[deeebo8452]

Hi All

The following Warning Light came on my 2007 BMW 320d M Sport Coupe E92 94k miles on the clock yesterday.

1. Is this the dreaded DPF Filter light? It is a square with half filled dots (pic below).

2. I have noticed there are other warning lights showing the same box in which it is full of dots. Does the fact its half filled mean its not as bad of an issue?

3. I use my car regularly and commute 40 miles each day going 70mph+ hence thought the DPF should regenerate and not have this issue, so I am led to believe.

4. One point to note is that I went through a very big puddle under a bridge which was kind of flooded and thought to turn back instead went thought it very slowly. The light literally appeared minutes after and has never come on before. So perhaps could it be that the exhaust is just damp and it will dry out and the warning light will go away? Or is that just wishful thinking?

5. In terms of next steps, should I definitely get it seen to, leaving it, will it get worse and the entire car will mess up?

6. And in terms of cost what am I looking, is there a quick fix. I was thinking to just use it regardless since the car runs and seems fine, or is this unwise?

Any feedback on the matter will be much appreciated!

I hope this is not a costly month

[Iyrix]

Have you checked the temps? Is it getting up to 90 degrees?

Would be worth checking as this would stop it going through a regen.

[dy63]

relax. just take it on a longer run. clear the code see if it comes back

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by Iyrix

Have you checked the temps? Is it getting up to 90 degrees?

Would be worth checking as this would stop it going through a regen.

Sorry probably a stupid question but how would I go about checking the temperature? And if it isnt getting up to 90c what does that mean?

Thanks in advance IYRIX

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

relax. just take it on a longer run. clear the code see if it comes back

How would I clear the codes? And when you say a longer run, I am assuming motorway miles at 80mph + for how long?

Could the fact I went through a flooded area have any impact on the light coming on?

Thanks in advance CURPRAJ

[dy63]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

How would I clear the codes? And when you say a longer run, I am assuming motorway miles at 80mph + for how long?

Could the fact I went through a flooded area have any impact on the light coming on?

Thanks in advance CURPRAJ

because the light come on doesnt mean its gone. many people get scared when it comes on and takes straight to indy to get changed. make sure everything else is working before you try regen. temps are ok etc. when i take mine i cruise it at around 85-90. 80 on a 320d should be ok. mine tends to regen after doing around 25miles in same speed non stop. light comes on now and then

[Iyrix]

Just going for a fast drive is unlikely to fix the issue.

There will be a reason the light has come on.

First off check the engine temps. Follow these instructions and you'll be able to go for a drive and see what the temp gets to.

http://e90.wikifoundry.com/page/BC+hidden+menus

Regen can actually take place at low speeds. Long runs certainly do help though.

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

because the light come on doesnt mean its gone. many people get scared when it comes on and takes straight to indy to get changed. make sure everything else is working before you try regen. temps are ok etc. when i take mine i cruise it at around 85-90. 80 on a 320d should be ok. mine tends to regen after doing around 25miles in same speed non stop. light comes on now and then

Okay thanks I will try that. And how do you know when a regen is taking place, is there anything to indicate this? Perhaps on the on board dashboard?

Furthermore, if I continue to use the car whilst this warning light is on, does it damage the car in anyway?

Thanks

[dy63]

i dont know how you know. but the car will run abit rougher until the regen. i think sometimes you can feel it when your in the seat it regenning. nothing on dashboard as far as i know

I had the DPF light on mine a couple of months ago and it came on everyday for around 3 weeks till i was able to take it down to Bristol so in the 3 weeks i had it come on everyday till it regenned

Doesnt mean its safe though so i dont know but i used it and had no problems.

There is quite abit of chinese whispers to how it regens. some say you need to clear the code first and regen and same say needs to be cleared after it wont do it by itself etc but i dont know. mine sometimes regens on its own and goes away and other time i have cleared before and didnt come back after i took it on good run.

if DPF is gone i would simply just remove and re map the car. should cost around £300-£350

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

i dont know how you know. but the car will run abit rougher until the regen. i think sometimes you can feel it when your in the seat it regenning. nothing on dashboard as far as i know

I had the DPF light on mine a couple of months ago and it came on everyday for around 3 weeks till i was able to take it down to Bristol so in the 3 weeks i had it come on everyday till it regenned

Doesnt mean its safe though so i dont know but i used it and had no problems.

There is quite abit of chinese whispers to how it regens. some say you need to clear the code first and regen and same say needs to be cleared after it wont do it by itself etc but i dont know. mine sometimes regens on its own and goes away and other time i have cleared before and didnt come back after i took it on good run.

if DPF is gone i would simply just remove and re map the car. should cost around £300-£350

Thats very useful info I will take it on a long run. You mentioned sometimes you cleared the codes first - did you do this yourself or did you have to get it hooked up to a diagnostic to do so. If yourself is there an easy way to do this just using the BC?

