Home › Fault codes › 1C4002 (oil level too low)
BMW 1C4002: engine oil level too low
The electronic oil level sensor reads low. Check the oil before anything else; on some N63TU cars a cluster software error hid the warning.
Last updated
Codes on this page
| Code | Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1C4002 | Engine oil level: too low | SI B11 01 18 (PDF) |
P-codes are the generic OBD-II codes any reader shows. Six-character and four-character hex codes are BMW's own, read with a BMW-capable scanner; the wording is BMW's, from the source shown.
What it means
BMWs with electronic oil level measurement store 1C4002 when the level is below minimum. BMW bulletins describe the "Drivetrain malfunction" warning with this code on N63TU cars, where the cluster failed to show the "Low oil level" message.
Can I keep driving?
Top up first. Check the level in iDrive (or the dipstick if fitted) and top up with approved oil. Don't drive far with a genuinely low level. A red oil pressure warning means stop.
Usual causes on BMWs
| Cause | Cars most affected | What you notice | Evidence | Repair prices (national average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low oil from consumption or leaks | N63 V8 above all; any engine | See the oil level warning page. | SI B01 21 18 (PDF) | N63 valve stem seals (oil burning / blue smoke) Indie $6,290–$8,208 Dealer $16,673–$21,989 |
| Instrument cluster software (N63TU) | F01, F02, F06, F07, F12, F13 with N63TU built 7/2012–6/2013 | Drivetrain warning with 1C4002 but no low-oil message. BMW reprograms and codes the car and changes the oil and filter. | SI B11 01 18 (PDF) SI B62 20 17 (PDF) | — |
A bulletin isn't a recall and doesn't mean your car has the problem; open it for the exact models and build dates. Estimates are national averages built from BMW warranty labor time, regional shop rates and parts prices; open a repair for your ZIP. "Owners paid" is the middle half of sourced prices, shown where we have at least 3.
What to do
- Check and top up the oil.
- If the level is fine, ask about a software update.
Warnings it can bring up
Sources
Bulletins are cited in the tables above. Explanations are ours; where a source is an owner report rather than BMW, it is labelled as one.