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The Top 5 Most Common BMW Problems and Repairs

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Some of the best cars on the market come from the Germain giants Audi and BMW, but they are not free of faults. Here we have listed the top 5 most common BMW problems and repairs!

1. Check Engine Light

The i-drive display can show warning lights for a number of reasons, sometimes these are things to be concerned about, sometimes this is an error with the i-drive. Don’t panic when you see a ‘check engine’ light on your BMW but do find out what it is. If you have a scanner, you can plug this into the system to identify the fault codes to identify where the issue is and investigate.

Alternatively, bring your BMW to a specialist such as Power Development, where we can run a scan, identify fault codes and inform you of the problem. As well as using the fault codes to identify the issue, we also inspect the car manually to diagnose the fault as the code rarely gives the full story. This manual inspection ensures we can identify and fix the problem rather than trial and error. Of course, booking yearly BMW servicing can help identify issues such as these early.

2. Battery Terminal

BMWs made from the early 2000s onwards have been fitted with a battery safety terminal sensor. This sensor is designed to disconnect the positive cable from the battery in the event of an accident to help reduce the risk of fire following a crash. While this is a good idea, it can be triggered during minor impacts such as hitting a kerb which can cause issues as preventing the car from starting because the alternator and starter get disconnected.

You might notice the BMW airbag light; if this is the case a scan can be done to identify the problem.

3. Electronic Problems

BMWs are renowned for encountering various electrical issues such as issues operating wipers, windows, indicators, air conditioning and heating. You may experience issues getting these to work or getting them to stop!

You can usually identify the general location of the issue by running a scan, but it may not identify the route problem which needs further manual inspection.

For obvious reasons, this can be a frustrating issue and because of the different issues and complexities of electrical problems, it’s usually ideal to seek a BMW specialist to sort these issues.

4. Door Locks

With some BMWs, you may experience issues with the door locks no longer working. This is usually something you can check with a used model, but if this is occurring on a BMW you have had for a while, it can of course be worrying as nobody wants to leave a luxury vehicle unlocked.

Test the locks by standing 10 feet away from the car and then press the lock and unlock button on the key to check they work. Be sure to test the door locks using the button on the centre console as well to make sure that they work.

Usually, just one lock should be faulty if it does occur and can be fixed by repairing or replacing the actuator on the offending car door.

5. Window Regulators

Another issue that BMW has gained a reputation for is issues with the window regulators. This usually occurs when the plastic regulator clips break, and the window can no longer move up or down.

You may first notice an issue if the window moves slowly and then eventually this may just not move at all with the window motor failing.

While this is irritating, this isn’t necessarily an expensive issue to fix and can be done with some DIY skills.

How do I find out what a warning light means on my BMW?

While a warning light might give you some indication of where an issue might be, it won’t go into the finer details. But thanks to the onboard computer that BMWs have, you can use a scanner to identify the corresponding fault codes to give you a better idea of where and what the issue is. We have a list of common fault codes on our blog.

The next step is to fix the issue which you can either do yourself or bring to us. When we run a BMW scan, as well as taking the fault codes, we will also manually inspect the issue to identify exactly what the problem is rather than relying on a method of trial and error.

How often should a BMW be serviced?

A car should be serviced every 12 months or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Usually your BMW will display a warning light to inform you that your service is due or overdue. Regular BMW servicing ensures your BMW continues to work in top condition and that any issues can be picked up early.

You don’t necessarily need to go to an official BMW service centre for your service. BMW specialists such as Power Developments can provide a full service for a much more affordable price as well as offering additional options such as a drop off service at Laindon train station.

We have built a reputation as German car specialists and have an ever growing list of loyal customers who only trust their luxury car in our capable hands.

What car services do you provide?

We provide a wide range of services at our base in Basildon, providing options such as diagnostics, vehicle inspection, oil change, repairs, maintenance, brakes, suspension, clutch, transmission, engine and regular yearly servicing.

Our expertise in BMW, MINI, Audi and Mercedes cars put us ahead of the competition when it comes to German luxury cars and we have customers visit us from all over the country and even Europe to benefit from our knowledge and passion. We are easily accessible from London, in close proximity to the M25.

Contact us now to book in your BMW service.

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