Low Oil/ Loud Engine

[kjandir]

Hey everyone, my BMW 318i has a oil pressure light on at low rpms. I am not sure if the sensor is messed up or if it actually has low oil pressure. The dipstick also shows a fair amount of oil. Where can I attach a oil pressure gauge to check if it actually has low oil pressure? And what should the pressure be? Also where is the oil pressure sensor located? BTW the car does leak oil. Also the car is very loud, it sounds like a diesel engine. I have already ruled out a faulty chain/tensioner. Could it be a faulty oil pump?

[DesktopDave]

E30 or E36?

If it's an E30, I'd drain the oil, drop the lower oil pan and check the upper oil pan bolts. They have a habit of loosening up. A little red loctite will fix that right up. Check that the gasket hasn't slipped out from between the block and upper pan.

Oil pressure sensor is a small round threaded fitting mounted to the side of your oil filter housing. It's just a pressure sensor.

[kjandir]

DesktopDave- It's an E30. Thanks for the help, I will drop the pan and look to see if the upper pan bolts are loose. Do you know where I can attach the mechanical oil pressure gauge? It is just the cheap auto store ones you can attach to any engine and get a reading.