BMW Z4 Oil Pressure Alert, Urgent Help Needed

I had nearly identical symptoms with my 2013 BMW M3 last winter. The oil pressure warning light started flickering, followed by that distinctive metallic knocking sound, scary stuff. Turned out to be a failed oil pump, which was causing inconsistent oil pressure. At the garage, they found metal particles in the oil, indicating the pump had started to deteriorate. This is actually a serious issue that needs immediate attention since insufficient oil pressure can cause severe engine damage. In my case, they had to replace the oil pump assembly and flush the entire oil system to remove any metal debris. The repair took about two days, and I've had zero issues since then. Don't wait on this one, oil pressure problems can wreck your engine if left unchecked. Get it to a certified BMW mechanic who knows these engines well. Take care.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, that's super helpful! My symptoms sound exactly like what you described. I'm definitely going to get it checked out asap, you're right about not waiting around with oil pressure issues. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed anything else pop up?

Great to hear back from you! Yep, I actually just had all this sorted out recently. The whole repair job came to 755 €, definitely not cheap, but worth every penny to protect the engine. The mechanic replaced the faulty oil pump, and I'm happy to report the car's running like a charm now. Since getting it fixed, that annoying oil pressure warning light hasn't come on once, and that worrying mechanical noise is completely gone. It's been about three months, and I've had zero issues, the car feels as smooth as it did when I first got it. Just to put your mind at ease: once they fixed the oil pump, it was like having a completely different car. You're definitely doing the right thing getting it checked out quickly. Trust me, you'll feel the difference immediately after it's fixed. Let me know how it goes with yours!

I actually got my car back from the shop yesterday! You were spot on about everything. Had the same issue, faulty oil pump. The repair bill came to about 800, pretty close to what you paid. I went with a certified BMW specialist, and I'm really glad I did. They fixed it up in about two and a half days, and wow, what a difference! That scary knocking sound is completely gone, and the warning light hasn't flashed once. The engine's purring like it should now. Such a relief! The mechanic was really thorough and even showed me the old pump, it was pretty worn out. They also did that system flush you mentioned to get rid of any metal bits. Definitely feels like money well spent. Thanks again for pushing me to get it sorted quickly. You probably saved me from some serious engine damage!