Emissions Warning light on?

[Warrior]

Out and about on the motorway today, pulled into the fast lane, gave the throttle a jab and into kickdown mode (automatic) and next thing I see is a outline graphic of an engine on the dash! Pulled over asap and referred to the manual which says 'you're emissions have deteriorated' or something like that...'have your local BMW dealer check it out'.

The car was only MOT'd in February and has done very few miles since then so i'm putting two and two together and assuming my energetic right foot has blown a baffle to smithereens or something like that.

Any ideas??

 

[r37]

or an 02 sensor in the exhaust, or the cat, or the engine. An emmisions light isnt really helpful, other than to make you take it to your friendly BMW dealer who will resolve the issue promptly and cheaply. AFAIK there are no sensors behind the 02 one in the exhaust. If you have a code reader just plug it in and see what it says, failing that pull the 02 sensor and give it a clean with some contact cleaner and see if that helps.

 

[Zed Carer]

Unfortunately there are a number of things that can cause the EML to come on. Last year it came on when I was taking the Z4 for an Insp1 and the indie just reset it to see if it was just a one-off - the fault code was for the O2 sensor. 2 weeks later it was back on again so I spent an hour or so with the indie reading codes and after a lot of thought the sensor was replaced (£200+ ). A few weeks later the EML came on again when we were away in a very wet Northumberland where I managed to drive through a lot of standing water. By the time I got the Z4 back to the indie it was making a barely audable "phuttt phuttt" noise so £100 later for welding up a small crack in the exhaust manifold and the problem was fixed.

Air leaks on the intake side normally display other symptoms (rough idling, loss of mid range power, etc) but they can also cause the EML to come on. So unless you have access to a code reader I'd recommend checking the simple (cheap) things first before paying out for having the codes read and probably being told that it needs a new sensor just because the computer says so.

Good luck

 

[Warrior]

A few weeks later the EML came on again when we were away in a very wet Northumberland

It came on when it was raining tigers and hippos so maybe some connection...

I haven't fired zeddy up today so will see if drying out overnight has helped.

 

[Warrior]

Fired her up but didn't take for a drive and no symbol si fingers crossed. :ymblushing:

Thanks anyway chaps....

 

[swamper]

could have been a bit of crap going through....good luck

 

[Olliebeak]

My light has also just come on , is the O2 sensor the lambda sensor in the front exhaust pipe or something else

 

[t-tony]

Yes a Lambda sensor is an Oxygen sensor.

Tony.

 

[Paulro]

I have a 3.0l auto too.
In July my eml appeared. No change of performance and when I used the fault code meter I got a 44 code, activation solenoid valve-tank ventilation. Fuel tank breather valve.
BMW in Portimão said I’d was fine to drive and charged me over €100 for the pleasure after I’d told them what the problem was!
Anyway, they reset the light as I had done and it was fine until I stopped for petrol and then appeared again.
BMW replaced the part that I reckon I could have done but one twist and remove pipe discouraged me (YouTube) and it’s fixed.
Probably £320, sorted.