Engine oil light turns red - 02 MINI Cooper

[JameLee]

My 02 mini cooper had done a Free tesco insurance service in nationwide autocentre in Manchester on 25th Oct. They drained engine oil and refilled it, and replaced oil filter. That's only thing they changed. I also changed a new air filter on 29th Oct.

But started from 31th Oct, the engine oil light is on. The situation is, after about 10 minutes warning up, when the car is not moving, like waiting red light, or moving very slow, the engine oil light turns on. But when the car is moving, the light turns off.

I went back the nationwide autocentre to check, they changed oil filter and the problem is still there. I'm wondering if they changed the wrong type of engine oil, but they said it is not possible. They suggest me to change a new oil pressure switch, but they can not guaranty that exactly the problem is. They will still charge me for that

My car had no such problem before under I did this service.

I'm wondering anyone could give me a suggestion? Thank you so much in advance.

by the way, the light is red, and I also checked oil level. It is on the line of max.

[Silverado]

If it were my car I would change the filter for a proper BMW MINI one. Check that they put it on correctly and the right way round.

[mab01uk]

It is also critical to use the correct oil which is expensive but fully synthetic 0w-30 or 5w-30 (eg. Mobil1 or Castrol Edge). Unfortunately some garages/mechanics put in cheap oil of a the wrong grade........
4 Litre Castrol EDGE 0W-30 Oil | Engine Oils & Lubricants | NielsenCDG

[XRV848]

This problem has come up a number of times with the early Coopers and Ones. The low oil pressure light comes on after an oil filter change not carried out by your MINI dealer. It probably means that whoever did the oil change threw out the centre core of the filter. The early MINI Cooper's oil filter has a perforated centre core that is attached to the inside of the oil filter cap; this core is spring loaded and is intended to add pressure to the filter and seal it against the base. If it is thrown out with the old filter, the new filter won't seal properly and you'll register low oil pressure at idle. The core was never used on the MCS and was discontinued in other MINIs early in 2004.

[JameLee]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions. I've booked a mini dealer to check it tmr. I will let you guys know what the result could be.

[JameLee]

latest update:

MINI service just called me, they said the oil filter central housing is missing.

[JameLee]

Now, it's done. thanks guys.

[valnmike]

Every time I'd go to buy oil filters my 2003 Cooper, I all I ever found were ones with the plastic insert built in. Getting tired of specal ordering them or going to the dealer, I have found this....

OIL FILTER CANNISTER / COVER - R50/52/53 MINI COOP - MINI Cooper

Its is the 2004 revised filter canister used on the 7/2004 and late Coopers.