BMW X5 oil problems

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Hokiefyd

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Posting this for a friend. I've asked about it before last year, when it overheated due to no water in the radiator. His wife was driving it with all of the warning lights came on, apparently due to no oil pressure. She stopped and had it towed to their BMW mechanic. Apparently one of the oil cooler lines had split and sprayed oil everywhere. After a replacement oil cooler line, at a cool $135, and an alternator rebuild, they have the car back, but the oil pressure at idle doesn't appear to be correct (lights flashing). My first question is maybe they used the wrong oil, but my friend said he gave them the oil to use (the only one recommended, Mobil 1 0W-40 I assume). Then I suggested that it's a lazy oil pressure sensor.

I suppose it could be a coincidence that the pressure sensor gets lazy right after a low oil pressure event. I'm wondering if it doesn't indicate further damage to the engine.

I think it is a 2000 or 2001 model; I know it is a V-8.
 
always scary to lose oil, especially with a female driving as they rarely pay attention to gauges, etc.

The sensor is unlikely on such a new car, but at least it gives the poor owner something to dream of.
 
This advice may be frowned upon, but maybe, MAYBE, going up one grade thicker to something more like a 50 weight will maintain oil pressure. (Mobil 1 15W-50.)

I sure hope they shut the engine off in time. Sounds like they did...
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
The sensor is unlikely on such a new car,

Actually, sensors aren't BMW's strong point, so it's a possibility. 12-years old is not new either.

If that's not it, then maybe a failing oil pump?

If he's using Mobil 1 0w-40, then the problem is definitely not due to wrong oil...
 
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Yikes. Maybe chewed up a bearing?

Perhaps time for some 15w50?
+1 thinkin same unfortunately. Any unusual engine noise? If so, I would skip any thick oil crutches ( except for resale purposes
blush.gif
) and go for a trade in right now. Just to double check I might assume there is a mechanical port where the OP could be checked.
 
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I bet major damage occured. the lack of pressure at idle is a good indication. Throw some lucas in it and sell it quick. Or check around for a reman or a used engine. I know its not the same but i can find an engine for my versa with under 30,000 for around 1000$
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
The sensor is unlikely on such a new car,

Actually, sensors aren't BMW's strong point, so it's a possibility. 12-years old is not new either.

If that's not it, then maybe a failing oil pump?

If he's using Mobil 1 0w-40, then the problem is definitely not due to wrong oil...



Yup, gotta agree with this. My car needs the remaining three camshaft position sensors done as an example.
 
Originally Posted By: dparm
BMW doesn't make the sensors though...they're buying them from someone.


Right. But they are built to spec. The CPS's that my car takes, the replacements look significantly different from the originals. the originals were known to fail, so the device was redesigned. The new ones apparently don't have this problem.

I've gone through this same issue with Ford. Though Ford's part # system makes it pretty easy to determine what revision of a part you are running.

Yet another example is the evap hoses for the oil separators. They were revised and were made out of a completely different material
crazy2.gif
Why? Because the original ones were junk and would split and come apart. I had to do both of mine shortly after buying the car for this very reason.

Maybe the oil pressure sensor is a common failure on the X5? I'm not familiar with them enough to know whether this is the case or not. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was. It also wouldn't surprise me if there is actually engine damage and the sensor is fine.

The logical way to approach this would be to mechanically check the pressure with a gauge. Go from there.
 
Originally Posted By: abycat
I bet major damage occured. the lack of pressure at idle is a good indication. Throw some lucas in it and sell it quick. Or check around for a reman or a used engine. I know its not the same but i can find an engine for my versa with under 30,000 for around 1000$


+1
 
Originally Posted By: 45ACP
This advice may be frowned upon, but maybe, MAYBE, going up one grade thicker to something more like a 50 weight will maintain oil pressure. (Mobil 1 15W-50.)

I sure hope they shut the engine off in time. Sounds like they did...


Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Yikes. Maybe chewed up a bearing?

Perhaps time for some 15w50?
+1 thinkin same unfortunately. Any unusual engine noise? If so, I would skip any thick oil crutches ( except for resale purposes
blush.gif
) and go for a trade in right now. Just to double check I might assume there is a mechanical port where the OP could be checked.


Originally Posted By: abycat
I bet major damage occured. the lack of pressure at idle is a good indication. Throw some lucas in it and sell it quick. Or check around for a reman or a used engine. I know its not the same but i can find an engine for my versa with under 30,000 for around 1000$


If me:

1. Check SENSORS. Could, in fact, be bad. We had our 01 Bonneville sensor replaced -TODAY.- (Light came back on. We will see.)

2. Check OIL PRESSURE with gauge, as suggested.. then, step up to 15W-50 if something happened that thicker oil is required to maintain oil pressure. I would NOT be so quick to "throw some Lucas in it".. Sis's BF did that on 1989 Corolla that had engine noise and its holding up better than before, though. Corollas arent BMW X5s though..

3. THEN evaluate resale vs engine if those things dont work.
 
The warm idle oil pressure ought to be checked with a gauge. I have seen a number of "German" oil pressure swtches fail over time on Volvo's and SAABS. Strangely enough, Japanese sensors look cheaper but seem to last forever.
 
A friend of mine has a 2008 X5 4.5 V8 and a few weeks ago he got warnings on the dash about low oil pressure. I towed his X5 with my truck, using a rope, to the dealer. Turned out to be a defective oil pressure sensor.
 
That vintage of X5 is a piece, they should dump it ASAP. They also have a [censored] rear suspension that eats tires alive, along with some other cool expensive problems.

Putting money into it is just throwing it down a hole.
 
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
That vintage of X5 is a piece, they should dump it ASAP. They also have a [censored] rear suspension that eats tires alive, along with some other cool expensive problems.

Putting money into it is just throwing it down a hole.


Be careful, you might offend the fanboy's. LOL
grin.gif


Can't say I disagree though.
 
To follow up:

The oil pressure sensor was already replaced, no change. I asked him what oil he was using. He said it's the only oil recommended for it by BMW. I asked, "Mobil 1 0W-40?"

"No, I'm pretty sure it's 10w30."

So who knows what's been going in it. I strongly recommended the Mobil 1 0W-40. We'll see if that fixes the issue.
 
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