[50shadesofhockenheim]

This is my mom's car. She said she was driving and heard and left a bang, almost like someone rear ended her and this light came on. I just went into the car to see it again but it's gone now. Anyone know what it means? It's not in the manual and I'm guessing something with the engine but not sure. Thanks

[skatevt]

Engine problem! Loss of power
Engine problem
Full engine power no longer available.
Drive carefully. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service.

[50shadesofhockenheim]

Originally Posted by skatevt

Engine problem! Loss of power
Engine problem
Full engine power no longer available.
Drive carefully. Have the problem checked by the nearest BMW Service.

But it turned off. Also if we take it to BMW with the light not on they're gonna say that the engine check is "OK".

[skatevt]

They will be able to check the engine and if their is no problem then it might have just been a fluke. Is the car under warranty?

[Dark_Knight_335]

328 or 335? Can't tell on mobile..

[MGT81]

That's the check engine light. The dealer or shop will be able to scan for the associated error code

[djjasper]

There is a code stored even though the light is not on at the moment. I assume you are under warranty? If not, it's gonna cost you... I think it's $110 just to scan at the local dealer around here.

[cmyk]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

328 or 335? Can't tell on mobile..

It's a 328, look at his username

OP, your local AutoZone, OReilly etc will be able to scan the code for you for free. Get the code read and we can go from there. Or, if under warranty, just take it in to BMW. The code is there even if the light is not on anymore.

[Dark_Knight_335]

I thought as much, but figured it could have been OPs car - figured his mom could have driven either one

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by cmyk

It's a 328, look at his username

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

I thought as much, but figured it could have been OPs car - figured his mom could have driven either one

The way to tell (since his username could be out of date or not apply to his mom's car) is to look on the tachometer. It has a MPG gauge beneath it, therefore it's a 328i. The 335i's have an temperature gauge.

[50shadesofhockenheim]

Yes it's a 328i. It is under BMW warranty still. So even if the light went away the code is still stored?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by MGT81

That's the check engine light. The dealer or shop will be able to scan for the associated error code

Originally Posted by cmyk

It's a 328, look at his username

OP, your local AutoZone, OReilly etc will be able to scan the code for you for free. Get the code read and we can go from there. Or, if under warranty, just take it in to BMW. The code is there even if the light is not on anymore.

So to straighten out some confusion, this is not the same thing as the On Board Diagnostics (OBDII) notification light known as the "Service Engine Soon" light. This is an indicator, as skatevt said, that indicates the engine is running in "limp mode" not at full power. There well may be a fault code in the ECU related to the incident (which sounds like the car backfired based on what the OP's Mom reported), but it is not an OBDII fault code. If it were an OBDII fault code the SES light would be illuminated.

In this particular case the OP can not take the car to AutoZone to get scanned. AutoZone and the like only have OBDII scan tools, which will only find an OBDII code that will only be present if the SES light is lit.

[jvsxn]

Originally Posted by BMW328_

Yes it's a 328i. It is under BMW warranty still. So even if the light went away the code is still stored?

Pretty much everything that happens to your car, the data will be stored in your key fob so whenever you bring it to the dealer, they will place it into the reader and it'll pull up mileage from the last time that specific key fob was inserted into the ignition to service and maintenance. Good luck!

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by Seminole

The way to tell (since his username could be out of date or not apply to his mom's car) is to look on the tachometer. It has a MPG gauge beneath it, therefore it's a 328i. The 335i's have an temperature gauge.

Ahhh cool. Welp, guess that rules out the HPFP!

[CUTigers]

Since its under warranty, just take it to BMW, it's free. Just let them do whatever.

[Turb0Surge]

That's not the check engine. Check engine lights up on the dash, this just says that the engine is running in limp mode for some reason and a lot of times when you turn the car off and on again that will disappear, until you recreate whatever happened to it last time that it went off.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by simon

I was wondering about that too. I have a 328i and have a temperature gauge.

The coupes have it, the sedans & wagons have the MPG gauge instead.

Tom

[cmyk]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

In this particular case the OP can not take the car to AutoZone to get scanned. AutoZone and the like only have OBDII scan tools, which will only find an OBDII code that will only be present if the SES light is lit.

That's good to know - I thought the standard OBDII scanners would pick up any Pxxxx codes. I've always just used my Cobb AP so I never knew this. The more you know......

[just2grand]

Hey man, same thing happened to me. I took the car to BMW and all they did was update some stuff in my system, and the car was good to go.

[adubey]

Got the same code when I was on a road trip, took it to the Canadian Tire (local mechanic) and they scaned it with the OBDII scanner which gave them a list of possible reasons (low ffuel pressure, needs oil change, needs oil filter change or mechanical problem) and rhey couldn't figure anything else out - said I go to the dealer. The dealer will just pop your key in the machine and figure it out, or run a diagnostic which for BMW's need to be run with the BMW scanner from my understanding.

Mine just needed a new oil filter because it got bent outta shape. Best of luck.