"Service Engine Soon"

[demosa]

My 2004 325xi has this light on since yesterday ...
I now this is emmissions-related and I've made an appointment to have it
checked but with 4000miles on the car isn't it too early to have to make my
first trip to the dealer ?

Anybody else had this problem ?
What should I expect as far as waiting time at the dealership ?
(Of course I expect the cost to be $0, in fact I'm considering asking them
to pay me for my time ...)

Thanks,
Demos

[car_for_mom]

Has your car also been shaking and experiencing a loss of power? Does it feel like it's not quite firing on all cylinders?

Your build date would seem to indicate that you shouldn't have the dreaded Bad Cylinder Coil, but you never know.

As to how long you can expect to wait at the dealership, here's the classic answer: It depends. If you have an appointment, and it's fairly early, your car should get into the service bay fairly quickly. However, the technicians will have to run several diagnostics, and that will take time.

If you're concerned about the wait time, many dealers offer courtesy rides to home or work within a certain distance, or Loaner Cars (if you purchased your car from that dealership and have requested a loaner for the day of your appointment) - check if your dealer offers either or both of these services.

My experience at Crevier BMW of Santa Ana, CA has been anywhere from 5 minutes (trim on back door) to several days (brake pads, CV joints and belt replacements). Even though it meant waiting longer for an appointment, I always requested a Loaner Car.

Take care, and best wishes.

[nexadan]

My dealer told me that if the car is not running rough (or has not had a brief episode of running rough) then 90% of the time this is most often due to a loose gas cap. Tighten it up and the light will take about a week to clear.... so I'm told.

[UCrewX5]

My dealer told me that if the car is not running rough (or has not had a brief episode of running rough) then 90% of the time this is most often due to a loose gas cap. Tighten it up and the light will take about a week to clear.... so I'm told.
That's what triggered mine once. The tether cord got sandwiched between the cap and the nozzle, which caused this.

[demosa]

Thanks for the replies ...

I did a lot of reading since I submitted my original post and I'm now aware
of the "misfire" problem etc.

My car drives exactly as it used before this light came on (or I can't tell the
difference). However, yesterday while I was stopped at a red light
I felt a very short "bump" and the engine sound changed very slightly.
A couple of seconds later it came back to the normal consistent idle.
I have no idea what this was ... ???

I don't think this has to do with the gas cap because it didn't happen
after I filled up. It actually happened at about 1/4 gas indication
after I had driven the car for about 300miles after my last stop at a gas
station.

Is it possible to "clear" the "service engine soon" indicator and see if
it comes on again ? I'd hate to have anybody mess with the car if this
was just a glitch in the OBD module ... ???

Thanks,
Demos

[AG]

Is it possible to "clear" the "service engine soon" indicator and see if
it comes on again ? I'd hate to have anybody mess with the car if this
was just a glitch in the OBD module ... ???



As far as I know, if the fault goes away, the light should clear itself after a certain number of cycles. Also, I think someone made a post recently that 2004+ cars have a separate indicator for a loose gas cap condition? :dunno:

[j2]

Thanks for the replies ...
I don't think this has to do with the gas cap because it didn't happen
after I filled up. It actually happened at about 1/4 gas indication
after I had driven the car for about 300miles after my last stop at a gas
station.


The exact same thing happened with my car recently under the same circumstances. SES light came on with aprox 1/4 tank of fuel left and about 300 miles on the trip.

It ran perfectly normal, and the light was off 48 hours later. I'm not going to worry about. :dunno:

[operknockity]

As far as I know, if the fault goes away, the light should clear itself after a certain number of cycles. Also, I think someone made a post recently that 2004+ cars have a separate indicator for a loose gas cap condition? :dunno: After my little "ooops" with the oil filler cap, the fault light went out somwhere around the 5th or 6th restart after I put the cap back on.

[Hutchman]

My brake pad light did not reset until I disconnected the battery. Lucky for me(or the dealer) by battery died the next week.

[cruztopless]

My light came on but my car had been shuddering when trying to accelerate, especially as it travelled between 2.5k & 3k rpm. Before the light came on I figured it was bad gas. One day it got pretty bad and that's when the light came on. The dealer scheduled me for an appt a week later after telling me that it was probably the gas cap. 5 days later the light turned off and I cancelled the appt my 2nd inspection was getting close but the symptoms still exist. I don't suspect bad gasoline anymore since I've filled it up a few times from a variety of stations. I'm going to guess an ignition coils but I'll find out w/in a couple of weeks.

