Exhaust emissions error message

[Miltonjohn]

Hi All

Been out today having a great drive in the car, filled up with fuel (super unleaded) (assume this was the right fuel) did a few more miles & now have the exhaust emissions light come on. Manual says to have it checked ASAP. Looking on forum it says to get a code reader.
Can anyone advise what code reader to buy. SO many on Amazon & I'm clueless!!
Is this potentially an expensive fix?
Typical as I just started my holiday so was hoping to use it lots
Many thanks
John

Car is a 2007 2.5si Roadster

 

[1536Z4]

Can anyone advise what code reader to buy

Hi John,

I have seen this code reader mentioned lots of times on the forum as a good buy .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VSYZ2NC/?coliid=I3U13JK8BX2ZGS&colid=6B8KQRYB6P2L&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Mr Tidy]

Yes the one in that link does seem to get good reviews, and your car will prefer Superplus fuel.

This may sound like a strange question, but how old is your battery?

My previous Coupe had an amber EML illuminate so I got the codes red and they were for the post-cat O2 sensors on each bank. My Indy put a dose of Cataclean in the tank and cleared the codes and all was OK for a couple of months, then the amber EML returned.

When my Indy had the car to read the codes the battery died while he was running the diagnostics so after fitting a new one he cleared the same codes and they never came back!

So it looks like there wasn't really a fault, it was just one of those random electrcial issues BMWs often have when the battery is on it's last legs.

Good luck getting it sorted anyway.

 

[Miltonjohn]

Hi
I only bought the car a few weeks ago but it does look like a new battery but I can't be sure. I assume the code reader could advise if there was an issue. Thanks for the vote on that reader.
When you say Indy, do you mean an independent engineer. (New to this so not sure on the lingo )
The Cataclean cleaner, is this the Redex type solutions?

Many thanks

John

 

[Miltonjohn]

Hi

Just to add, I have just had to isolate for 10 days & the first start of the car after doing nothing for 10 days did struggle a little, so perhaps its not so new!!

 

[Miltonjohn]

Ahh, apologies, another add to the reply, Ive always had diesels before so not so up on petrol, Superplus, is that the same as SuperUnleaded? 97 on the pump.

 

[Mr Tidy]

The battery should have a date code stamped on the negative terminal.

But the code reader should identify the issue.

The Indy I used is ex-Sytner and only works on BMWs and Minis but charges half what Main Dealers do!

Given what happened I'm not sure the Cataclean played any part, but here's a link to the product he used:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142851621414?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=7101533165274578&mkcid=2&itemid=142851621414&targetid=458482605563746

Fuel wise there is a sticker on the inside of the filler flap that recommends using 98RON fuel whenever possible. Shell V-Power is popular but is only 97RON. I use Tesco Momentum which is 99RON and is my nearest filling station, but Esso Synergy Supreme+ is also 99RON.

 

[Miltonjohn]

Perfect, many thanks

 

[Miltonjohn]

Well I have to say that CataClean is a miracle substance. I purchased it this afternoon, put it in the boot & drove off & the engine light went out!! Tomorrow I may put it in the engine.
The code reader arrives as well so I will be able to see what's going on but I did laugh when I drove off.

 

[Jfgoldfish]

there is a sticker on the inside of the filler flap that recommends using 98RON fuel whenever possible.

That's a new one to me. The 2 litre engines will run fine on 91 or higher. Is the 3 litre different?

The premium fuels do sometimes have higher levels of cleaning additives in them but the higher octane won't make a difference unless the car is specifically designed or tuned to run with it.

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's a new one to me. The 2 litre engines will run fine on 91 or higher. Is the 3 litre different?

The premium fuels do sometimes have higher levels of cleaning additives in them but the higher octane won't make a difference unless the car is specifically designed or tuned to run with it.

I don't know about the 2 litre models, but the handbook for the N52 engined models specifically says the car is rated to run on 98 RON so you should use this grade whenever possible, although it goes on to say it will run on 95 RON or 91 RON but 91 is the minimum.

I don't have one any more, but here's an extract from the handbook for my 330i that has the same N52 engine.

 

[Zulu4]

Well I have to say that CataClean is a miracle substance. I purchased it this afternoon, put it in the boot & drove off & the engine light went out!! Tomorrow I may put it in the engine.
The code reader arrives as well so I will be able to see what's going on but I did laugh when I drove off.