[dy63]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

Thats very useful info I will take it on a long run. You mentioned sometimes you cleared the codes first - did you do this yourself or did you have to get it hooked up to a diagnostic to do so. If yourself is there an easy way to do this just using the BC?

no. you will need INPA to clear codes which is diagnostic tool. or any other diagnostic tool should work.

[Iyrix]

lol @ this. Try doing 150mph. That should fix it.

damn, didn't finish typing.

Go get the codes read and go from there. Simple thing to do.

Regardless of "chinese" whispers. Regen is affected by temp. This is very likely to be your problem.

[dy63]

Originally Posted by Iyrix

lol @ this. Try doing 150mph. That should fix it.

damn, didn't finish typing.

Go get the codes read and go from there. Simple thing to do.

Regardless of "chinese" whispers. Regen is affected by temp. This is very likely to be your problem.

Dont understand the sarcasm for saying 150? i said 85-90 because on my 330 it sits in between 2-2.5 revs which people say is a good rev range for the car to regen, on the 320. doing 80 will probably see it at 2.5revs which is good.

I think there is more reasons to car not regenning than just temp.

[xenon]

Or do 60 in a lower gear??

[borinous]

Point number 3 from the OP's first post

3. I use my car regularly and commute 40 miles each day going 70mph+ hence thought the DPF should regenerate and not have this issue, so I am led to believe.

This should be sufficient for a regen i doubt that BMW would sell a car that you have to break the speed limit to enable a regen.....?

Point 4 could supply the cause as it was a one time action that has triggered the error it could be this event or its coincidence.

4. One point to note is that I went through a very big puddle under a bridge which was kind of flooded and thought to turn back instead went thought it very slowly. The light literally appeared minutes after and has never come on before. So perhaps could it be that the exhaust is just damp and it will dry out and the warning light will go away? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Could it be that some water has got into the exhaust or onto a sensor or if the exhaust was hot enough cracked something?.

As alot have already said i would get the code read and then cleared and go from there. It may well never come on again or if it does then i would start looking into checking engine temps etc to make sure its not some other problem thats causing a knock on effect

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by xenon

Or do 60 in a lower gear??

Thanks xenon - generally speaking what revs is ideal? Higher revs the better e.g. 3k+?

Also is there any way to know when the regen is happening?

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by borinous

Point number 3 from the OP's first post

3. I use my car regularly and commute 40 miles each day going 70mph+ hence thought the DPF should regenerate and not have this issue, so I am led to believe.

This should be sufficient for a regen i doubt that BMW would sell a car that you have to break the speed limit to enable a regen.....?

Point 4 could supply the cause as it was a one time action that has triggered the error it could be this event or its coincidence.

4. One point to note is that I went through a very big puddle under a bridge which was kind of flooded and thought to turn back instead went thought it very slowly. The light literally appeared minutes after and has never come on before. So perhaps could it be that the exhaust is just damp and it will dry out and the warning light will go away? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Could it be that some water has got into the exhaust or onto a sensor or if the exhaust was hot enough cracked something?.

As alot have already said i would get the code read and then cleared and go from there. It may well never come on again or if it does then i would start looking into checking engine temps etc to make sure its not some other problem thats causing a knock on effect

Do you know roughly how much I can expect it to cost from an independent local garage to diagnose and give me the codes?

Thanks Borinous

[Iyrix]

If you are in the Camberley area i can plug you in and read/reset codes. Also see when last regen was done etc.

Or try a local indy.

[borinous]

No idea im afraid i bought myself a cable (£40) and have the BMW diagnostic tools installed on my laptop. Where abouts in London are you maybe there is a Forum user who can help out?

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by borinous

No idea im afraid i bought myself a cable (£40) and have the BMW diagnostic tools installed on my laptop. Where abouts in London are you maybe there is a Forum user who can help out?

I am based in North-West London like Edgware? Even if anyone can reccomend anyone in London (pref north of the thames)?

Oh am I able to do it myself using my Laptop? Does the BMW Tool Software cost also or is it downloadable for free? And where can I get the cable from - does it just connect into the OBD port?

Thanks

[dy63]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

I am based in North-West London like Edgware? Even if anyone can reccomend anyone in London (pref north of the thames)?

Oh am I able to do it myself using my Laptop? Does the BMW Tool Software cost also or is it downloadable for free? And where can I get the cable from - does it just connect into the OBD port?

Thanks

cable can get from many places like ebay uk sellers etc with discs with just 1 click install etc

think there about £40 with cable and disk on ebay.

and yup goes into OBD port

Buying one yourself will help you in future if any other problems arise. well worth the money and loads of DIY's here how to use the programs

[chriz1]

Nee to get the code cleared before trying to take for a spin once a code is logged it won't regen all your doing is blocking it further to the point where even a forced regen won't work