BMW i8 Oil Pressure Warning & Engine Noise, Need Help!

Hey there! I had some experience with a similar issue on my 2012 BMW i3 (also owned a 330e before). I'd say I have low experience with car repairs, mostly basic maintenance stuff. When I had that oil pressure warning, I initially freaked out. The noise was super concerning, right? Turned out to be a defective oil pump in my case. My trusted mechanic spotted it pretty quickly, though the diagnosis process was thorough to rule out other issues. The fix wasn't cheap, cost me 755 Euro, but it solved the problem completely. Just to help you better, could you share: Current mileage? How long has the warning been showing up? What kind of noise exactly (knocking, ticking)? These details would help me understand if you're dealing with the same issue I had. Don't drive it much until you get it checked out, low oil pressure can seriously damage your engine.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My i8 has 132628 KM on the clock, and I've had the warning light coming on intermittently for about a week now. The noise is definitely more of a ticking sound, especially noticeable when the engine is warm. It's been serviced regularly and had its last maintenance just 2 months ago. The hybrid system seems to be working fine, it's just the combustion engine part that's acting up. I'll get it checked for the oil pump, sounds like it could be the same issue. I've been limiting my drives to essential trips only until I can get it properly diagnosed.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your i8. this really does sound similar to what I experienced. With that mileage and the ticking noise, I'm even more convinced it's the oil pump like what happened with mine. The timing of your issue is interesting, just 2 months after maintenance. When my pump started failing, it was also pretty sudden, even though everything was fine at the previous service. These things can sometimes go without warning. I remember my ticking noise also got worse when the engine was warm, exactly like yours. Quick tip from my experience, when you take it in, ask them to check the oil pressure sensor too. My mechanic initially thought it might just be the sensor, but nope, full pump replacement was needed. Since you mentioned you're only doing essential trips (smart move, by the way, wish I'd been that careful), try to avoid high RPMs if possible. I learned that lesson the hard way and probably caused some extra wear before I got mine fixed. Keep us posted on what your mechanic finds. Really curious to know if it turns out to be the same issue. These hybrid BMWs are awesome cars, but when these things pop up, it's good to get them sorted quickly.

Really appreciate your detailed response and advice! That's super helpful about checking the oil pressure sensor too, I'll definitely mention that when I take it in. It's actually comforting to hear someone else had such a similar experience, especially with that same ticking noise when warm. You're right about these hybrid BMWs, they're amazing when everything's working properly. I've already called my mechanic and booked it in for tomorrow morning. I'm following your advice about keeping the RPMs low on my way there. Better safe than sorry, right? The last thing I want is to cause any additional engine damage. I'll definitely post an update once I get the diagnosis. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's really helped me understand what I might be dealing with!