BMW X1 Emergency Mode: Oil Sensor Mystery Needs Solving

I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW X3 last month. The emergency mode and warning lights came on just like yours. Took it to the garage and it turned out the oil temp sensor's wiring harness was damaged, causing intermittent connection issues. The mechanic found some worn-out insulation where the cable runs near the engine block. The fix wasn't too complex, they replaced the wiring harness and connector. Not a major repair, but definitely something that needed immediate attention to prevent potential engine damage. The whole thing took about 2 hours to diagnose and fix. If your symptoms match mine (emergency mode + warning light), I'd say get it checked soon. These sensors are pretty important for proper engine management, and running with a faulty one isn't great for the engine. Make sure they do a proper diagnostic scan first, the error code will point them in the right direction.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Sounds very similar to what I'm dealing with. That's really helpful to know about the wiring harness, I'll definitely get that checked out. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since they fixed it? Just want to make sure I know what to expect.

Hey again! Yes, absolutely, everything's been running perfectly since I got it fixed last month. The whole repair ended up costing me 95 € to fix the faulty cable connection at the sensor. Pretty reasonable considering how worried I was at first! Was actually quite relieved it turned out to be just the wiring connection and not something more serious. The mechanic showed me where the issue was, the connector had gotten corroded over time which was causing those intermittent problems. Since they replaced it, the emergency mode hasn't come back once and the engine's running as smooth as ever. Trust me, it's worth getting it sorted quickly. And that error code you mentioned should help them pinpoint the issue just like it did with mine. From what you're describing, sounds exactly like what I went through. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out!

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update you all! Really glad I took your advice and got it checked out quickly. Turns out you were spot on, it was a wiring issue with the sensor, though in my case they found a small crack in the connector housing too. The diagnostic scan confirmed it right away. The repair was pretty straightforward, took them about an hour and a half. Bill came to a bit more than yours, 120 €, since they had to replace the entire connector assembly. But honestly, I'm just relieved it wasn't something more serious with the engine itself. Car's running perfectly now, no more emergency mode or warning lights. Such a weight off my shoulders! Thanks again for sharing your experience, helped me avoid getting overcharged and knew exactly what to expect. Should've changed mechanics ages ago, these guys were way more professional than my last one.