BMW 5-Series Oil Warning Lights: Diagnosis Help Needed

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and dealt with something very similar on my 2006 BMW 3 series diesel (had a couple of BMWs, including a 7 series). When those warning lights popped up on mine, it turned out I had gone way past the recommended oil change interval. The workshop found contaminated oil was causing the pressure issues. Got it fixed with an oil change, new filter, and they did a system flush to clear any gunk. Cost me around 165 Euro and solved both warning lights. Could you tell me your current mileage and when was your last oil change? That would help figure out if you're dealing with the same issue. The symptoms you're describing are pretty typical for oil-related problems in these engines. Better get it checked soon to avoid any serious damage.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm at 178162 KM and had my last service about 8 months ago. What you're describing sounds spot on with what I'm experiencing. Really hoping it's just an oil issue like yours was. Did you notice any unusual engine noise or rough idling before getting it fixed? Just trying to compare symptoms before I take it to the shop.

Oh yeah, glad you asked about the engine noise! With my 3 series, I definitely noticed some ticking sounds, especially when starting up cold. The idle was a bit rougher than usual too, kind of had this subtle vibration that wasn't there before. From what you're saying about your mileage and service timing, it sounds really similar to what I went through. Eight months isn't that long ago for a service, but these BMWs can be pretty sensitive to oil quality. Sometimes they can get contaminated faster than you'd expect, especially if you do a lot of short trips where the engine doesn't get fully warm. Just to add to my previous experience, after I got mine fixed, I started changing the oil a bit more frequently than recommended, like every 6 months instead of waiting for the service indicator. Haven't had any warning lights since then. The mechanic told me these engines really don't like dirty oil, and it's way cheaper to do regular oil changes than risk engine damage. If you're hearing similar noises to what I described, I'd say get it checked out soon. The fix was pretty straightforward in my case, and it's better to deal with it early than wait until it becomes a bigger problem.

Thanks so much for the detailed info! Actually, now that you mention it, I have noticed that ticking sound on cold starts too. Come to think of it, I do mostly short commutes, so what you're saying about the oil contamination makes total sense. I'll definitely book it in at the shop tomorrow. Really appreciate the tip about more frequent oil changes too, sounds like that could save me from dealing with this again. Better to spend a bit more on maintenance than risk bigger issues down the line. Honestly, you've made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. Fingers crossed it's just a straightforward fix like yours was. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!