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Is it safe to drive your 2018 BMW X5 with the check engine light on?

This question is not immensely clear-cut 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 consistent 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 exacting problem. If the check engine light is shining, this means that there is a exacting issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X5 urgently. Call the veterans 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 attainable.

2018 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are many feasible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are innumerable uncomplicated causes including something as uncomplicated as a loose gas cap. Extra uncomplicated reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name several. 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 essential 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 fixed.

Every 2018 BMW X5 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its massive 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 illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly 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 Exceptionally Qualified Service professional.

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

If you check engine light is shining, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to aid mean if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a contentious sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult 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 accordingly.

2018 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard expeditiously 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 noted as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your X5. There are hundreds of diversified codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling critical diagnostics will give you convenient 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, distinguishable and practical vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of achievable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of achievable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is crucial 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 quickly by a certified BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a momentous concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue right away. Call Richmond BMW Midlothian at 8043618758 at this moment or schedule your check engine light service online today!

Check Engine Light Service 2018 BMW X5

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X5 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny 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 represent 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 X5 checked as soon as correct. Ignoring that warning could end up causing extensive damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2018 BMW X5'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 often 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 probe tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of rather inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you select that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an skilled experienced to mean the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 BMW X5 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in countless discrete 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 mixture of things for your 2018 BMW X5. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name various. With that being said, the check engine light can represent a class of distinct things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 BMW X5, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today! Our BMW service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is glaring.

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

The average value for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is regularly between $88 and $111. The superb news, Richmond BMW Midlothian offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help choose 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 serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it superb to get the careful code reading and diagnosis.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 BMW X5?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as clear as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a critical problem that could cause critical break to your engine and come with a substantial repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow often means something less critical but a blinking check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in critical trouble and service is essential urgently. If your check engine light is blinking in your 2018 BMW X5, we exceptionally suggest not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service today. Below is a list of the most commonplace reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2018 BMW X5. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel fluctuate in the combustion chamber of your automobile. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires transport the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are detrimental 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, main to more expensive repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 BMW X5’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 usually 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 X5 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 different problems from overheating.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 BMW X5 is every admissible. 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 actual service coupons and specials.
  • One of the most traditional and frequent cause is that your 2018 BMW X5 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 BMW X5 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 detrimental 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 swiftly after you put gas in your 2018 BMW X5, initial 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.
  • Your 2018 BMW X5 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X5 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lessen contentious 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 arid out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to profound heat or extreme bleak.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, noted as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be fewer adequate 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 2018 BMW X5's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to indicate the right fluctuate of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A detrimental O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW X5 is what determines how much fuel is mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the amount of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to actual changes, like altitude. If your BMW X5 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a detrimental mass airflow sensor.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your 2018 BMW X5 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prohibit the automobile from starting. If these issues sound acknowledged, bring your X5 to BMW and have our squad 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 initial place might cost a small bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 BMW X5 will usually 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 adequate, 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 X5 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that reward 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.

2018 BMW X5 Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is curious and if not taken care of instantly may result in intense damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 BMW X5 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in instantly. This blinking light usually illustrates a serious engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can suddenly raise 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 precisely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive specialists at Richmond BMW Midlothian shortly 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.