BMW 5 Series Warning Light Mystery: Help Needed

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2003 BMW 3 Series diesel last year. I'm not a car expert, just someone with basic maintenance knowledge. Those warning lights can be really stressful! My car showed multiple error codes too, and it turned out to be an undervoltage problem. The workshop discovered that the voltage in the electrical system was too low, which triggered all those warning lights. Got it fixed for about 240 Euro, they had to reset the system and replace some electrical components. Which warning lights exactly are you seeing? Also, could you share the specific error codes? This would help determine if it's the same issue I faced. By the way, have you noticed any other symptoms, like difficult starting or electrical glitches?

Thanks for sharing your experience! My BMW definitely shows similar symptoms. The main warning lights are check engine, ABS, and traction control, all coming on at the same time. I haven't noticed any starting problems, but there's a slight hesitation when accelerating. I just had it serviced two months back and it's been running great until now, sitting at 135725 KM. The error codes are a bit complex, my basic scanner shows something about voltage regulation and control module communication errors. Did you try any fixes before taking it to the workshop? Just wondering if there's anything I could check myself before spending big money at the dealer.

Hey again! Yeah, those warning lights sound exactly like what I dealt with. My 3 Series had the same combination of warning lights, check engine, ABS, and traction control. And that hesitation during acceleration? Had that too! It's like déjà vu hearing your description. Before taking it to the workshop, I actually tried a few things myself. First, I disconnected the battery for about 30 minutes, hoping it would reset the system, didn't work. Then I checked all the fuses and cleaned the battery terminals since corrosion can cause voltage issues. Neither fixed the problem completely, though the hesitation seemed a bit better after cleaning the terminals. Given your mileage is pretty close to what mine was (I was at around 142000 KM when this happened), and considering you're seeing similar voltage regulation codes, I'm betting it's the same electrical system issue I had. Those voltage problems can really mess with all the car's systems at once. Just a heads up, if it is the same problem, don't waste too much time with DIY fixes like I did. The electrical system in these BMWs is pretty complex, and you might end up spending more time and money troubleshooting than just getting it properly diagnosed. The 240 Euro I spent at the workshop was worth it in the end. Let me know what you decide to do. Curious to hear if it turns out to be the same issue!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! You've definitely convinced me to skip the DIY attempts and go straight to a workshop. Those warning lights have been making me nervous, and hearing that you had almost identical symptoms with your 3 Series is really reassuring. I've already called a local BMW specialist who can look at it tomorrow morning. The price estimate they gave me was similar to what you paid, which sounds reasonable considering the alternative of potentially making things worse by tinkering with it myself. I'll post an update once I get it sorted. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's helped me avoid wasting time with trial-and-error fixes. Fingers crossed it's just the voltage regulation issue and nothing more serious! Thanks again for the help!