Common Error Messages and Warning Lights in BMW Cars

If you own a BMW vehicle, you perfectly know that sometimes it requires attention. You've most likely seen numerous messages and warning lights in various combinations and this made you think about how to solve a certain problem. Unfortunately, it's not that easy in your BMW.

So, this article lists the most common error messages and also warning lights that you can find in BMW cars popping up on the dashboard. Every section has a link or two to other articles I've written about a certain message to give you more context and understanding of what to do.

Let's see what error messages are common for BMW cars!

"Vehicle Key Battery Empty" message in BMW

This is the message to let you know that it's time to replace the key battery. That's easy.

The problem is that the majority of modern smart keys (keyless entry system fobs) are killing their batteries for 8-12 months. This is unusual for people who got used to changing key fob batteries once every 3-5 years in older cars.

The "Vehicle Key Battery Empty" message means that soon your BMW may stop responding to any fob commands and you will need to apply the physical key to start your vehicle. So, better change that battery till you get into trouble.

Key battery message highlights:

• Common reasons:the key is dead, problems with the keyless entry system
• How to fix:replace the key fob battery, scan the vehicle for any other problems
• Possible consequences:key fob may go dead and car won't open or start
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$1-$20

"Ignition Malfunction" message in BMW

While the "Ignition Malfunction" message is very often connected to various electrical issues like bad ignition coils, spark plugs, or wiring, the most obvious thing that causes this message to pop up is the broken starter.

You may check the starter by jumping it with a screwdriver but I strongly advise against this unless you have some technical knowledge and experience.

If your car won't start, it just makes one click when attempted to crank, the problem is with the starter.

The second most common thing that may cause this message is a completely dead battery that doesn't have the appropriate voltage to start the car.

Ignition malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:dead starter, dead battery, issues with coils, plugs, or wires
• How to fix:check starter, measure battery voltage, use scanner to check everything else
• Possible consequences:car won't start
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?No
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$150-$500

"Electrical System Malfunction" message in BMW

This is a very broad message that can embrace hundreds of possible problems. The most common ones are the issues with the battery voltage and blown fuses.

Also, I've seen BMWs throwing this message after being flooded. Water damage usually causes electrical problems, so it makes sense.

The "Electrical System Malfunction" message doesn't always affect the possibility of driving the vehicle. But it's certainly not a message you can ignore. If the problem is ignored, it will most likely lead to being stranded one day because of a serious electrical problem.

When your BMW has electrical issues and they aren't connected with a dying battery, it's hard to find the actual reason - you will need professional help.

Electrical system malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:dying battery, blown fuses, water damage, electrical issues
• How to fix:check the battery, check fuses, find a good BMW electrician
• Possible consequences:issues may get worse, car may refuse to start
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes, if it starts
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$200-$1,000

"Battery Discharging While Stopped" message in BMW

It's a very common issue with electric or hybrid vehicles but the "Battery Discharging While Stopped" can also pop up on pure gas-powered BMW cars. This means that something is draining your 12V battery when the car is off.

Usually, this is all about the accessory mode being left active, listening to music after shutting off the vehicle or installing some aftermarket accessory that consumes power. Also, this message may pop up when the battery is about to die.

Please remember, that this message ONLY tells you about the 12V battery, not about the hybrid or electric-powertrain battery pack.

Battery discharging while stopped message highlights:

• Common reasons:power drain, dying battery
• How to fix:check the vehicle for possible drains, check the battery life
• Possible consequences:low battery may cause all kinds of problems including getting stranded
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$300

"Passenger Restrain System Malfunction" message in BMW

Whenever you see the "Passenger Restrain System Malfunction" warning on the dash of your BMW, it means that the safety system installed in the passenger seat is not working properly. Mainly, it means that the sensor in the seat that detects whether there is a passenger or not is malfunctioning.

In most cases, you will just need to replace the sensor. If it was damaged by water, and, in most cases, this is the only reason why it can malfunction, the wiring will also need inspection.

It's worth conducting a good check with the proper scanner tool to verify that it's exactly the sensor. Because the system may also malfunction when there are other safety sensors or the seat belt has some problems.

Passenger restraint system message highlights:

• Common reasons:water damage to seat sensor, seat belt issues, other safety system problems
• How to fix:replace the seat sensor, verify the seat belt is OK, use a good scanner tool
• Possible consequences:airbags on the passenger side not deploying when needed
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$500

"Driver Restraint System Malfunction" message in BMW

Whenever you see the "Driver Restraint System Malfunction" message in your BMW, it means that the seat sensor in the driver seat and/or the seat belt have problems.

While in most cases this is just a simple error that should be cleared by a good BMW scanner, sometimes this means that the sensor has some water damage or connection problems and needs attention.

Read above - the solutions are the same as for the passenger's seat problems.

