BMW OBD-II codes

[sktn77a]

My daughter is bringing "her" (ie "my") 2001 530i home for Thanksgiving. Her check engine light came on about 2-3 months ago and was diagnosed as needing a new air pump ($1000). I asked her to get the codes from the dealership that did the work but they played stupid and blew her off. Well, the light is back on again.

When she gets home I have an appt to take the car in to my dealer that I kinda trust but I want to get the codes first. I have a standard (cheap) 4 digit OBD-II code reader with the standard trapezoidal 16 pin plug. I believe this will fit the OBD-II socket under the dash but I've read some hocus-pocus regarding the BMW OBD-II codes. Are these the same as the SAE standard codes? The reader works fine on my Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

Thanks

Keith
2001 530i 5sp
Keith
2001 530i 5sp

[edjack]

emission issues. A bad air pump should store a code that you can retrieve and decode.

There are other components, besides the pump itself, in the secondary air pump system that can generate a code. Search this site for more info.

OTOH, if the light has been on for months, the pump may very well be toast.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

[sktn77a]

Thanks Ed; no, the light has only been on for a couple of days and it went out on its own today. Same symptons as last time, so I'm wondering if its the same problem (shouldn't be with a new CVV and air pump just put in earlier this year). I'll check the code and report back when she brings the car home at Thanksgiving.

Keith
2001 530i 5sp

[sktn77a]

My daughter took the car to a nearby mechanic who checked for error codes but none came up. Shouldn't the codes remain in memory even if the light goes off?

Keith
2001 530i 5sp

[TomM]

[TomM]

oops. on our 99 528 CPO soon after purchase. Turned out to be the little short piece of vacuum line that runs between the Secondary Air Valve (right front corner of the head) and the hard plastic line that runs down the left side of the cam cover.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=11&fg=45
It was the short piect of #4 that runs between #1 and #3.

[JimLev]

by a BMW type computer, MoDic, GT1, etc. It will also give the date the light came on.
I'm pretty sure that even if the problem was fixed and the code cleared with a small hand held reader the code will still be in the DME memory.