The Meaning of the "Please Service Engine Soon" Light on a BMW

The "Service Engine Soon" indicator light can come on in your BMW for many reasons. It appears to alert you to a malfunction or error so you can get a problem fixed before it gets worse.

How It Works

The "Service Engine Soon" warning light on your BMW is similar to a "Check Engine" light in other cars. Your car has a computer which runs on board diagnostic tests (OBDs) while your car is running. If something comes back faulty or negative, like the emissions system, the light comes on.

Easy Fixes

If the "Service Engine Soon" light appears, first check that the gas cap is on tightly. Also make sure you have enough coolant and are not due for an oil change. These are things you can fix yourself easily (or, in the case of an oil change, have done easily by a serviceman) and cheaply.

Other Issues

If none of those issues seem to be the problem, it's time to take your BMW to a dealer or auto repair technician. Your dealer will have a computer that can be hooked up to the car's computer to determine exactly what the light means. The sooner you can take your car in, the better; often the "Please Service Engine Soon light” alerts you to issues that start out small but can quickly escalate into bigger and more expensive problems.