Driver restraint system malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:water damage to seat sensor, seat belt issues, other safety system problems
• How to fix:replace the seat sensor, verify the seat belt is OK, use a good scanner tool
• Possible consequences:airbags on the driver's side not deploying when needed
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$500

"Engine Malfunction, Reduced Power" message in BMW

When there are problems with any important units and modules in your engine, the BMW car uses its limp mode. In this case, you will see the "Engine Malfunction, Reduced Power" message that tells you that you can only use the part of power in your vehicle now.

This is basically the same as the check engine light and it may tell you about a whole bunch of different problems. Some of them are serious and some are not.

You can try shutting the engine down and then starting it again to see if this resets the issue. Also, battery disconnection for several minutes may help. If nothing helps, a good scan tool will obviously give you several codes to google and consider what exactly has gone wrong with the car.

Engine malfunction, reduced power message highlights:

• Common reasons:problems with engine sensors, software glitches, low battery problems, etc.
• How to fix:turn the car off and on, disconnect the battery, use scanner tool
• Possible consequences:if reset doesn't help, the problem may be serious and require urgent attention
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,000

"AWD Malfunction" message in BMW

While the "AWD Malfunction" message may be pretty scary and you may think it's all about the expensive differential or even transmission, the problem is usually much cheaper to solve. This message pops up when there are problems with ABD sensors (wheel-speed sensors), traction control module, etc.

The problem is that when the ECU in your BMW doesn't get the proper readings of the wheel speed, it can calculate that it rotates too fast and this will immediately result in the AWD malfunction message popping up.

This problem needs proper scanning for codes. But, of course, it can also be connected with other problems such as differential issues or AWD control modules problems.

AWD malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:wheel-speed sensor issues, traction control problems, AWD problems
• How to fix:scanning for codes and checking the reported units
• Possible consequences:if ignored, the problems may actually destroy the differential and other AWD units
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$2,000

"Engine Temperature Too High, Drive Moderately" message in BMW

Everyone knows that overheating can kill the engine. BMW knows that, too. They introduced one special message in the list of possible warnings - the "Engine Temperature Too High, Drive Moderately" message.

Although this message allows you to drive moderately, I would suggest you should stop your car and let it cool down.

But overheating is not always the reason why you can see this message popping up. It can also appear because of the malfunctioning temperature sensor or some glitches in BMW software. Usually, it's still connected with slight overheating and shouldn't be ignored.

Engine temperature too high message highlights:

• Common reasons:engine overheating, temperature sensor problem
• How to fix:let the engine cool down, check the sensor with the scanner
• Possible consequences:overheating can kill your engine
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$150

"Fuel System Malfunction" message in BMW

When it comes to the "Fuel System Malfunction" message in your BMW, there are two primary reasons why it may pop up: the issue with the fuel pump and the software problem.

In direct-injection engines, the problem may denote problems with the HPFP - high-pressure fuel pump. It may not produce the required pressure for your engine to run optimally.

But, in most cases, this is all about electronic control modules glitching. I've seen this problem appearing because of the low battery. In this case, charging or replacing the battery and restarting the car will clear the code.

Fuel system malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:fuel pump problems, low battery, software issues
• How to fix:restart the car, disconnect the battery, check the battery voltage, check the fuel pump
• Possible consequences:engine stalling and not starting
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,200

"Self-Levelling Suspension Inactive" message in BMW

The "Self-Levelling Suspension Inactive" message can only pop up in BMW cars with air suspension. There are several things that will cause this.

Firstly, it's the air pump that may not be efficient enough to pump up the air springs and put them into the needed position. But this is not the most common issue.

More common are the problems with the leaking air springs. If there is an air leak, the springs should be replaced. Repair is possible but usually useless because it won't last long.

Thirdly, you may also check the air pump fuse which is known to be faulty in older BMW vehicles with air suspension. Replacing the fuse may clear the message and let you drive.

Self-leveling suspension inactive message highlights:

• Common reasons:air pump problems, leaks in air springs, air pump fuse
• How to fix:scan the codes, check the springs for leaks, check if the pump is working
• Possible consequences:when suspension is fully down, driving may be challenging
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$150-$2,000

"Left Low Beam Malfunction" message in BMW

It seems so easy - the "Left Low Beam Malfunction" message means that the light bulb for the left low-beam light is broken and needs replacement. But it's not always so easy.

While in some cases, this will make sense, and replacing the bulb will solve the problem, in many cases, the message is caused by two other things: control module failure for xenon lights and also low battery issues. Alternatively, you can also check if the fuses are OK.

Replacing the light bulbs on your BMW is a DIY job and it's described in the driver's manual. Also, you have videos on YouTube to help you do that. But if the problem is with the control module, you will need some help.

