Resolving Engine Warning Light (CEL/SES)? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

V8PBN · 25th March 2007, 11:56

Hi Guys, just taken delivery of a mint 2001 with 40K miles on clock. Had a BMW Main Agent change engine oil yesterday and this morning (cold start) the engine warning light has come on (Yellow). Its in for a check at the same main agent next week. Runs fine although tail pipes seem a little black. Any ideas / suggestion? Thanks Paul

seckindogan · 25th March 2007, 13:41

I had that to on my e39 and most of the time it is something with the motor management.

Like air sensors or electronic van etc. But it can be anything, just go to your dealer.

ard · 25th March 2007, 19:12

In the USA this is the SES or Service Engine Soon light, outside the US it is the CEL or Check Engine Light. Usually it is a fault that interferes with the emissions components. With the M5, and many other cars, these 'emissions faults' are seriuos and can dramatically impact perfromance. They can be anything from a loose gas cap to bad valve timing hardware.

The dealer will pull the "codes". Find out what the SPECIFIC codes are and post them here and folks will tell YOU what to tell the dealer to do! Don't trust the dealer unless money isn't much of a concern...

A

V8PBN · 27th March 2007, 15:31

170. Secondary-air quantity tool low. Recorded as 1st fault in fault memory. Tyoe of Fault bank 2, too low. OBDII Code: P0492. Fault not currently present.
The Dealer wants to replace both Air Flow Meters and Oil Trap for engine breather.
Does this sound right? Thx Paul

kma32254 · 3rd April 2007, 13:43

Service manager at my local BMW dealership says they are putting too much ethanol in the gas mixture being served at a lot of local stations, especially places like Costco and other discounted gas. I don't know if it is true but my light went off after I used Chevron. He said to try switching and it worked. Any thoughts on this?

kma32254 · 3rd April 2007, 13:48

Please ignore. Accidental double click

Service manager at my local BMW dealership says they are putting too much ethanol in the gas mixture being served at a lot of local stations, especially places like Costco and other discounted gas. I don't know if it is true but my light went off after I used Chevron. He said to try switching and it worked. Any thoughts on this?

jclyman · 3rd April 2007, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kma32254

Service manager at my local BMW dealership says they are putting too much ethanol in the gas mixture being served at a lot of local stations, especially places like Costco and other discounted gas. I don't know if it is true but my light went off after I used Chevron. He said to try switching and it worked. Any thoughts on this?

Ethanol scares the crap out of me ... but, I use Chevron (primarily for the Techron that is in it ... BMW dealers sell Techron by the bottle). My wife sometimes fills up her 2006 Mini at Costco and I tell her not to but, ... well, you know the drill ...

geeze ... I just realized, I got the SES light in Arizona while driving with a warm engine at 80 MPH last week in her car ... It went out on its own two days later ... (18,000 miles). Hummmm ...

My 2003 M5 has 62,000 miles with never any kind of light ...