What's the longest you've ever gone with no warning lights on the bottom computer dash? After getting my waterpump and thermostat replaced right at 200k and a new aluminum radiator, I lasted about 6 months before the false "check coolant light" messages began. I think it was clear when I bought the car, so if Ihad to guess, 18 months without seeing any error,especially the most notorious coolant message would be my record. Turns out the aftermarket water pump I bought was faulty. Starting throwing a code after about 6 months, but nothing else was amiss. Then 2 years down the road the bearing broke at about 26k miles. The pulley was stuttering and making wierd noises. So now I'm at 226k with an aluminum radiator, high quality aftermarket water pump and thermostat, new fan clutch, and I rebuilt the Hvac heater valve while I was trying to chase down the gremlin. I'm now blank. I give it 1 year LOL.
I got over a year out of mine before the transmission went at 237k and I got the trans failsafe and an SES light.
'98 740il | 9/97 build | schwarz 2 | sandbeige | 5AT | 270k
'04 330i ZHP sedan | Mystic blue | Alcantara | 6MT | 120k
'00 540i sport | Titanium silver | Black | 5AT | 152k
'85 Mustang GT convertible | Medium charcoal metallic | Gray | 5MT | 216k | one owner, all original
mods: m-pars | Bilsteins & B&G springs | ValentineOne | StealthOne
retrofits: full nav | MKIV | bluetooth TCU | BM53 w/ AUX input | video module w/ AV input & backup cam | oem sirius xm | xenon | shades | PDC | rain sensor | BMW DWS TPMS | lighted door handles | front seat heaters | heated steering wheel | euro rear fog lights | ski pass | folding mirrors
I have been able to go several years with no lights before; I actually began to wonder if it was working properly 😂. I am currently in a few year period when I have had a constant check engine light that I haven’t been able to track down.
MODS:18' Chrome M-Pars, 6000k Xenon Lowbeams and Chromelined Headlights, 01 Tails, Clear Corners and Side Markers, Boston G2 Sub and Gt22 Amp, Dinan CAI, 20% Tint, Hardwired Passport 8500i X50 Radar, Predator Chromium DDE Angel Eyes, Tri Stitched M5 Sport Steering Wheel, MKII Navigation Retrofit, Einbach Prokit Springs, Quad Brake Light Mod, Dice MB 1500, Powder Coated Valve Covers
I don't think my car will run if the CEL isn't on.
01' 750il Chromeline
95 M3 LS swapped
07 M5 Manual
06' M5, Spartan wheels and a 507hp V10
00' 740il Dinan, CAI, Romulus exhaust, Stage 5 engine and transmission tune, 750 brakes, camber plates, strut tower brace. Sold
00' 323i wagon for daughter
03' 525i wagon for the wife, sold
98' 740i for the daughter, wrecked
92' 525i with over 200k, wrecked
02' R1200 CLC, hit by a bus and broken in half. That one made the news!
It's like herpes there is no cure but if treated properly you can live with it for the rest of your life
Only warning lights I've had since buying mine 4 months / 4400 miles ago are the ABS/DSC/BRAKE trifecta. Once. Popped on randomly while taking a turn from a stop a couple of months ago. Got home, put the car in the garage and then the lights were off the next time I drove it and it hasn't happened again. It was on pretty sloppy roads in the winter and it was pretty cold, so I'm guessing I just had some ice or dirt on one of the sensors that was making it read marginally.
I went nearly 3 years with no warnings anywhere, between having a license plate light out not long after I got the car, then a low coolant warning 3 years later, which went away when I added a half pint of coolant. And I also got the brake trifecta momentarily 3 1/2 years into ownership. Other than that it was good.
10 months since I figured (or more likely got lucky) a timing issue, no errors since.
Nearly two years and then BAM! Several back to back. All good now.
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