[dumplings4me]

just turned on my car today and got the red service light icon. the one with the car on the riser. couple days ago i checked thru my services due and the service wasnt due for another 1600 miles or until 2013. everything was fine a day ago and randomly turned on today in the morning and every single time i start the car. cars running fine. dont have my manual cuz im at my gf's place for few days. any suggestions or idea whats going? thx

[cole92]

Goto check control and it should tell you.

[hogbmw]

Yup. It'll be things such as brake pads, oil, etc. I have one right now saying I need to replace the brake pads.

[dumplings4me]

Originally Posted by cole92

Goto check control and it should tell you.

i checked control and it just shows the red car riser icon and high beam out error (but thats from my HID kit and needa get a error canceler). im outta warranty also...

[dumplings4me]

Originally Posted by hogbmw

Yup. It'll be things such as brake pads, oil, etc. I have one right now saying I need to replace the brake pads.

how can u tell exactly what is the problem? mine just shows an icon. which could be a number of things. do i needa bring it into dealer and have em check it out. think that'll cost me an arm..

[hogbmw]

The car has to be stopped. When I flip through it theres a check-control that has that car on a lift, and a "service-info" one. The service info tells you the next time you need to service these things. I believe if you go to service-info it will tell you. Also it has a lot of this in the manual. It will tell you what all the icons mean.

[dumplings4me]

Originally Posted by hogbmw

The car has to be stopped. When I flip through it theres a check-control that has that car on a lift, and a "service-info" one. The service info tells you the next time you need to service these things. I believe if you go to service-info it will tell you. Also it has a lot of this in the manual. It will tell you what all the icons mean.

yea i know i checked the service due info already. like i said i checked couple days ago before this problem came up, and the car on lift icon service wasnt due for another 1600 miles or 5/2013. and nothing else was due anytime soon. and yesterday the car lift icon came up in red randomly so thats why im so confused.

[ENINTY]

If you search "Car on Lift", or "Red Car on Lift" you'll find the answer. It is amazing how many people just don't read the owner’s manual and the maintenance/Service manual so they can understand how the Conditioned Based Service system works. And the excuse “well I bought it used and it didn’t come with the manuals” is pointless, as one can find copies of the manuals on BMW’s.

Basically the CBS works like as follows: There are service indicators the CBS notifies the driver of when the services are due:
Oil change
Brake Fluid Change
Cabin Air filter Change
Spark Plug Change
State Inspection
Emissions Inspection
Estimated Brake Pad Replacement (true brake pad replacement is indicated by a separate indicator on the dash that stays permanently on until the pads and sensor are replaced)

All of these are indicated by an audible notification and then a symbol that appears in the area between the Speedometer and Tachometer when the engine is both started and turned off.

The CBS has another indicator that comes on around every 30,000 miles and it is just a general inspection of the car, which is the red car on lift notification. Usually none of the other services mentioned above will be due and if the car is taken to the dealer it will be inspected and the ECU will be read for trouble codes.

It's really just that simple.

[cole92]

Probably your 30k check. The only time Red indicators show up for service is when I am past due according to the computer. Otherwise they will read yellow.

[username604]

Maybe the 60,000 mile inspection

[dumplings4me]

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

Maybe the 60,000 mile inspection

my cars currently at around 561XX, is that close enough to warranty a red light code? its weird cuz i get it sometimes and sometimes i dont. dunno whats going on. and bmw dealers cost 171 just for diagnostic wtf..