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Question

I've just brought a 316ti se compact 51 plate, and i've just got a yellow engine light on dash, in the book it says it the exhaust emissions values have deteriorated.

Submitted: 322 days and 21 hours ago.

Category: BMW

Value: $24

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

51 BMW 316ti se compac 1.8

Accepted Answer

Hi, yes this is the engine management light, it will light up if a fault has been detected within the engine electronics that could cause worse exhaust emissions.
There is no way of telling which sensor has been logged as faulty, or has seen an implausable reading without connecting the vehicle up to a diagnostic computer, which can read these memories.
on this model, it can often be a faulty ignition coil, but you would also notice a misfire, other possiblilites include exhaust sensor readings being incorrect either from a faulty sensor or air leak on the inlet side of the engine.
If you get the memories read, we can advise further from there,
hope this helps.
thanks steve

Accepts:
Expert:	Steve
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	1/3/2009

BMW Technician

Senior tech

322 days and 20 hours ago.

Reply

Thanks Steve, how much will it cost to get it checked out? and how much for it to get repaired, will i cause damage to the engine if i left it a month? As just got it second hand the other day.
Regards
Patrick

Posted by Steve 322 days and 20 hours ago.

Answer

hi patrick, you'll be better off getting it checked sooner rather than later, at a bmw dealer, you would be looking at half an hours labour time (around £50) for them to give you a pretty much exact answer to what it needs, then depending on the urgency the repair could probly be put off till a later date.

you maybe able to find an independant garage local to you with a simular kind of fault memory reading kit who will do it cheaper, but you are then relying on them being able to evaluate the fault memory correctly and diagnose the right component from this first time.
steve

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