Oil Light comes on for 10 seconds after cold start

[Landerholm]

My 2001 330xi has an appetitie for oil, so Im regularly adding more. Sometimes when I start the car in the morning the oil light will come on (suggesting the oil level is low, right) for maybe 5-20 seconds. It seems like when I add more oil (overfilling it a hair) this doesnt happen.

Does the car like to be overfilled, or is something wrong?

Could something else be setting the light off like that? (Reminding me its time for an oil change?)

Thanks guys

[mctai2]

the oil level sensor (located on the bottom of the pan) is causing that. the light comes on when i start my car too, and goes away in a few second, i just ignore it cuz i know i have enough oil in there.

[mctai2]

#14
$130 part

[hairy]

i ignore it too

[supark]

ditto on oil level sensor - when I was test driving 330CIs, two of the 4 I drove had a new oil level sensor for the same reason.

[unknown01]

+1 on the oil level sensor. I just had the guys put a new one in when I had my car worked on and it stopped. They said it had "corrosion" on it, but it was perfectly fine.

[supark]

should be a very easy DIY that you can do while changing out your oil - as I remember the sensor is just held onto the bottom of the oil pan with a few bolts and is easily removed. It honestly kinda bugs me so I'll most likely replace it the next time I do an oil change.

[ibmman69]

has same problem on a 323ci - ditto on the oil level sensor

[GRIDLOCK]

+1 on the oil level sensor. Checked a customer's car w/ Autologic and a fault came up indicating the oil level sensor. Customer recently had an oil change so we told the customer to come back when their next oil change is due and we'll change out the sensor...Very easy DIY!