***UPDATE To Rough Idle with Blinking SES ***

It began with a rough idle but no codes. Then it progressed to a blinking SES.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...920&highlight=

The engine was vibrating, shaking, hiccuping at idle and when I would give it gas the SES would blink. I pulled over and read my codes. I got #7 Cylinder Misfire as well as Multiple Misfires. Reset the codes. Start the car and again blinking SES. After about 10 seconds of driving the blinking SES would change to a solid SES. Driveability was fine in city and highway but I noticed loss of torque on the low end and reduced horsepower. I went to my Indie Mechanic who is a BMW certified mechanic to have him read my SES with his machine and he confirmed that it was my #7 cylinder. In fact before he did that I described the symptoms to him and he immediately says "bad coil".

So I ordered a new Bremi Coil and received it the next day (yesterday). Installed it in under 20 minutes, reset the SES, and started her up. She purred like a kitten. This morning on the highway I had my horsepower back and noticed that the torque had returned.

All is right in the universe again.

Sweet!!!

Hope you didn't damage the cat.

Blinking SES = SERIOUS problem. Stop the engine!

Originally Posted by edjack

Hope you didn't damage the cat.

Blinking SES = SERIOUS problem. Stop the engine!

Yes I did that every time only for it to blink again on every start up. So I called my shop describing the symptoms and he told me if it's just running rough that I could still drive. When I later saw him I asked if I was causing damage to the engine or the car driving like this until I get my new part and he stated "no, but it's an issue that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later".

All seems to be well now....not sure if I did damage the CAT what symptoms I would have with that.

the blinking light indicates a condition exists that possible damage is occurring to the catalytic converter, that's standard since the introduction of obd2

Just for the record, typing /blinking F3 in the best links nets this:
- What does a blinking SES light mean and is it safe to drive the car with the CEL flashing (1)