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Is it safe to drive your 2017 BMW 525i with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a precarious issue and it is recommended to service your BMW 525i instantly. This question is not especially authentic because it all depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be safe to drive. This is mostly indicated by a adequate glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more critical problem. Call the advisors at Richmond BMW Midlothian by dialing 8043618758 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease down your speed and bring your 2017 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as ready for use.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 BMW 525i

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW 525i and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW owners, your heart sinks a little because you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t advise you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2017 BMW 525i checked as soon as careful. Ignoring that warning could end up causing primary damage to fancy engine components.

When your 2017 BMW 525i's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t polite, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is continually labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon”, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.”

When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is find out with an electronic scan tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of comparatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to express the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 BMW 525i is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few assorted ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light illuminates in either an amber or red color and is part of the diagnostics system found on your vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a assortment of things for your 2017 BMW 525i. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can imply a assortment of divergent things. It can be as alluring as your gas cap being loose or as hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 BMW 525i, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Our BMW service department can help you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or observe why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today!

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 BMW 525i will mostly shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For example, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will turn itself off. Likewise, if your catalytic converter is going prudent, and you did a lot of stop-and-go driving, that may have turned on the check engine light due to the high usage of the converter. In most cases, your 2017 BMW 525i light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that payment and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Richmond BMW Midlothian so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 BMW 525i?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as authentic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a generous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is necessary immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 BMW 525i, we extraordinarily advocate not to drive the automobile and schedule BMW service now. Below is a list of the most authentic reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your 2017 BMW 525i has a vacuum leak. Every BMW 525i has a vacuum system that performs a wide range of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower harmful emissions by routing the fumes as gasoline evaporates through the engine. If you notice that your RPM is high in idle or randomly surges, a vacuum leak could be the cause. Over time, vacuum hoses can dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, favored as the O2 sensor, measures the drain of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be fewer functional when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause damage to your catalytic converter and your 2017 BMW 525i's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the right range of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 BMW 525i is every essential. Without a car battery, your car won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s car batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of BMW you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2017 BMW 525i. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel range in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or common, you will experience poor performance and reduced power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, large to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most admitted and frequent cause is that your 2017 BMW 525i gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 BMW 525i serves multiple purposes. It prevents gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is common or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on hastily after you put gas in your 2017 BMW 525i, first thing you should check is to make sure the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or alternative item can wreak havoc on your 2017 BMW 525i if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound admitted, bring your 525i to BMW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might estimate a miniature bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW 525i is what determines how much fuel is mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the drain of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to accurate changes, like altitude. If your BMW 525i is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 BMW 525i’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is commonly caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Richmond BMW Midlothian offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every BMW service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it fixed, your 2017 BMW 525i will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your car may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause alternative problems from overheating.

2017 BMW 525i Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is dangerous and if not taken care of instantly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2017 BMW 525i starts flashing, that means that the problem needs sudden attention and your BMW should be brought in instantly. This blinking light frequently implies a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can quickly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where break is achievable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can totally be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our team of automotive mentors at Richmond BMW Midlothian immediately by calling 8043618758. If the problem is ignored or you continue to drive, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a very costly repair.

2017 BMW 525i Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless capability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several forceful causes comprising something as conspicuous as a loose gas cap. Other forceful reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, or defective spark plugs to name many. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the BMW Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as decisive to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your BMW issue was revamped.

Every 2017 BMW 525i was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its hard systems. The sensors are constantly detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what specifically is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Richmond BMW Midlothian provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Highly Qualified Service high-tech.

2017 BMW 525i Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right away. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just another name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also straightforward as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 525i. There are hundreds of other codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you marvelous knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, natural and natural vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of marvelous OBD codes, there are also hundreds of marvelous reasons for the light, including:

  • Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
  • Bad Spark Plugs
  • Old Battery
  • Fuel and air metering systems problems
  • Computer output circuit issues
  • Emissions controls issues
  • Ignition system faults
  • O2 Sensor
  • Transmission issues

This is why it is meaningful for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a alarming concern, you risk intrusive your car extra by not repairing the issue right away. Call Richmond BMW Midlothian at 8043618758 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?

If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to help imply if your vehicle is dependable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not accordingly tightened to a more harsh failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it easy to get the exact code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is constantly between $88 and $111. The easy news, Richmond BMW Midlothian offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist embrace the cause of your check engine light.