I have a 2002 mini cooper s. The oil pressure light began flickering and now stays on at low idle. Got an oil change. Still problem with the light. Car runs fine no noise. I'm 200 miles from my closest mini dealer. do I drive it to the dealer or have it towed. Help! Have read others that have had this problem before, but no one tells me how it ended!! any advice would be so helpful!

 

Is there oil in the car?

Is it 5w-30?

Did someone accidentally bump the connector to the pressure sensor on the filter housing? It is only a single wire, so it's not that hard to damage the connector/wires.

Are there any leaks around the filter housing? The filter cap is notorious for ripping the O-ring and leaking from the filter housing.

If the sensor is in working order and the oil level is proper without leaks, you may be in need of an oil pump or have any one of at least 5 different worn seals/bearings.

Let us know of anything you find out so we can better help you.

 

Yes. In fact I had the oil changed today just so the oil was fresh. The has been plenty of oil in the car throughout this problem. I did use 5w-30 (which I only found out by calling the dealer, nowhere in the manual does it tell you this)
No one had been under the hood doing anything prior to this happening. The light just suddenly started coming on. I am having the car towed to the dealership.
Thanks - I will shaer your thoughts and suggestions with the mechanic.

 

IF the oil was changed today....did you check the dipstick?
Next did the issue START AFTER AN OIL CHANGE?

I ask this because EARLY r53's used an extra plastic part that later r53 did not use due to a filter change,,,
Early r53 had a plastic stiffener that went into the middle of the filter....it often gets tossed in the trash (with the old filter)...the purpose of this part was to prevent the filter from collapsing at higher PSI...a change was done to ALL filters a few years later...so newer cars does not have the insert...but OLDER CARS MUST STILL REUSE THIS PART...newer gen1 cars simply do not have it...
Failing to have this part results in a flickering oil PSI light.....

 

I thought that was only on the Cooper. Here's a picture of what Zippy is referring to.

 

+1 on what Zippy said.
I would check the filter before sending the car to the dealer for an expensive tow and repair.