[That340i]

So I noticed that when I turned the car on that the check engine light was on and since it wasn't flashing I still drove the car. So about 5 miles away from my house the check engine begins to flash and I still continued to drive home although I know I shouldn't have but .... I've also noticed that over the past few weeks that my car's fuel economy has gradually been getting worse..So does anyone know what this problem is? Has your car ever done this?

~ All Responses Appreciated, That340i.

[tpliquid]

get it scanned

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by tpliquid

get it scanned

+1

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by That340i

So I noticed that when I turned the car on that the check engine light was on and since it wasn't flashing I still drove the car. So about 5 miles away from my house the check engine begins to flash and I still continued to drive home although I know I shouldn't have but .... I've also noticed that over the past few weeks that my car's fuel economy has gradually been getting worse..So does anyone know what this problem is? Has your car ever done this?

~ All Responses Appreciated, That340i.

There are over one thousand problems that might cause this. No one here is going to attempt to help you until you get the codes read.

[Gen13 F36]

Its a 340i means it is still in warranty right.....go get it service.

[vooonoo]

usually when a check engine light is flashing.... DO NOT DRIVE IT, usually means a misfire, aaaaand you don't want that going on

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by vooonoo

usually when a check engine light is flashing.... DO NOT DRIVE IT, usually means a misfire, aaaaand you don't want that going on

That's not necessarily true. CEL can mean anything from major problem to nothing but an alert that your car is due for a software update.

General rule of thumb is if the car is driving normally no need to freak out or have it towed, but do get to dealer when you can.

[EDWYER]

Take it in asap.

[cfm56d7b]

As others have suggested, have the car inspected by the dealer.

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by That340i

So I noticed that when I turned the car on that the check engine light was on and since it wasn't flashing I still drove the car. So about 5 miles away from my house the check engine begins to flash and I still continued to drive home although I know I shouldn't have but .... I've also noticed that over the past few weeks that my car's fuel economy has gradually been getting worse..So does anyone know what this problem is? Has your car ever done this?

~ All Responses Appreciated, That340i.

Did the car not complain in any other way?

Usually there's a message that's displayed in your iDrive that gives a short description of what's wrong.

Barred that, you could try to see the CC-ID codes

http://www.endtuning.com/ccidcodes.html

You need to access the service menu:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=677037

or ... take it to a dealer

[IK6SPEED]

You did it now.

kern417 about to come and school you that “taking it to Dealer”, “it’s under warranty” or “get it scanned” is not acceptable answer, as he has done in other threads.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

You did it now.

kern417 about to come and school you that “taking it to Dealer”, “it’s under warranty” or “get it scanned” is not acceptable answer, as he has done in other threads.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

lol. tagging me in threads now? I really ruffled your feathers huh. feel free to also tag all these other threads you mentioned. we'll be waiting (:

I def say get it scanned. flashing CEL means misfire, so typically means spark plug/coil pack. but could be anything from an injector to a dirty maf.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by That340i

So I noticed that when I turned the car on that the check engine light was on and since it wasn't flashing I still drove the car. So about 5 miles away from my house the check engine begins to flash and I still continued to drive home although I know I shouldn't have but .... I've also noticed that over the past few weeks that my car's fuel economy has gradually been getting worse..So does anyone know what this problem is? Has your car ever done this?

~ All Responses Appreciated, That340i.

There's no way to know--it could be countless things. Could be a loose gas cap. I've had mine come on 2x; 1st time was bad thermostat; 2nd time was bad turbo waste gate actuator. You need the dealer to diagnose it.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by vooonoo

usually when a check engine light is flashing.... DO NOT DRIVE IT, usually means a misfire, aaaaand you don't want that going on

Not true. Last time this happened, I called the dealer right away. They said if there was no limp mode, or other indicator that something was wrong other than the light, it was ok to drive until they could get me in for an appointment.

Key is to call the dealer right away and explain the symptoms OP is having.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by tex2670

Not true. Last time this happened, I called the dealer right away. They said if there was no limp mode, or other indicator that something was wrong other than the light, it was ok to drive until they could get me in for an appointment.

Key is to call the dealer right away and explain the symptoms OP is having.

flashing CEL? like blinking? that's a universal indication for a misfire. it won't always go into limp mode for an intermittent misfire, but you'll have a code.

[vooonoo]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

That's not necessarily true. CEL can mean anything from major problem to nothing but an alert that your car is due for a software update.

General rule of thumb is if the car is driving normally no need to freak out or have it towed, but do get to dealer when you can.

Not when it’s blinking though

[Billfitz]

▷ The warning lamp lights up:
Emissions are deteriorating. Have
the vehicle checked as soon as
possible.
▷ The warning lamp flashes under certain
circumstances:
This indicates that there is excessive misfiring
in the engine.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have the
system checked immediately; otherwise,
serious engine misfiring within a brief period
can seriously damage emission control
components, in particular the catalytic
converter.

[jeffc83]

I say go by the computer until iDrive tells you otherwise; why question your car? (running)

Disclaimer: Please don't do that

[metallicpea]

I'm not sure on the F30, as the owner's manual is crap, but I would assume blinking is a more severe issue than just the light on. If it were my car, I would not drive it until I talked with my BMW Service Advisor and explained in detail. A serious problem can damage other components like the catalytic converter, and if you drove it and damaged it, BMW might try to make you responsible for the damage created by ignoring the indicator.

On earlier models, they had an orange light for initial warning and a red light for severe warning I believe. In that method - red was "Do Not Drive"

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

On earlier models, they had an orange light for initial warning and a red light for severe warning I believe. In that method - red was "Do Not Drive"

This seems so much more intuitive. Wonder why they changed it.

[vooonoo]

Originally Posted by adhrp

This seems so much more intuitive. Wonder why they changed it.

Money

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by vooonoo

Money

If the old style cluster used LED's to illuminate the warning light, this would be one sorry ass way of cost cutting and trumps GM in many ways...there has to be a better reason why they switched it up.