Just keep in mind that BMWs can be a bit sensitive with their warning systems, mine definitely was! But better safe than sorry, right? Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out.

Thanks a lot for all that detailed info! That's super helpful, especially about the oil pressure sensor, I'll definitely mention that to my mechanic. It's actually making me feel much better knowing your BMW had similar symptoms and it wasn't anything catastrophic. Really appreciate you breaking down what your mechanic found, especially about those metal particles. I'll probably take it in tomorrow just to be safe, but I'm way less worried now. I'll check the oil myself before taking it in, now that you've mentioned how dark and gritty yours was. And good point about the short trips, I do quite a few of those, so maybe that's contributing to the issue. You've pretty much covered everything I was wondering about. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!