Service Engine Soon light on 750iL

[bmwtransport]

I was just wondering. I thought this is just a regular maintenance light. Service told me there is something wrong with the car. I went to the service last week to replace couple of suspension parts, breaks and an oil change. The next day I started the car. The Service Engine Soon light came on.

[telijah]

You should have the codes read on it. You can go to any AutoZone, Discount Auto etc. to have the codes read. Then you can usually easliy find out what the codes mean.

[bmwtransport]

Thanks. Well I will go to Service next week. The funny thing is the car runs perfectly.

[telijah]

It could literally be a million different things... even a gas cap not tightened enough can bring up the light...

[bmwtransport]

Yeah I know. Well I'll find out. Maybe I will take care of it tomorrow.

Thanks for reply.

[plik]

Is the "Service Engine" light the same thing as the "check engine" light?

[JimmyBones]

Sort of.

[plik]

Sort of.

:confused It either is or it isn't.

[Qsilver7]

yes...they both illuminate when there is a fault registered in the emissions system.

My 97 originally had a CEL light...when I got the replacement cluster from BMW NA...the new instrument cluster had the SES light.

If you have/had a CEL instrument cluster...check your owners manual and see what it says...then open one of the online owners manual for the newer models and check what it says about the SES warning...and it will all become clear. :D

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Service%20Eng%20Soon.jpg

[Cody Thomson]

I can tell you that the Check Engine Light kept coming on my car last year every other week for about a month until the dealer found the problem- it had to do with the secondary air pump, I think it was one of the valves. The car ran fine and would do so even if I didn't have it fixed. You should be fine until it goes back into the shop.

[bmwtransport]

Just an update. The Service Engine Soon light went off last week and it's been off since. Let's see if it will come back on again. Thanks for all the replies.

[crewdog843]

That is fairly typical behavior for the SES/CEL light....it does not necessarily mean the problem has gone away. Since it is emissions related, and the car runs well, most shops will tell you to schedule an appointment for sometime 'in the future', since the fault is not critical.

I had similar behavior on my '01...it would come on, then go out, then flicker and go out. Turned out to be my cam position sensor.

Have someone read the codes, as most of the work can easily be done by an owner with some proficiency with tools.

jake

[telijah]

Who knows, it could of been a bad tank of gas. It's happened to mine.

[~Retorque~]

For me it was a bad tank of gas. The light came on 10 minutes after after I filled up (Mobil Premium, believe it or not). Stayed on for a week -- all the way up until the next tank of gas. Tried tightening the cap -- did not help. Right after refilling at my usual station, it disappeared and never came back (3 months now). I always refill at the same station. That once was just "an accident" away from home.

[bmwtransport]

Who knows, it could of been a bad tank of gas. It's happened to mine.

That's what I thought. But it didn't come on after I refilled. I already had the fuel there for couple of days. It's been a while now since the light went off. I'm waiting to see what is going to happen. It's a big possibility that something was in the fule and perhaps slipped in. I'm going for service next week to have the steering connectors replaced so I will also have them change the fuel filter.

[Lsixer]

Great thread!

I have owned mine less than a week, and the SES light pops on. :mad

Since reading through this, I am hoping it was something I did. I have filled it twice with premium, and as with my six series, I added a Gumout injector cleaner, just because I wasnt sure when (or if) this was ever done to the car by the previous owner. Although I know the previous owner was a stickler with maintenance.

Could the additive have caused this?