:dunno:

[demosa]

Just came back from the dealer.
The SES light came one because of a "faulty air temp" sensor ...
This caused the engine to breathe in less air that it needed (according to the service manager).
This didn't translate into a vibration or loss of performance that I could feel. But the service manager said that it actually runs much better now ... and I should notice a bit better gas mileage and improved performance at high rpm's ...

So I guess I'll have to take the long way home tonight ... ;)

[SealBeemer]

I just had the same experience with my 03 sport wagon with 13K miles. SES light was on and off intermittently for a few weeks. Car started and idled rough when cold then ran all right. After a while it ran rough to the point I thought it would stall at a stop light.

Long Beach BMW were very good, they replaced all six cylinder coils at no cost to me. Now it's back to running like a real beemer!

The only downer was that I had to pay for a rental car. I intend to rag on BMW when I get a follow-up call from them. I understand that dealers pay for the loaners, and so only provide them to people who bought cars there (I didn't). I think BMW should cover the cost of the loaner during the warranty period.

[Ridgeway]

My 2004 325xi has this light on since yesterday ...
I now this is emmissions-related and I've made an appointment to have it
checked but with 4000miles on the car isn't it too early to have to make my
first trip to the dealer ?

Anybody else had this problem ?
What should I expect as far as waiting time at the dealership ?
(Of course I expect the cost to be $0, in fact I'm considering asking them
to pay me for my time ...)

Thanks,
Demos
same light came on my z4 after ~4k miles
problem was the o2 sensor went bad...

Also, I think someone made a post recently that 2004+ cars have a separate indicator for a loose gas cap condition?

yup there is now a light for that 2...

[doeboy]

Ok... I guess I'll add my SES light experience too...

a few days ago, SES light went on... few days later, off....
water temp needle took longer to get to center than normal, and if it was cool enough, it would come back down from center ever so slightly...

took it to the dealer.... bad thermostat... it was stuck open. They replaced the thermostat today.... all is good so far...

oh... car is ~2 years old and has about 28800 miles on the clock.

[CWolfey]

Ohh just great, started my car for first time in a week, idles rough, shakes bad at 2k
definitely misfiring.

Great Car!

[elmalloc]

heh...when we read these types of threads, it makes us feel like BMW quality control isn't great, only the people with problems post, BMW knows about he probems and doesn't care, or a combination of it all.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

heh...when we read these types of threads, it makes us feel like BMW quality control isn't great, only the people with problems post, BMW knows about he probems and doesn't care, or a combination of it all.

Sensors do fail. That's the bottomline. No single batch of sensors is fail proof regardless of how tight the quality control is. Throw them 6-sigma if need be. Sensors still fail. Once in a while, some of us experience a bad sensor. Getting a CEL is not necessary a bad thing. It just shows that the fault detection system works.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Is it possible to "clear" the "service engine soon" indicator and see if
it comes on again ? I'd hate to have anybody mess with the car if this
was just a glitch in the OBD module ... ???


I'd like to offer a little advice with respect to this...

1. Clearing the CEL does not solve anything if you didn't resolve the problem in the first. Which is why investing $90 in a OBD 2 reader is recommended. Not promoting self-repair, but least oyu get an idea why the CEL is on. Also, clearing it does not mean the code is gone forever. Even if the CEL does not return, GT1 can still detect the codes.

2. There is no OBD module ( or black box) that feeds the fault codes and light up the CEL per se. Meaning if you tear down your car, you won't find a black box labeled OBD box. The OBD is a standardized communication that all automobile manufacturers have to conform in order to be diagnosed by an external test equipment on emissions related data. Chances of a OBD glitch is slim to none, unless one of the bus wires is shorted or something, in which case tons of information on your cluster won't work as well.

[FalconGuy]

Being an aviation tech I can relate that sensors fail. What is uncommon is for a MFG to see sensors failing and do nothing for years. The ignition coil service bulletin was out for a long time, over a year. During this time BMW was still installing known bad coils on the assembly line.

