water and oil lights keep on coming on

[lynnae]

Hi

I bought my 2002/3 e46 8 months ago. After 5 months running smoothly the car started to misfire. I had a coil replaced and all was well. 2 months later the oil and water light started coming on infrequently. The car was losing water and a small amount of oil - car also started with increasing difficulty. This carried on for a month, radiator losing more water as the days went by. Eventually the oil and water lights came on every second day and i had to add about 400 ml water every morning before going to work. I decided to take my car to a BMW specialist. The following work was carried out.

- O ring
- oil cooler seal
- faulty bleeding screw for coolant
- tappet cover gaskets replaced
- "various' solonoid seals
- remove vacuum pump to replace seal

the repair cost was R3200 and the cause for the hard starting was NOT found.

a day after collecting the car from the mechanics the oil and water lights came on again. The car started with greater difficulty each day. I took the car back back to the mechanics who ran some 'tests' and told me they could not find a problem, i can take the car home. I reasoned with them that there has to be a reason the car is still losing water and oil and not starting properly?

2 days later I had enough and took the car back again. Told the mechanics i would leave the car there until they found the problem.

The same afternoon I received a phone call informing me the cylinder head gasket had to be replaced.

R6500 later I picked up the car. It stared perfectly and I was relieved to finally have the problem fixed. I was told that the water and oil will settle and I might need to top it off in a few days time ( ???????? is this true )

A week later the oil light started coming on again. I checked the oil level and it was perfect. The light kept on coming on and off while i was driving. This really worried me and I repeatedly checked the oil level to see if every things OK. I decided to add more oil even though the level said it was fine, in the the hopes that the car only needed a small amount extra and that would keep the oil light off. The oil light is coming on and off less now but still every two days or so. The water light has also started coming on again. I have had to add water twice since collecting the car from the mechanic 3 weeks ago.

Can anyone give me any advice on this please? I am pretty sure this isn't normal and desperate to have this annoying problem fixed.

I have to admit I do not know alot about cars and not looking forward to taking the car back for the 4 th time.

thank you

Lynnae

 

[Sankekur]

There might be a problem with the oil level sensor. What does the oil look like, if there is a milkiness to it there might still be a head gasket problem. If not, can you see any obvious coolant leaks in the engine compartment at bleed screws, pipe connectors etc, the anti-freeze from the coolant should leave a white residue once dry, that makes it easier to spot possible coolant leaks.

I might be worthwhile to have diagnostics done on the car, this should help diagnose some problems.

Also it might also be worthwhile to have the oil-pump looked at.

Edit: What is the model and mileage of the car?

 

[whattingh]

i dont know much but so i know here goes.

I'm not to sure but so far i understand the oil light can mean low level or pressure. could be that the oil pressure sensor is going nuts or oil pump is not well.

Water:
Check your water reservoir tank for cracks
Check for signs on the radiator for slow leaks, normally leave dirty marks behind where it leaks and dried.
Check thermostat housing

 

[moranor@axis]

i would look for another place to take your car these guys are messing you around...

 

[DonovanPorter]

iam going to go with oil pressure , my cars oil light came on due to oil pressure being to low and had to replace the oil pump , what E46 have you got 3..i?

 

[Jandre]

When I started reading your post, I immediately thought - head gasket.

The oil warning light could be a sensor, or a faulty oil pump.

Agree with the others on the water issue. Expansion tanks are known to give hassles on the e46, and the thermostat housings crack. Ask Freerider, he had this problem not so long ago.

 

[lynnae]

Hi Sankekur,

its a 2002 model, 318i with 172700 km's on the clock.

the oil is not milky (thankfully!). I thought it must be a faulty sensor as the oil level is not dropping.

I will ask the mechanics to do diagnostics again. They assured me they ran a full diagnostics though when I picked up the car after the gasket repair.

could you perhaps recomend someone in Cape Town i can take the car to? After 3 visits to my current mechanic I dont know if these guys are the best to go to.

regards

Lynnae

 

[Sankekur]

I am sure someone in the capetown area can point you in the right direction for a good workshop, I am a bit far away

Just be sure that they also check the oil pump if there is nothing wrong with the sensor, as that is not something that you want to have fail on you.

Personally I would steer clear of the mechanic you are using at the moment, he just seem to be taking you for a ride.

 

[whattingh]

Where about in Cape?
My car is currently at Goch & Cooper for BIG repairs and no complaints. They in Brackenfell.
When my car broken down I was also suggested ZeeMax in paarden eiland but it is bit out of my way

 

[lynnae]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your help with this, I am taking the car to Goch & Cooper tomorrow. not going back to my old mechanics. Hopefully they will find the problem and finally fix it!

I will post on this thread and let you know what happened.

regards

Lynnae

 

[DonovanPorter]

good move :thumbsup:

 

[hennie]

might be the wire carrying the signal is stuffing around

 

[happynoodleboy]

hi all

I come begging advice.
I have a 2003 325i exclusive with 140000 km's on the clock.
Bought it second hand about 5 months ago.

I had the thermostat replaced about a month ago, and since then i have been having water loss -- or at least the car has....

the coolant system was bled to remove air.

every second or so day she takes about 100 - 250 mils, and the check coolant light keeps coming on.
funny thing is the water is dissappearing from the window washer resevoir as well--Light also comes on and the car does not overheat, according to the gauge.

the following was checked for :
Oil is clear, no bubbles or milkiness
let the car idle for an hour, no visible leaks
did a pressure test on the cooling system, no visible leaks.

Any ideas ?
i am about as mechanically inclined as a rock, so any and all advise is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Sankekur]

Are you sure there are no leaks? There are some plastic pipes that go into the engine that are way back and below the intake manifold, that have a tendency to go brittle with age.

 

[happynoodleboy]

Are you sure there are no leaks? There are some plastic pipes that go into the engine that are way back and below the intake manifold, that have a tendency to go brittle with age.

Hi there

Thanks a lot for the reply.

This was specifically checked for, as the guy who works on my vehicles mentioned that this tends to happen.
also wouldn't this show when doing a pressure test ?

This is giving me grey hairs, as for the past three days everything normal.

I think I bought a ghost with this car....

 

[hennie]

replace the cap