Oil Service light?
 

You know on the E36 (well, the 1996 model anyways) there's a series of lights in the dash for maintenance? It's like 5 greens, 1 yellow and one red? Well, mine's yellow and it says, "Oil Service" or something like that.

Does this mean the car's telling me I need an oil change? Or is "Oil Service" something more complex like an ACTUAL SERVICE that's required? I just had an oil change like 1,000 miles ago...

Also, if it's an ACTUAL SERVICE that needs to be done, can anyone tell me what it includes? Thanks!

Weird....

Help?

AFAIK it means an oil change at least
AFAIK = as far as I know

AFAIK? Am I missing something...

And I called a BMW dealership and they said they cant tell unless they see it first... WTF?!?!?!?!?!

An oil service indication means exactly that. You have not done enough km's in a year for it to need a service, but it still requires and annual oil (and generally Brake) fluid change.

It doesn't require and Inspection I or II

have an oil change asap, using quality oil (i'm using castrol which bmw recommends) and an original filter. Remember to reset the meter again. My shop takes a look at my belts and checks out all other electricals and fluids and does remind me to bring her in for the next repair.

My 2 cents to you is not to use Castrol. I used to be a castrol fan and then switched because it was breaking down so quickly(specially because of the way I drive, WIDE OPEN:drive2 ). BMW and other mechanics that I know here in Germany recommended for my E30 Mobil-1 10W40 synthetic and it doesn't become drinking water by the time my oil change is due around every 4 mos or 3000 miles. On the light you can reset that yourself if you want. I reset mine every time I do the oil change and when I tune it up.

You need to buy a code reader and reset tool. Not only will it reset the check engine light and read error codes, it resets oil service indicators lights and inspection lights. Get a Bently Manual while you are at it. It sounds like someone did not reset the lights at your last oil change, if it was only 1,000 miles ago - did you do your own oil change? (or do you only drive 1000 miles a year?)

This is a 11 year old car. You can't be calling the dealer every time a dashboard light goes off. Get the code reader and manual, and find a good independent BMW mechanic. Dealers are for fixing fiddly warranty repairs on new cars. The Bently manual will tell you what preventative maintenance you need to do on these cars (brake flushes, radiator flushes, etc.) as part of the "Inspection I" and "Inspection II" protocols.

BMW Brand Motor oil from the dealer is Castrol Synthetic, and it is what BMW recommends (newer BMWs have this written right on the oil cap, or at least my E53 does). Any good quality synthetic (Castrol, Mobil-1, Volll Synthase) should work well in these cars. I change annually, about every 5-7K miles with Voll Synthase 5W40. Supposedly, you can go as long as 15,000 miles on a good synthetic, but I plan on keeping my cars.

Good Luck.

ground i think pin 17 for exactly 3 seconds, and exactly 11 seconds with the key on and engine off. this should reset all the lights, and i see the same lights whenever i wait too long before an oil change. when you had yours changed did you have the lights reset?

You're close, it's pin 7 and 18 or seven to ground for 3-6 seconds to get all 5 green and anything past that resets your inspection lights that are there too. I do recommend that the cable you use be fused(a fuse between both ends) and have a second hand there. This link (http://www.noren.com/bmw/e30reset.htm) gives you detailed instructions and has helped me maintain my changes with no problems instead of having to find someone here with the tool to charge me to set the lights again.

Where can I get Voll Synthase? Is is available in the US?

yea i dont remember the pin number i just know where it is when i go to do it. that and i've never had an service light problems after resetting the meter. btw it's hardly a 2 person job

215bimmer, my car looks similar to yours cept the wheels and a rear spoiler

I just did my own oil changes and took the light out! It worked great!!!

The lights just go off of milage. In the 1996, I don't think there is a viscosity sensor for the oil.

I'm not buying anything for it.. I'm trying to sell this POS money pit anyways, but in the meatime, the beeping is quite annoying.

I go to Valvoline Instant Oil and they dont have a reset tool (I called them and confirmed that) so that's probably all it is.

Thanks to all who replied.