Left low beam malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:broken light bulb, light control module, low battery, fuse issues
• How to fix:replace the bulb, check the battery, use the scanner to check other issues
• Possible consequences:driving with no low-beam light can be illegal in your area
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes (if legal)
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$10-$300

"Emergency Call Malfunction" message in BMW

If you see a very common error message saying "Emergency Call Malfunction" in your BMW, there is a very high chance that the TCU or Telematics Control Unit is broken or has a dead battery in it.

The problem is that the TCU is placed so badly that you will need to take apart a lot of trim parts in the interior to get to it. So, the work is pretty labor intensive and hence expensive.

If the GPS in your car is still working, chances are the battery in the TCU is dead and it's quite cheap to replace. But if the whole unit is broken, it's expensive. This module can die because of water leaking and getting right onto the unit killing it slowly.

Emergency call malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:Telematic Control Unit broken or having low battery
• How to fix:look at the TCU, replace the battery in it, check if it works
• Possible consequences:no issues other than connectivity problems
• Priority level:Low
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$10-$750

"Transmission Malfunction" message in BMW

The most common reason for the "Transmission Malfunction" error message in your BMW is the low transmission fluid level. Another possible thing is the malfunctioning sensor in your transmission. These reasons will cover over 80% of all cases.

But there is still a chance that the transmission warning means your gearbox will require repair or replacement. This usually happens when the car hasn't been maintained properly and the transmission fluid hasn't been changed for a long time.

Adding or checking the fluid in your transmission is not a DIY task, so whenever you see the annoying message, you will most likely want to go to a good repair shop or dealership as soon as you can.

Transmission malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:transmission fluid low, transmission sensors glitchy, gearbox is out of order
• How to fix:add fluid if needed, change transmission fluid, replace the transmission
• Possible consequences:ignoring will lead to fatal transmission failure
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$5,000

"Brake System, Drive Moderately" message in BMW

Whenever you see the "Brake System, Drive Moderately" message in your BMW vehicle, you should pay attention to how brakes work. Usually, the problem is connected with the brake pads wear sensors.

If the brakes are about to get completely worn out, the message will remind you that the pads should be replaced. If the pads are OK, the brake wear sensor will have to be replaced. In some BMW cars, these wear sensors will require replacement every single time you install new pads.

Also, the message may be connected with ABS problems or other braking systems that are aimed to assist you in safe and efficient braking.

Brake system message highlights:

• Common reasons:brake pads worn out, brake pad wear sensor faulty, ABS problems
• How to fix:check pads, check wear sensor, use scanner to get codes
• Possible consequences:brake failure is super dangerous
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$150-$400

"Damage to Vehicle Detected" message in BMW

Originally, the "Damage to Vehicle Detected" message was planned by BMW engineers to pop up when there is a little accident with your car. So, the airbags don't deploy and the SOS system doesn't activate but there is still an impact and the sensors register it. You will see the message on the dash.

But a lot of BMW owners say that they regularly see this message when driving aggressively. For example, when being on the racing track, you will most likely read this message pretty often and it's very disturbing because it draws your attention.

As owners claim, this usually happens with tuned cars that have serious changes to their engineering.

Damage to the vehicle detected message highlights:

• Common reasons:tuned car and aggressive driving, actual accident
• How to fix:check the car for damages, tune the vehicle to avoid reading this
• Possible consequences:no consequences
• Priority level:Low
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$200

Red Exclamation Mark in Brackets Light in BMW

Whenever you see the red exclamation mark in brackets on the dash of your BMW, there is a problem with the brakes. One option is that the parking brake is activated and you need to disengage it before you start driving.

The second option is that there is an issue with the brakes. Your brake pads may require replacement or there are issues with the brake fluid level. Driving with this warning light is not a good idea as brake problems can be very dangerous.

You will need to check everything up before you decide to carefully drive to the dealership and ask them to inspect the vehicle.

Red exclamation mark in brackets highlights:

• Common reasons:parking brake activated, problems with braking system
• How to fix:disengage parking brake, check brake fluid, check brake pads
• Possible consequences:you may lose brakes
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$200-$500

Triangle warning light in BMW

When you see a small triangle warning light near the mileage readings in your BMW, it means that there are issues with the vehicle and a proper diagnostic is needed. Usually, it means that there are codes in one or several control modules and these codes will have to be read and considered during repair.

The triangle warning light doesn't mean anything precise in terms of what can be wrong with the vehicle. But it shows you that there is a problem that requires attention. Usually, you will find some messages on your infotainment system screen or some other warning lights accompanying this triangle.

Please note that there are other triangle warning lights in other places on the dash and they may mean absolutely other things.

Triangle warning light highlights:

• Common reasons:code in one of the control modules
• How to fix:look for other messages or lights, use scanner to read the codes
• Possible consequences:minor issues may quickly grow into fatal ones
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:Depends on the actual problems