Yellow 'Service Engine Soon' Bad News?

[dm_longhorn]

'01 325CI... Just bought it about a week ago..

On the way to work today, I noticed a yellow "Service Engine Soon" light come on. And it has yet to go away on it's own. I checked my gas cap and it was secure.

Is this something vital to my cars performance?

Do I have to bring it in to get looked at in order for the light to go off?

Basically.. what should I do to get this fixed?

Thanks!e

 

[bmwrocks]

It won't immediately extinguish if the gas cap was the cause. Reseat the cap if you didn't already. It took my X5 a day or so to go out when my cap was the culprit. I also checked mine and it felt secure, but reseating it did the trick......

 

[aNoodle]

The check engine light can come on for so many different reasons...many not expensive. You car will store a fault code in its computer even if the light goes out after a few drives. If it stays on or keeps coming on regularly, you'll just have to go to a dealer and have them read the fault code.

 

[jonnyz16]

You may just need a oil change or service . Go to your local BMW dealer and have them pull up the maintenance records . You may also be due for a brake fluid flush and coolant flush ..

 

[k3nny]

i had one...
i had to have the engine oil topped out