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Is it safe to drive your 2018 BMW 325i with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your BMW 325i immediately. This question is not excessively easy because it any 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 typically indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more draconian problem. Call the experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian by dialing 8043618758 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2018 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

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

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

2018 BMW 325i Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several effortless causes including something as effortless as a loose gas cap. Distinct effortless reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name various. 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 imperative 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 serviced.

Every 2018 BMW 325i was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its laborious systems. The sensors are continually 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 brightens telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what precisely is inaccurate 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 Extremely Qualified Service experienced.

2018 BMW 325i Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard rapidly 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 325i. There are hundreds of disparate codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you cooperative knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, clear and cooperative car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of cooperative OBD codes, there are also hundreds of cooperative reasons for the light, including:

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

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

2018 BMW 325i Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is admissible and if not taken care of immediately may result in enormous damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 BMW 325i starts flashing, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your BMW should be brought in immediately. This flashing light usually suggests a correct engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can immediately boost the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is achievable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive consultants at Richmond BMW Midlothian now 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 expensive repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 BMW 325i will regularly shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is revamped. 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 essential, 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 2018 BMW 325i light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to transport it in to Richmond BMW Midlothian so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

Since all check engine code has its own level of severity, it is troublesome to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. If you check engine light is glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to help determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be interchanged.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 BMW 325i

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW 325i and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW owners, your heart sinks a scant because you have scant 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 mean 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 2018 BMW 325i checked as soon as probable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2018 BMW 325i's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t decent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is ordinarily 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 read with an electronic observe tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of somewhat inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained professional to select the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 BMW 325i 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 variety of things for your 2018 BMW 325i. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of precise things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as scrupulous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 BMW 325i, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today! Our BMW service department can help you designate what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is glaring.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 BMW 325i?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a active problem that could cause active damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less active but a shining check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in active trouble and service is basic hastily. If your check engine light is shining in your 2018 BMW 325i, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service at this moment. Below is a list of the most accepted reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW 325i is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the fee of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to genuine changes, like altitude. If your BMW 325i is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a nimble change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, prevailing as the O2 sensor, measures the fee of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be fewer steady 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 break to your catalytic converter and your 2018 BMW 325i's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to mean the right mixture 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.
  • Your 2018 BMW 325i has a vacuum leak. Every BMW 325i has a vacuum system that performs a big variety 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 bare out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme enraged.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 BMW 325i. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture 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 old, 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 break to ignition coils and O2 sensors, big to more expensive repairs.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2018 BMW 325i if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can dump the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound prevailing, bring your 325i to BMW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and break caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 BMW 325i is every basic. 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 present service coupons and specials.
  • One of the most prevailing and countless cause is that your 2018 BMW 325i gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 BMW 325i 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 old 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2018 BMW 325i, first thing you should check is to make satisfied the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 BMW 325i’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's work is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is often 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 repaired, your 2018 BMW 325i 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 added problems from overheating.