Service Engine Soon

[Propstopped]

New to BMW's and a little paranoid.

2001 525i "Service Engine Soon" Light just came on,

I have read the Service Engine Soon description in the Owners Manual and plan to take the vehicle in....to get checked.

What is your experience with this situation?

Thanks !!!

[4-Door Flunky]

The Service Engine Soon light comes on whenever the dealer needs to pay some more money to keep his kids in college. He pushes a button in the dealership and a satellite sends a message to your car.
As long as you've kept up on your maintenance, and have oil and water at the proper levels, just ignore it.
Flunky

[jeffreyb4me]

I'm afraid I STRONGLY dissagree with "4-Door Flunky" on this one ! ! !

The term "Service Engine Soon" has replaced "CHECK ENGINE" for better or for worse in nomenclature terms.

It is however an IMPORTANT warning ! ! The problem and fix maybe as simple and harmless as shutting your engine off during refueling. It may also be more serious and any condition that introduces exessive HC's or lack of O2 into the Catalytic Converter could do irreparable damage. These Cat. Conv's. ARE NOT CHEAP! ! in themselves let alone of repairing the problem that caused it's failure.

There's no 'satelite' link for BMW's but the equipment is still expensive.

Many quality Independent BMW Shops have them and will likely save you money over the Dealer's pricing AND the service you'll get may be more personal.

Best to you and stay in touch...............................

[Antiburn]

THe service engine light comes on to tell you taht you need to have eather a oil serivce, inspection 1 or 2 have done to your car. It comes on because it ECM reads how many mines you have put on your car since the last time the light has come one (15000 miles). When this light comes on it means you have to get an oil serice becasue the lubracating properties or the oil no longer do what they once did. Also your oil filter is dirty so your oil isnt getting cleaned like it should. If your car ran out of warenty then expect to pay 400$ or so for oil service to inspection 1 and 700-900 for inspection 2.

[jeffreyb4me]

Just a clarification "antiburn", I think you've got the S.I. system in mine here, the SERVICE ENGINE SOON indicated is another important function. IT'S NOT A "SERVICE REMINDER" LAMP.

[Antiburn]

oh... oops.

[jeffreyb4me]

No problem man, keep on postin'.............jeff b.

[Propstopped]

Thanks for the feedback, heres the scoop;

2001 525i, 61,000 miles. Had a prebuy inspection done buy the local BMW dealer. Everything checked out fine=good car. 3 days later the service engine soon light came on while driving.

Freaking out, I called the BMW dearler first thing in the morning. He said to check the gas cap...(wife fueled it once and didnt turn it all the way. I probably would have done the same, not wanting to hurt anything). I does say to 'tighten' to the click to prevent service light from coming on.

Then he said to drive it for 3-5 days and see if it goes out...it did less than a day later. He said during the Prebuy Inspection that NO faults were detected at the time.


Fingers still crossed.

[jeffreyb4me]

Good news then...........the fault will stay stored but as long as the lamp stays off, your fine.
SHUT the engine OFF when fueling ! ! !
best to you & stay in touch.

[peterllo]

Prostopped's experience is probably one of the most common SES complaints there is.

As a result of the implementation of OBDII changes to all vehicles one of the improvements to the systems has been the installation of a pressure sensor in the fule tank itself. When the operator does not fully secure the fuel cap (in the dealerships I worked at we recomended three clicks) they allow fuel vapors to vent into the atmosphere, creating a lower tank pressure.

Your computer picks that signal up, turns on the light, and you should have the car checked. However if you check the vehicle, fluid levels, leaks, running condition, you likely will not cause any damage to the engine or any other systems. After tighteneing the fuel cap the system will then detect the fault no longer exists and after a pre-determined number of on/off cycles reset the light.

That being said if your SES and check engine lights come on together, its' best to park the car and call into the dealer. Continued opertation at that point may cause damage. As Jeff B. mentions the computer will store the data which at a future datre your tech can check. Hope this clears it all up!

[xragexpl]

just don't go to the dealer cuz they gonna hold you'r car for few days