Oil Level Sensor E34 525i 1989

[Penngwyne]

This is the one that goes in from the top of the oil pan

Anyone have any experience with these?

Have s/c to GND on both pins (static and dynamic)

Can it be a stuck float?

Can it be taken apart cleaned out?

Or do I have to suck it up and replace it?

[myles]

I tried to service mine, but couldn't figure out how to open it. Ended up replacing it with a new one.

[south26]

Hi, I have a good one I can ship for 45 plus shipping.

Andy

[Penngwyne]

Hi, I have a good one I can ship for 45 plus shipping.

Andy

Depends where you are?

[south26]

Hi, I sent a message, but I am in Dayton, OH.

Andy

[CloudNine]

Are you getting a message about the oil level sensor? Maybe it is your alternator, are you sure you are getting sufficient voltage? I got the oil level sensor message when my alternator became disconnected.

[Penngwyne]

Getting oil level sensor warning on instrument panel
Also tested with multimeter as per Bentley manual and it doesn't test the way it should
Also all the lights work and the battery is charging so guess the alternator is connected

[shogun]

check for broken wires in the line from oil level sensor. On my 750 the wire loom goes up in front of the engine and then thru the same pipe as the main alternator cable goes next to the B+pole. That plug or the wire sometimes breaks, In my DIY info about replacement of the alternator wire I also have a pic of that plug , I bought it from Bosch as BMW does not have it as sinle item, part number of Bosch is shown and the wire colours
FIXES - LAD (http://twrite.org/shogunnew/fixes/electricalpower.html)
same plug goes under the engine into the plug from oil level sensor, there my one was broken.

[Penngwyne]

On my 525i the oil pressure switch comes from underneath on the RHS of the oil pan, around the front of the engine to plug in under the intake manifold.
The oil level sensor is in the top of the oil pan on the LHS and has a 3 pin socket which attaches to the loom on the LHS
Just a point, be careful with silicon spray around electrical contacts. There is always the possibility of the silicon stopping current from flowing if there is any spark involved.
The silicon can actually form a fine glassy coating on electrical contacts which can't easily be cleaned off.
Silicon also creeps around and gets into places you don't want it to.

[6670charger]

So, where does the electrical plug in on the switches for the 95 cars? My 92 had a wire that came out and went up the side of the oil pan inside of a metal arm and connected via a Bosch connector about half way up the pan. The switch in my 95 is located in the same spot on the pan, but, doesn't seem to have a wire coming out of it, and I don't see a plug anywhere near the engine for it to plug into. My oil level light constantly shows that I have 1 quart of oil with "service due" every time I start the car. I had hoped to put the switch from the 92 into the 95 because the 92 switch works just fine, but it doesn't look like there's any place to plug it in.

[Bill R.]

Unless its different on the euro cars you don't have a oil level light on your car. IF your talking about the row of green leds and yellow and red then thats the service due indicator. The more greens lit the longer time until the next service is due. Some of the cheaper models of e34, e36, etc didn't come with a oil level sensor in the bottom of the pan, they just have a block off plate, hence no wires for one.

[6670charger]

That's the one I mean. The sensor is located in the bottom of the pan. My 92 has a wire that comes up the side of the pan and connects to the harness about halfway up the pan. My 95 doesn't have a wire on the exterior of the engine like the 92 does, and no apparent connector in the engine bay wiring harness. I was just wondering how that part connects to the electronics. Seems unlikely that the wiring would be inside the pan amidst all the oil.

[shogun]

which engine do you have? Such info is necessary.
But anyway, on all E32 and probably also on E34 the plug comes up on driver side left hand drive and ends here next to the battery plus post

http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/overviewLeftBank.jpg
the plug in the hand http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/removingConnector.jpg
goes into the socket left of the battery terminal
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/LiftingConnectorOverview.jpg

[6670charger]

which engine do you have? Such info is necessary.
But anyway, on all E32 and probably also on E34 the plug comes up on driver side left hand drive and ends here next to the battery plus post

http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/overviewLeftBank.jpg
the plug in the hand http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/removingConnector.jpg
goes into the socket left of the battery terminal
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/spark_plug/LiftingConnectorOverview.jpg

I have the 2.0L M50 engine. I've looked under the oil pan on my 95 and unlike my 92 which is a 2.5L M50, the 95 sender doesn't have a wire coming up along side the pan or anywhere else that I can see. It seems to be working, although it always shows a green and yellow bar and that the car requires service, even after an oil change. It just never reads the correct oil level. I assume it's plugged in somewhere but just doesn't work right. I'd put the 92 sender in to replace it because I know it works, but, the 95 car doesn't appear to have a connector to plug it into. I assume that if the sender in the car was disconnected completely, there would either be no reading at all in the dash display, or I'd get some sort of message indicating that the sender isn't working right. Therefore, my assumption (probably incorrect) is that the 95 sender plugs in elsewhere. I just don't know where.

[shogun]

Look in the area next to the B+ pole, on my E32 it is a 3 pin black plug, similar to this one which is for the aux water pump
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/watervalves/aux_waterpump_con.jpg