service engine light on new e46 m3

shahint · #1 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 05:49 PM

Hey I jus got my m3 and i put 300 miles on it. I turned on the car after went to the supermarket and it gave me the service light. the manual says it could have something to do with the gas cap being loose. I think that might be the problem since i jus got gas this morning. I tightened it and drove around the block, still no change. Am i suppose to drive a few miles, i dont want to damage it.

///Quik2Eat1 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shahint
Hey I jus got my m3 and i put 300 miles on it. I turned on the car after went to the supermarket and it gave me the service light. the manual says it could have something to do with the gas cap being loose. I think that might be the problem since i jus got gas this morning. I tightened it and drove around the block, still no change. Am i suppose to drive a few miles, i dont want to damage it.

If it is your gas cap I had the same problem. Have no fear if you are affraid of driving your car around to damage anything else worse (that is if it is not the gas cap) there is another solution. Turn on the car to the key position 2 and then turn it back to position 0. Do this 15 times that will reset your computer (remember your gas cap needs to be tighten first until you hear a "click")

Art

shahint · #3 (**permalink**) 04-21-2002, 07:15 PM

how were you sure it is the gas cap. Also did you have to turn the key 15 times to reset too? I jus drove 20 miles after loosening the cap and tightening it and the lights still on. Also, what else could it be. I dont want to give it to my dealer and have them keep it for a week figuring it out.

///Quik2Eat1 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shahint
how were you sure it is the gas cap. Also did you have to turn the key 15 times to reset too? I jus drove 20 miles after loosening the cap and tightening it and the lights still on. Also, what else could it be. I dont want to give it to my dealer and have them keep it for a week figuring it out.

As far as knowing it was the gascap I took a guess. And yes I had to turn on and off the car to reset the computer, that is the first thing that the dealer will do to check out the car. Driving the car 20 miles does absolutely nothing, it will not reset the computer. You have to do the on and off thing 15 times.

If that doesn't reset your computer I am at a loss of what happened. You didn't slam on the gas in 'sport' mode did you?!?!? That could be a big reason, not saything that you did but it isn't real good on the engine 'breakin period'

Art

shahint · #5 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 06:44 AM

yah, ive been real careful during the break in period, never floored it and havent gone past 5000 rpm. But wat worries me is that they will try and blame the problem on me becuase im young.

///Quik2Eat1 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shahint
yah, ive been real careful during the break in period, never floored it and havent gone past 5000 rpm. But wat worries me is that they will try and blame the problem on me becuase im young.

Look at my profile I am 18

Talk about young

shahint · #7 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 08:29 AM

yah im 18 too. the damn service department aint picking up the phone! im in northridge and the dealership is in long beach. I dont wanna have to drive there to ask them the question.

morrow95 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 02:10 PM

If it isnt the gas cap then make sure and give the dealership a call. Its not worth having major damage done to such a new car. They will probably blame it on you caus you are young... I am 22 and just bought mine... but at the same time they have to look at it and more than likely it will be something that you couldnt have caused...

good luck...

shahint · #9 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 03:03 PM

i got it fixed today, thanks

porkyzilla · #10 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 09:26 PM

well what was wrong with it???

shahint · #11 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 10:13 PM

it was the gas cap. They said it may have been the service guy who filled my car with gas with the ignition on. Only way to get rid of light is to bring it in. I bought some seat covers today. Now my car looks two tone, red and black. Oh yah and a funny story. A firetruck followed me home and stopped by to check out my car.

porkyzilla · #12 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 10:23 PM

YAh, its a good feeling huh?

shahint · #13 (**permalink**) 04-22-2002, 10:31 PM

yah its cool and all but I have a feeling that all the cops in my neighborhood know theres a young guy in an m3 driving around. Also it attracts a lot of attention to my house and I hope that dosent bring in any thiefs.

morrow95 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-23-2002, 11:33 AM

yeah, you will have somne funny stories... when I first got my car I went to McDonalds for some food and the cashier is like "hey, I saw you driving the other day"... I really didn't know what to say and laughed...

Then the girl next door goes with her mom to look at new Mercedes and BMW's... she asks the dealer about my car... he says "Is it red?"... she replies yes and the guy goes "oh yeah, Steve ----- from -----"... I guess she about flipped... somehow this dealership two hours away from where I bought my car knew my name and the car... I guess the dealers pass out invoices or something... it helped I had one of the first ones of the boat too... lol...

anyways... you will suddenly find yourself known by many, but you have no clue who they are... hahaha... cops will know you by name the first time you get pulled over too if you are young... its already happened to me...

shahint · #15 (**permalink**) 04-23-2002, 02:39 PM

haha that radar detector is climbing my list of priorities very quickly