They replace about 18 window regulators a month at my dealership, have been for about a decade, that's just wrong. They are installing bad stuff they know is bad, that's what I have a problem with.

I also had my thermostat fail at 18K, my SA told me it was on the top 20 fail item list for my year (2003) That is just insane. There is nothing to explain this. Our BMW sensors aren't doing anything that a Infinity/Lexus/Caddy etc sensor aren't doing. Were talking abut a product that was basically perfected 75 years ago.

Poor quality control and failure to change when a known bad issue pops up shouldn't be just dismissed as normal. its mind boggling to me that in 2004 BMW cant build a car as reliable as a KIA.

[elmalloc]

This is what i'm talking about.
I test drove a 2001 and the thermostat was dead before I even test drove it. The car turned all of it's service lights on at the stop light (check engine, check oil, check battery, etc) and the car wouldn't drive until I restarted it.

the window regular also needed work, the windows would only half the time respond.

I believe the car also didn't have its radiator recall done, the radiator fan was making a lot of noise whne the car was idle and it seemed to be struggling to keep moving.

I suppose when it comse down to stuff like this, even a new car doesn't help in keeping trouble away - I think I am going to go used and press my luck with a warranty.

We read so much about this, we almost feel liek BMW knows and doesn't care - the car still sells - stupid people like me still buy it.

-ELmO

[aweisman]

Is there something in the air? :confused: My SES light came on a few days ago with rough accelleration & a few stalls at the stop light. Notice better response with steptronic at 3-4th gear. Called Century West for appt....have to wait till 2/16. :mad: Then called Bev Hills....would have to wait till 2/22! :mad: Never seen such a line of cars for service....last years only had to wait a day or so.....is their an epidemic of BMW illness? :yikes: So I'm driving carefully & staying out of the canyon roads (don't want a break down is the out back).

last service was idle valve replacement: $50. ah, life support with a deductible!

[CWolfey]

We all know that the problems we hear about on the forums will eventually happen to us, it was like I was just waiting for one of my coils to fail.

Now why cant BMW just address and fix all the problems they know about when you bring your car in for service?? "Ohh while we changed your oil we replaced the 6 coils in your car because they are prone to go and wouldnt want you to have to make a trip back to the dealer"

I have an appt on Weds 2/9 with a loaner and of course they said on the phone it is common for the coils to go.

To me this is crazy, I have had others cars my whole life(32yrs) I waited till I could afford a BMW to buy any New car, My biggest problem is the Paint chipping! BUt my car has 4888 miles on it from 4/03 almost 2 years old already, and the coil is bad, come on.

Ohh dont get me wrong the car drives amazing and yeah its the ultimate driving machine,
but it would be nice to pay 50k+ for a car that did get paint chips every time I went around the block, have rattles and now coil problems, I just hate going to the dealer is all, I dont have the time, and I hate leaving my car anywhere.
I just hope that this is the last of any problems for a while.

[mwette]

I hit SES on first few K miles. They reported that they thought it was a loose connector to an engine sensor.
This happened when it was very wet outside. I experience a brief SES light last Nov also -- same conditions.

[newm5]

Is there something in the air? :confused: My SES light came on a few days ago with rough accelleration & a few stalls at the stop light. Notice better response with steptronic at 3-4th gear. Called Century West for appt....have to wait till 2/16. :mad: Then called Bev Hills....would have to wait till 2/22! :mad: Never seen such a line of cars for service....last years only had to wait a day or so.....is their an epidemic of BMW illness? :yikes: So I'm driving carefully & staying out of the canyon roads (don't want a break down is the out back).

last service was idle valve replacement: $50. ah, life support with a deductible!

i have been having the same symptom in my 2000 328i for the last month or so. the SES light comes on and off, i can't trace the pattern, it could be happening in the morning, afternoon, etc.

lately, it's been having rough acceleration (feels like driving my old 1992 318i) and engine would stall at the stop light. it seems like a sensor that's failing intermittently.

This morning the engine stalled on me at the traffic light.

so, I pulled out the key from the ignition, put it back and restarted the car, and it was fine for the rest of the day. go figure!

let me know what you find out from your dealer. my car is out of warranty, so i want to try to fix this problem myself before spending all my money on eastbay BMW.

i have done some research on this and e46fanatics forum, looks like it could be the ignition coil, the thermostat, or the O2 sensor.

