dreaded check engine light
09-03-2008, 05:22 PM
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Well I knew it would happen sooner or later. My idrive popped the dreaded check engine display. It's the "increased engine emissions" display. I'm wondering what I could look at before sending it to the shop. My gut feeling is the o2 sensors. This car has 58K miles on it. Am I right? What should I check to save me a little cash? I don't have a warranty. DIY'ers please chime in.
09-03-2008, 05:24 PM
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Check that your gas cap is tight. 
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Originally Posted by phocker' post='661295' date='Sep 3 2008, 06:22 PM
Well I knew it would happen sooner or later. My idrive popped the dreaded check engine display. It's the "increased engine emissions" display. I'm wondering what I could look at before sending it to the shop. My gut feeling is the o2 sensors. This car has 58K miles on it. Am I right? What should I check to save me a little cash? I don't have a warranty. DIY'ers please chime in.
09-03-2008, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by phocker' post='661295' date='Sep 3 2008, 09:22 PM
Well I knew it would happen sooner or later. My idrive popped the dreaded check engine display. It's the "increased engine emissions" display. I'm wondering what I could look at before sending it to the shop. My gut feeling is the o2 sensors. This car has 58K miles on it. Am I right? What should I check to save me a little cash? I don't have a warranty. DIY'ers please chime in.
I'm really getting impatient with mine and I feel your pain...I'll post updates to try to help others with this problem. Unfortunately, this code has a whole host of possibilities. The first step for you should be to have the OBD II code read. It's very easy and can usually be done free compliments of the local auto parts store. Alternatively, you can purchase a code reader for under $100 and check it yourself....good luck!
09-03-2008, 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Stinson108' post='661329' date='Sep 3 2008, 09:15 PM
I wish I had better advise but I've owned a 2004 545 (32K miles) for the past three months and it threw this code the day after I got it home. The OBD II code is always the same - "misfire on cylinder 4". In my case, when the light comes on, the car goes into "limp home mode" and the car runs very rough until the code is cleared. There were no prior records of this code with BMW service records (I checked records prior to purchase). The car has been to the dealer EIGHT times since I've owned it and there is still no fix!! So far the dealer has (in order of attempted fixes) 1. cleared the code; 2. replaced the coil; and 3. swapped the cylinder 3 and 4 fuel injector and spark plug. Following the plug/injector swap, it threw another "misfire on cylinder 4" code so we're back to square 1. The car is in the shop now compliments of bumper damage that occured last time it was there...on cue, the "check engine" light came on while driving to the dealership for the body work. So....after the bumper it repainted, it's back to the Service Department for another attempt.
I'm really getting impatient with mine and I feel your pain...I'll post updates to try to help others with this problem. Unfortunately, this code has a whole host of possibilities. The first step for you should be to have the OBD II code read. It's very easy and can usually be done free compliments of the local auto parts store. Alternatively, you can purchase a code reader for under $100 and check it yourself....good luck!
I'm really getting impatient with mine and I feel your pain...I'll post updates to try to help others with this problem. Unfortunately, this code has a whole host of possibilities. The first step for you should be to have the OBD II code read. It's very easy and can usually be done free compliments of the local auto parts store. Alternatively, you can purchase a code reader for under $100 and check it yourself....good luck!
that's exactly what im encountering. One time I pulled into the driveway at home and it stalled pulling into the driveway. At times it drives fine, but at low speeds it hesitates when I throttle. It weird how you brought it to the shop and they still havent fixed it. This weekend im gonna take it to a specialist to figure this out. thanks for the advice, will keep you posted if I find a fix.
09-03-2008, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by DRANGED' post='661390' date='Sep 3 2008, 08:57 PM
Good luck phocker. Let us know what you come up with.
Nice D, they guy has a problem with his car and you're calling him an obscenity...
09-03-2008, 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='661395' date='Sep 3 2008, 11:02 PM
+1
Nice D, they guy has a problem with his car and you're calling him an obscenity...
Nice D, they guy has a problem with his car and you're calling him an obscenity...
Now I'm going to use expletives for you!! 
09-04-2008, 03:54 PM
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My Ride: 04 545i Jet Blk, Blk Int, SMG, Sport, Nav, Prem, CW Pack, L7, PDC
Mine just threw the code about 15 mins ago. 
Checked the gas cap and hoping it's nothing big. If not, i'm booting this betsy to the curb. No time or patience to deal with malfunctions.
Checked the gas cap and hoping it's nothing big. If not, i'm booting this betsy to the curb. No time or patience to deal with malfunctions.
09-05-2008, 06:20 PM
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Well now it's my turn to chime in ... I got the Increased Emissions (Emissions-Related Fault) and Service Engine Soon warning today..
I was already low on gas about 20 miles remaining looking for a gas station... the low gas warning was already on when the Increased Emissions warning came on.. Anyone know if one is related to another or just coincidence?
It was 100 degrees out today in San Jose and I was driving kinda aggressive having fun with my recent AFE Cold Air Intake install.. Does outside temperature and/or newly installed CAI cause the Increased Emissions?
I filled up gas and made sure a few times now that the gas cap is securely closed. The car is running fine from what I can tell. It never went into "limp home mode" or felt any different... just the warning messages. I'm not going anywhere this evening, so I'll wait to restart the car tomorrow morning to see if it clears. If not, I'm going to post and ask if a NorCal member has one of those OBD-II reader tools to see what exactly is the Emissions-Related Fault.
... I got the Increased Emissions (Emissions-Related Fault) and Service Engine Soon warning today.. I was already low on gas about 20 miles remaining looking for a gas station... the low gas warning was already on when the Increased Emissions warning came on.. Anyone know if one is related to another or just coincidence?
It was 100 degrees out today in San Jose and I was driving kinda aggressive having fun with my recent AFE Cold Air Intake install.. Does outside temperature and/or newly installed CAI cause the Increased Emissions?
I filled up gas and made sure a few times now that the gas cap is securely closed. The car is running fine from what I can tell. It never went into "limp home mode" or felt any different... just the warning messages. I'm not going anywhere this evening, so I'll wait to restart the car tomorrow morning to see if it clears. If not, I'm going to post and ask if a NorCal member has one of those OBD-II reader tools to see what exactly is the Emissions-Related Fault.