bmwe21.net forums

Not sure how many M10's we've got on the board? Most of you seem to swap out for something bigger!

Anyway, cold starts are concerning me a little (winter woes - again!). It's taking 5-10 seconds after starting for the oil pressure light to go out. If the engines warm, it goes out in a second or so. The problem seems to be significantly worse if I park up on a kerb (i.e. left hand side of the car higher than the right) and then start, but I assume this is due to the oil sloshing to one side of the pan making the oil pumps job a bit more difficult. There's plenty of oil in her (20w50 Castrol Semi Synth iirc) and a genuine BMW oil filter (has the no return valve I believe).

Is this normal or am I being paranoid?

I've got an M10 in the e12, but it's never had that problem. Never been running anywhere with temps below freezing, but down to that point, it's always been OK. Doesn't sound paranoid to me.

Ok, thanks. How long would your oil pressure light stay on after turning the key?

I can't say it stays on at all. Goes off as soon as engine fires.

The light in the e21 stays on until you rev the engine, but so do some other lights. I think that's an alternator issue though.

I'd check your oil pump.