Time for me to revive this thread. I've had an '82 240D for 3 months. 2 months ago, I started noticing low oil pressure at hot-idle on my guage, first dropping to around 1.2 bar after a 30 minute freeway run, then just below 1. I wasn't too worried as my owners manual said "no danger if pressure stays above .5, but last week it dropped to under .5 after a 20 minute non-freeway drive. Guage still goes up to max at about 1500 - 2000 rpm. I've replaced the filter-stem 'O' rings (they were hard, but not missing) - no improvement. Are there pressure relief valves in the filter-case or oil-pump that I could check? Someone suggested pressure loss through the oil-cooler circuit. How would I check that? (And, as oil normally circulating in the cooler shouldn't reduce oil pressure, wouldn't a pressure loss require a major external leak?) I'm planning to drop the lower oil pan to check the pump screen. If the oil pump itself is suspect, is it removeable through the lower oil pan? In case I might eventually need to inspect the bearings, is it possible to block up the motor mounts 2 - 3 inches on this engine, for enough clearance to remove the upper oil pan, while the engine is in the car?

Happy Motoring, Mark

it is

reality
 

hey guys it seems like you have missed an important first clue to the engine problem.
for this engine to run one would have to pulg the hole or holes that first caused the engine to quit while driving. remember it shut off and he restarted it to get off the road.
remember the blow by test that shuts down the engine by holding the blowby tube closed? in my opinion this engine has enough blow by to equalize the intake fresh air with burnt gases and it chokes down from lac of oxygen.
so you had ought to test the compression for those holes that are passing all the gasses before blowing your budgett on other issues.
larry perkins