Oil pres sender

[steve_wicks]

Mutti developed a nasty oil leak from the oil pres sender unit so I whipped it out and went to my local 'general' spares outlet. I explained that I think it comes from a Beetle/Combi (van) but the one he came back with had a much narrower thread and nothing else was a match. At least I discovered it was a metric fine thread!
Of I went to a big Autozone and they found a march (Colt 2.8 diesel) so I fitted it and upon starting it just squirted oil out the plastic bit and not surprisingly they wouldn't take it back as it hadn't been used in the correct vehicle. Someone told me these BMWs run at very high pressure .... is this true.
Temporary fix was to buy a bolt. Now no oil pres warning light, but what the hell. I want to fit a guage anyways.

[Bob_Roller]

I did a bit of research of BMW airhead oil pressures about a month ago .

From what info I got from other riders, 100 psi on a 'cold' start up, and 80 psi at highway speeds and around 30-40 psi at idle with the engine up to operating temperature .

In abnormally cold weather, pressures could reach the 150-160 psi range .

Explains the occasional crushed oil filter threads you see occasionally .

The thread size for the oil pressure switch, is M12x1.5 .

[Bengt_Phorqs]

If you have a NAPA store handy try a p/n OP6065SB.  That is a straight thread oil pressure switch.

Also, on the Adventure Rider Forum, check out Bikes\ Old's Cool \ Airhead parts acquisition- the dark secrets revealed.  Lots of alternative options there, and while not R65 specific may be of some help.  And as usual, Your Mileage May Vary....

Oops, I forget you're in S. Africa and not likely to have a NAPA in country.  No matter, go to their website and look up that part.  It's for a VW bus I believe and may well tell you the cross indexed part for your local supplier.