EML Light, Engine Light & DSC Lights On

B

biggsyZ4

Member
Bracknell
Hi
I pick up 03 Z4 3.0 SMG about a month ago now. Great car but now have a problem

After having a few problems getting home last night, I ended up parts parking up a little way away from home so came back to the car this morning. Started up all ok and then out the blue the AML light, engine light and DSC all lit up. The car starts but the is not idling probably - reving itself constantly up to 2k revs then back to 1k, Car cannot be driven, its just jerks down the road.

Does anyone know what the problem might be? local garage in Wokingham (Munich Motors) can't look at it until the new year but was wondering if anyone knows what the problem is or might be?

AA chap had no idea really so he just followed me home where it will stay parked up until the New Year

Thanks in advance
Rob
 
Hi Rob, welcome to the forum!

I was going to suggest searching for SMG issues, but if the car is doing this in neutral? Odd that it was fine yesterday and this has happened from simply being in the cold over night... I wonder if moisture has gotten in somewhere or a sensor is playing up. Only other thing I can think... you didn't almost run out of fuel? Friend's Alfa has real issues when he runs it too low.

Only real way will be to see what Munich say once they's plugged it in to the computer... I see they're a specialist, I would check to make sure they have the full BMW computers - some specialists end up with codes they can't decipher.

Suspect someone here will have a better idea! This will give it a bump at least.

(BTW... when you've got a sec... intro in the Newbie section :thumbsup: )
 
Probably ignore the above - occurred to me this morning, this was exactly what my 306 did when the lamda sensor went...

If you go to this post there is a link to that issue and comments from a couple others who had similar issues...
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15614

Good luck!
 
Wouldn't have thought the DSC sensor would be lit for an O2 sensor, I've had 2 go and it was only EML.

Equally, if it was an ABS sensor (which would give all three) it wouldn't be idling wrong.

Definitely need to read the codes... Good luck! :thumbsup:
 
Andy said:
Wouldn't have thought the DSC sensor would be lit for an O2 sensor, I've had 2 go and it was only EML.

Equally, if it was an ABS sensor (which would give all three) it wouldn't be idling wrong.
Click to expand...

Good point - I was probably thinking something similar at 11pm... my epiphany at 7am the following morning obviously neglected the DSC light :oops:

New year's resolution - read before posting!
 
Hi
Just in case anyone is interested, got the car back from the garage today and it appears to be an electronic glitch. Mechanic said that were a number of faults and had to reset them all manually so all the systems were talking to each other properly. Difficult to know what might have caused the problem but he thinks it is linked to the SMG box

Fingers crossed it will be ok from now on

Cheers
Rob
 
excellent if the cars now working.

if the codes are reset now you'll have any old ones cleared, so any new fault should be easy to narrow down.

id not be too worried about saying it's SMG related - most garages don't understand it so it's easy to point a finger that way.
 
I got my first ever Z4 a week ago today. 2.5l manual. It's been fine all week and this morning I start it and it's ropey as hell and shaking the whole car. The check engine light was on. I turned it off, checked the oil after a wait, and realised the image in the manual for the dipstick was wrong. Anyway, I got the right oil (cos I thought it was low) and put some in. Started it up and it's as smooth as ever but the light stays on. Driven round town carefully and no issues. Is this safe to do till I can get it checked in somewhere?
Then I found an image online for the dipstick and realise I might have put too much oil in. How serious is this situation?

myz4.jpg
 
Is the oil past the Max? it's not a good idea so depending on how full it is, you should really let some out the sump.

If the EML light is on, it will have a stored code, which an Indi will be able to read.

My suggestion.. get to an Indi asap.. get the code read & the oil double checked.
 
You may want to try doing the reset. My local BMW specialist advised me to try turning the key until the the dash lights come on 4 or 5 times quickly then wait about 2 mins then turn on as normal. It cleared the engine light for me recently and was able to drive normally

When I had the original problem, I thought it was a electrical glitch with SMG and the snow but think it might be slightly more serious. I had the same problem again last week but the reset has cleared the problem for now. The mechanic thinks I might need a new throttle unit...think its a relatively expensive job as its SMG so waiting a few days to see if it comes back.

Saying all that, definately take Andy's advice and get it too an independant as soon as you can
 
Yeah, for sure I'm calling a garage that has the full BMW computer system first thing. I've spent the last 5 years buying disposable cars, so the whole car care thing is a learning experience. The warning light (it's not the EML one, it's the engine symbol) isn't so much a worry as the fact that when I started it yesterday it sounded rough. After putting oil in and starting again the engine sound was back to normal. I realise now I should have restarted it again before putting oil in to see if it was a one-off.
Still, off to the garage it's going to find out for sure.
 
Roman Clogs said:
I got my first ever Z4 a week ago today. 2.5l manual.
Click to expand...

If you got it from a dealer then take it back to them as you by law have 3 or 6 months (can't remember) warranty for any issues.
 
I got it private sale. It's booked in for diagnostic tomorrow and as sod's law would have it, the warning light went off tonight. Still, better to have it checked. Planning to drive way up north at the weekend.
 
And it turned out to be a spark plug and spark plug coil had broken down. Sweet. Done quite a bit of celebratory driving since then.
 
Roman Clogs said:
And it turned out to be a spark plug and spark plug coil had broken down. Sweet. Done quite a bit of celebratory driving since then.
Click to expand...

Good news..... might be worth changing all the coils as original OEM have proved unreliable for some, latest versions are BOSCH manufacture and appear reliable.
 
glad you got it sorted

what do you think of munich motors?

i too am in Bracknell, and i have booked mine in for a service at birds in ivy

if munich is good, its a lot closer to home
 
fluxco said:
what do you think of munich motors?
Click to expand...

H
I have been impressed with Munich Motors so far but have only been there a couple of times with the Z4. I have read one or two negative comments about them which can be seen if you do a search on google and the receptionist can be a bit short at times lol

If you speak to Clive, he always takes the time to explain the problem and solution and they always call before doing any work. I have had a new light control unit and had a problem when my electric window stopped working.

Thanks
Rob
 
coolio, thanks for the reply

mines been booked into birds to have its service

but, developed a misfire last week, i thought it was the cat at first

and nows its turned into head gasket... :!:

well, hopefully i will get in back in a couple of weeks (going through warranty for the repair)

keep an eye out for a blue alpina roadster in bracknell (usually at granddad speed)
 
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