Nightmare dealer situation (Updated)

[GreyM340i]

There’s no engine shut off feature for low oil.

Red oil light means low oil pressure— means the level got low enough that the oil pump was sucking air.

there was never a yellow oil light? That indicates a low oil level, which should have happened first.

sub optimal.

No never noticed a yellow light. Just saw the red oil light and then the car shut off.

[Obioban]

There’s no engine shut off feature for low oil.

Red oil light means low oil pressure— means the level got low enough that the oil pump was sucking air.

there was never a yellow oil light? That indicates a low oil level, which should have happened first.

sub optimal.

[GreyM340i]

In your situation, I think downshifting shut your car off which potentially saved the motor.

Very well could of happened. Have driven it a few times and so far seems ok. Need to drive it more just have garbage weather her in IL right now.

[Arith2]

Makes sense.

In your situation, I think downshifting shut your car off which potentially saved the motor.

[GreyM340i]

If the engine does shut down, from what I'm seeing, it would be after 30 seconds of being on. The DME ties oil level and the amount of loss every 100ms. It measures this with engine speed and pressure. It's a fact some manufacturers shut engines down with low oil pressure. I believe a certain set of parameters have to be met and the actual fault codes must be present for oil loss, low oil pressure and a deviation in rpms. Vanos will not activate until the measurement process has begun, so at least 30 seconds after a start. It doesn't mention a difference between cold and warm starts so maybe both. There is nothing stating specifically that the engine will shut down due to oil pressure however. I just think the engine has a hard time running without it.

Makes sense.

[Arith2]

If the engine does shut down, from what I'm seeing, it would be after 30 seconds of being on. The DME ties oil level and the amount of loss every 100ms. It measures this with engine speed and pressure. It's a fact some manufacturers shut engines down with low oil pressure. I believe a certain set of parameters have to be met and the actual fault codes must be present for oil loss, low oil pressure and a deviation in rpms. Vanos will not activate until the measurement process has begun, so at least 30 seconds after a start. It doesn't mention a difference between cold and warm starts so maybe both. There is nothing stating specifically that the engine will shut down due to oil pressure however. I just think the engine has a hard time running without it.

[GreyM340i]

Well that and the fact that when you start the car it has no oil pressure for a couple seconds while its RUNNING... how would that work otherwise? Do I need to take a video of my car running with the oil pressure switch unplugged? lol

Good point.

[George Hill]

Well that and the fact that when you start the car it has no oil pressure for a couple seconds while its RUNNING... how would that work otherwise? Do I need to take a video of my car running with the oil pressure switch unplugged? lol

[oceansize]

Isn't this simply common sense? BMW would be out of their mind to turn a car off for any reason. Imagine someone on a highway doing 75 MPH in ATL or LA congestion and the car just turns off because the DME said to. Yeah, no. Jeebus the lawsuits over the inevitable pile ups would be unimaginable.

[sapote]

The service director said it 100% has that as a safely measure.

If he was taught about this by the factory, then there should be document for reference; ask him for the reference (I don't believe he has one to show).

[GreyM340i]

I need to definitely inquire more about this feature. In April, I'll be taking an electrical class and I'll see if any engineers are around to ask. The car I saw was not driving fast but it would die in gear while moving. I'd rather not be spreading some nonsense and would like something written in stone about this, or at least an engineering explanation.

Yeah I would love to really know. The service director said it 100% has that as a safely measure however the Indy said he didn't think that was true. Not sure.

[Arith2]

This maybe true if car is not moving on the road, but I still would like to see any document about this feature.
With car is driving on the road, no way that BMW lawyer would allow the software to shut off the engine just because low oil pressure.

I need to definitely inquire more about this feature. In April, I'll be taking an electrical class and I'll see if any engineers are around to ask. The car I saw was not driving fast but it would die in gear while moving. I'd rather not be spreading some nonsense and would like something written in stone about this, or at least an engineering explanation.

[GreyM340i]

100%

That’s what I also thought however I’m getting conflicting answers to this.

[George Hill]

This maybe true if car is not moving on the road, but I still would like to see any document about this feature.
With car is driving on the road, no way that BMW lawyer would allow the software to shut off the engine just because low oil pressure.

100%

[sapote]

If the engine didn’t seize I wouldn’t worry about cylinders and with forged internals it doesn’t sound like you ran it dry or hot enough for anything to deform, so you’re probably good

Even if engine not seized, the cam bearings may have been gouged due to lack of oil. Easy to remove the cam bearing caps and check.