Oil OBC

[FrankMM]

My oil level was below the first block on the stick, but no oil level warning on the OBC.( 99 18 button OBC). ??

[Tipsy]

we have a low oil pressure light. never hear of a low oil level light on an e36

[FrankMM]

Manual says there will be low level warning on OBC display. My e30 325 e had indicator light on overhead panel. Can't imagine the M would have less technology.

[Tipsy]

low oil would equal low oil pressure, no? how does it measure the oil level electronically? the newer cars use a float (just like coolant level) and ive never seen a float on the oil pan?

[FrankMM]

Mmm...don't think so. But I'm sure more experience will weigh in.

[tbuck2]

There is no low oil level indicator on the E36. There was a level sensor on E30's with the I6 engine (I had to replace this once) but there is not one on the E36, so yes, they have less technology in that respect. Perhaps a euro engine will have this, but not a US spec.

[RatedM3]

The "dumby light" (No pun intended) turns on at a ridiculously low level. You need to check on your own. Most likely if the light turns on, you are about 2 to 3 qts low. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't recall how I know this.

[FrankMM]

See page 105 in 99 M3 owners manual. This would seem to indicate there IS a low level sensor??

[ThreeSixM]

no oil level sensor. oil light would turn on as others said if it were drastically low and maybe then the obc would tell you it was low. ive never had my oil that low to know anyways. on my cluster there is a sticker that says check oil level regularly so i dont see why an oil level sensor would be needed.

[kornkid8600]

The red oil indicator light will flash on the dash when you get to around 4 quarts of oil.

Tapatalk

[NeilM]

See page 105 in 99 M3 owners manual. This would seem to indicate there IS a low level sensor??

Read our lips: there was never an oil level sensor on the US model E36 M3, period. The red oil warning light is for low oil pressure, and is not to be ignored.

There was one on the Euro E36 M3, and certain very early non-M E36 models may have had an oil pan version that included provision for mounting the sensor, but none was ever fitted.

Neil

[MParallel]

To add some info in case someone else dig this up.

Yes, the Euro M3 has the oil level sensor in the sump, but only the 3.2 model. The 3.0 doesn't and that why it has the extra sticker on the cluster (like the US M3) to "Check engine oil regularly". The 3.2 don't have this sticker, as it has the sensor (which throws a light in the cluster).