[CWolfey]

Car is fixed - 6 new bosch coils - all better now.

[newm5]

Car is fixed - 6 new bosch coils - all better now.

thanks for the info.

[cruztopless]

FYI - Dealer states the problem was due to "DME calibration incorrect. Perormed fault survey. Faults 2973 and 2974 in DME. Reprogrammed DME per 1220804."

Anyone know what that means in English?

It "seems" to be driving better but I'll have to hold judgement until I get a few more miles in.

[Hoosick]

The exact same thing happened with my car recently under the same circumstances. SES light came on with aprox 1/4 tank of fuel left and about 300 miles on the trip.

It ran perfectly normal, and the light was off 48 hours later. I'm not going to worry about. :dunno:

I ditto the experience. I recently bought a 2001 Z3 Coupe and after running thru 7/8 of a tank of 93 octane, the SES light came on. Checking the gas cap indicated it was on tightly, so I filled the tank, started it up and drove it home with the light still lit. The next time I started it up, the light was gone. I guess it's an unadvertised low fuel early warning indicator!

[aweisman]

As I mentioned earlier, was waiting to bring my car into the dealer (have deductible coverage). Sluggish accelleration & stalls at stop light (hot or cold engine).

Inlet cam shaft sensor

Ck with DIS REA FC 41 REPL Inlet Camshaft Sensor
12-14-7-539-165 Pulse Generator
12-14-1-748-398 O-ring


$50


not sure what it would be if I really had to pay?

Car is happy again.

[markl53]

Just took my 2-month old 330i on its first real road trip this past weekend to finally get past the 1250 break-in point. 15 miles out, at about 65 mph, I had to slow down a bit for traffic. Suddenly it felt like I was on very rough pavement and when I looked down, I saw the dreaded SES light and realized it was the engine running rough. I pullled over on the shoulder and shut it off for a couple minutes. When I started it back up, the light was off and everything seemed fine. The light didn't come back on for the rest of the 300 mile trip. Do I still need to take it in to get the code checked? Or wait to see if it happens again...

[newm5]

the problem went away on my car since yesterday. The SES light is off. I also found a trick that seems to prevent the problem from happening again.

I turned the ignition key to the second position and wait for about 5-10 seconds before I start the car.

This may be too early to tell though, the Intake Cam will fail again, crossing my finger..

[///ACS330Ci]

My 2001 330Ci's SES problems here - http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88364

still not fixed ...

:(

[chel's bimmer]

A few weeks ago my SES light came on. I checked the gas cap and filled up a few times and this did not correct the problem so I took it to a shop that works on BMW's exclusively (not the dealer). He said it was coding for an emissions pump. He said the pump sends air into the engine to clean it to reduce emissions and it is no big deal unless I need to go thru inspection or the car starts running badly. He re-set the computer did not charge me and off I went. Now the light is back on. I read a few posts on this site that said to take it to Auto Zone to have the codes read. The codes are P0491 & P0492, Secondary Air System, banks 1 & 2. Does anyone know what this means??

[kolijlumni]

My 2001 325i shakes on acceleration and the Service Engine Soon light was also on constantly. Not sure if the two are related. Since I bought the car (about 3 1/2 weeks now) I have only filled up with high grade gas, atleast so the pump indicated, but I finally found one station within the pass week where once I use there gas the light stays off. Was it the gas? Am I just closing the tank cover more securely now? Don't know, but all seem OK on the SES light problem. Car still shakes like a MF on acceleration though!!!!:mad:

I am paying close attention to this thread!!!! Particularly to those who have scheduled appointments.

[icky]

A few weeks ago my SES light came on. I checked the gas cap and filled up a few times and this did not correct the problem so I took it to a shop that works on BMW's exclusively (not the dealer). He said it was coding for an emissions pump. He said the pump sends air into the engine to clean it to reduce emissions and it is no big deal unless I need to go thru inspection or the car starts running badly. He re-set the computer did not charge me and off I went. Now the light is back on. I read a few posts on this site that said to take it to Auto Zone to have the codes read. The codes are P0491 & P0492, Secondary Air System, banks 1 & 2. Does anyone know what this means??

My car has the same problem. I'm not going to bother replacing it until I absolutely have to (emissions)