Check engine light

I recently purchased my e60 535 from the dealership I work at. I changed the oil and filter on the car myself but do not have the proper equipment to reset the computer. It is showing I need a service on the instrument cluster about 400 miles overdue. I know I dont need the oil service but I started my car this morning and the check engine light came on. My service manager advised me to have the diagnostics run on it. Since then the CEL has turned off and I have not noticed any differences. Very strange anyone here experience something like this? Why would the CEL come on and subsequently turn off after driving a few miles?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Bimmer App

Clarification: I did not run the diagnostics yet and the CEL Turned off on its own. Stayed on after turning the car off and back on again. Turned off few hours later when I went to get lunch

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Bimmer App

only way to find out is to connect the car to a diagnostic tool and see what is stored in the car's memory. If nothing then ignore for now. Gremlins.

This has been happening to me for months. CEL light comes on, nothing wrong with the car mechanically.. stays on for a day or 2, then goes off for a week. Comes back on for a few days, back off. Been doing this for about 3 months.

I guess I'll have the dealer run a diagnostic when I get my inspection done. But my question is, if I bring it to the dealer when it happens to not be on, will they be able to read the memory of errors? Or does the CEL light have to be on to diagnose the issue?

It depends on what the error code is. You could access it yourself if you have JB4 and a USB cable. That's an added benefit of running that tune. It lists each code and has the description.
Otherwise your best bet is to go to an independent who has the AutoLogic scanning computer. They should run a scan as part of the service relationship, it literally takes a minute. They can then clear it for you
If you go to BMW they will likely charge you a hefty fee.

I was told it costs $75 to run a diagnostics at a BMW dealer.

when you see the CEL, go to iDrive to see what it is.
Yep, any good tools reader can read log-faults (CEL that goes in and out known as "shadow" fault).

My guess is you have intermittent misfire either from dying injector or spark-plug. Dealer can sort it out for ya.

I dont see any faults on the iDrive screen.

Yeah I'm thinking I need new spark plugs. It's an '08 535i and it runs like a dream but I did not get any info from the previous owner stating he changed the spark plugs. You think I'm better off ordering the parts from Bosch or BMW. I can get any part from them wholesale because I work at a dealership and we have plenty of Bimmers on our lot.

Originally Posted by moods14

I dont see any faults on the iDrive screen.

Yeah I'm thinking I need new spark plugs. It's an '08 535i and it runs like a dream but I did not get any info from the previous owner stating he changed the spark plugs. You think I'm better off ordering the parts from Bosch or BMW. I can get any part from them wholesale because I work at a dealership and we have plenty of Bimmers on our lot.

No need to buy BMW spark-plugs, just use BOSCH ZGR6STE2 (the exact same one as BMW 12 12 0 037 244).

BMW genuine spark-plugs at dealer is like $35-$40 each, the BOSCH is like $11-$12 each online

I am replacing mine this weekend since I need to bleed my brake anyway, got the parts and thin-wall spark-plug sockets from BurgerTuning already.
the turbo engine needs spark-plugs every 45-kmiles, more often if tuned

+1
I am now using NGK Laser Iridiums gapped at .022"
They fit the 535 just like the Bosch Supers, but are platinum tipped.

Originally Posted by moods14

Clarification: I did not run the diagnostics yet and the CEL Turned off on its own. Stayed on after turning the car off and back on again. Turned off few hours later when I went to get lunch

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Bimmer App

I have not done this in a few years, but you use to be able to 'rent' on diagnostic tool from Autozone with a fully refundable deposit. Not sure if they still do this, but it's a quick way to read some codes for free (not all of BMW codes can be read by the generic tool). My guess is you have sensor (e.g. camshaft sensor) acting up; in a lot of cases the car will still perform fine and the light will reset if an additional fault is not detected in x number of starts. But the code should be stored still.

Thanks Dai. I feel like a cylinder could have been misfiring so I'm definitely going to replace the spark plugs. I'm also going to run the diagnostics to see what's going on with the car. I love the car.. I've been selling cars for two years so nothing really excites me when it comes to cars but I love driving my car everyday I just hope it doesn't break my wallet. So far so good and I'm thrilled to be apart of the bimmer family.

Plugs every 45000 miles!! Why?? My corvette is @ 130,000 kms (81,000 miles) with factory plugs, runs perfect.

Is that because of it being turbo and running hot?

Also, how hard is it to change the plugs on a 535?

You need a slim socket to change plugs on the 535. I know Assenmacher and Burger Motorsports have them, maybe others.
Cylinder 6 is tricky as it is below the upper strut support bar. Requires a swiveling ratchet head and universal joint on the extention. Otherwise straight forward.
Reason to replace them is to avoid misfires. Ignition coils also have a tendency to get worn out at 75-100k miles.

Similar story here for me, 06 550i

Last night, when I started my car I got a "coolant too low" warning on the iDrive. I had some in the trunk because I heard this could be a common thing, so I immediately turned off the car and added the coolant. Checked it again this morning before I left for work and it was full. On the drive in (15 miles?), my Service Engine Soon light came on, but there were no codes in the iDrive and everythign shows it checks out fine. Shouldn't it show in iDrive, or am I wrong there? it seems to run fine - maybe a bit rough when I'm not giving it gas but that's about it.

Thoughts?

I recently rented a fairly new 328i. The coolant level low warning light kept coming on, but the tank showed it was at max level. Gremlins. I just ignored it.

Mine was actually low though.

Wouldn't a check engine light come up with something on the iDrive system?

Originally Posted by Cattani

Mine was actually low though.

Wouldn't a check engine light come up with something on the iDrive system?

That's what I thought too but the only error code I'm showing a window trip malfunction which I knew about when I bought the car. I ended up finding an awesome Indy mechanic, real cool Austrian dude, who replaced the plugs for me. He told me the code came up because cylinder 5 was misfiring. I bought the plugs, he ran the diagnostics, and he replaced the plugs for $75. Real awesome dude couldn't stop talking about the N54 engine. Thought he might pull a Seinfeld and steal my car.

Thanks. I'll look into that!

Ensure gas cap is always tight when refueling; I've had this happen with other cars, though not my 550. Also, I agree, go to autozone or Adavnace auto..they'll probably let you use it for free if you give them your ID. Its easy to use! I don't think BMW recommends changing sparkplugs till 100k, unless if you find a code that says otherwise.

Turbo engines spark plugs need to be replaced at 45k.

In my case, I just found out the transmission was leaking (down so much causing th light to go on the tranny to go into "limp" mode)

It cost $200 at the BMW dealer.

Originally Posted by repoman75

This has been happening to me for months. CEL light comes on, nothing wrong with the car mechanically.. stays on for a day or 2, then goes off for a week. Comes back on for a few days, back off. Been doing this for about 3 months.

I guess I'll have the dealer run a diagnostic when I get my inspection done. But my question is, if I bring it to the dealer when it happens to not be on, will they be able to read the memory of errors? Or does the CEL light have to be on to diagnose the issue?

Aftre $700 at the dealer, mine ended up being a fuel sensor and an oxygen sensor.