A public thanks to sharkwits

[PixMan]

Just wanted to thank Joel for meeting me [i]early[/] this morning to let me use his Peake R5/SRS tool to reset the airbag light on my E39. Worked like a charm!

However, my car failed emissions even though I had reset the SES. :(

In Mass now, inspection stations no longer "sniff" the exhaust, or it surely would have passed. Resetting the light only masks the problem, the inspection station now plugs right into the OBD-II port, so it found that the computer wasn't communicating all the info. If I drove about 50 miles after the reset, the codes for "cat threshold limit exceeded" would have returned, also causing a failure. So now I have a big red R, and will have to find the problem and fix it with little to no money. :(

BTW, I have the Peake R5/FCX-3-U tool now, so I can scan codes and reset oil service, inspection and SES codes on 1987 through 2007 BMW's for anyone needing it...for free. I saw someone from Cape Cod advertising this service for $20. For shame...help fellow BMW owners. If they can afford to pay, they'll go to a professional mechanic/garage.

[catalyst.]

thats nice of him. you should fix it anyway driving around with a check engine light means limp mode which means you are running rich which doesnt do any good especially for your catalytic converter ... and you wallet.

[PixMan]

Of course I intend to fix it the right way. The problem is that being on salary plus commission, fundzarlow for the lack of meeting goal due to the economy tanking. I was hoping to get past the inspection for right now because the more critical (and expensive) car problem I have right now is the bad transmission on my wife's Nissan Sentra. Toast at 83,000 miles, on a car we bought new and always well maintained. :(

[catalyst.]

yeah its always something huh. right now my sisters and mothers cars both have bad wheel bearings. not that i have to pay for parts but its still the time taken to fix them. with the economy the way it is ever little thing hits home hah